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THE GAME    
North Carolina Central University "Eagles" vs. Norfolk State University "Spartans"

THE KICKOFF    
Saturday, September 24, 2016 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m. 

THE SITE    
William "Dick" Price Stadium (30,000 capacity/natural grass) - Norfolk, Va.

THE RECORDS    
N.C. Central (1-2 overall, 0-0 MEAC); Norfolk State (1-2 overall, 0-0 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE    
Audio: NCCU Sports Network "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:45 p.m. (Jonathan Duren, play-by-play).
Video: NSUSpartans.com (pay-per-view video internet stream/$8.00).

QUICK HITS    
•    Saturday will be the 14th meeting between the Eagles and the Spartans since the teams first met on Nov. 14, 1981. NCCU leads the series 8-5 with three straight wins.
•    NCCU broke a school record with 32 first downs against Saint Augustine's on Sept. 17. 
•    NCCU's 676 yards of total offense versus St. Augustine's ranks second only to the 684 total yards amassed by the 1982 Eagles against Bowie State. The 414 passing yards against the Falcons places fourth in the NCCU record books and are the most by the Eagles since 1988.
•    NCCU's 21 points against Western Michigan are the most scored by the Eagles in nine contests against FBS competition.
•    NCCU's five fumble recoveries versus Duke on Sept. 3 are the most by the Eagles since 2010. 
•    Against Western Michigan on Sept. 10, senior quarterback Malcolm Bell became the seventh NCCU quarterback with more than 4,000 career passing yards and the sixth Eagle with more than 5,000 yards of total offense. 
•    Senior quarterback Malcolm Bell needs 24 rushing yards to become the first Eagle in school history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards in a career.
•    Third-year head coach Jerry Mack has not only captured conference titles in each of his first two seasons at NCCU, but he became the first head coach in school history to win 15 games in his first two years. 
•    Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 30 touchdowns on defense and special teams.

FLASHBACK TO 2015    
•    NCCU repeated as co-champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with a 7-1 conference record.
•    The Eagles posted the most wins as a NCAA Division I-FCS program with an 8-3 overall record.
•    The Eagles earned the program's second win over a nationally-ranked FCS opponent by defeating No. 13/16 North Carolina A&T in the final game of the season on Nov. 21, 2015.
•    NCCU closed out season on a seven-game winning streak.
•    NCCU ranked No. 1 in the nation (FCS) in fourth down conversion percentage defense (8.3%) - allowing only one fourth down conversion all season (12 attempts) - and fourth down conversion percentage offense (81.8%/9 of 11).

THE SERIES    
This will be the 14th football meeting between NCCU and Norfolk State since the teams first met in 1981. NCCU leads the series 8-5, including three straight victories and six of the last eight. NCCU holds a 6-1 advantage in match-ups versus the Spartans in Durham, with Norfolk State's lone road win coming on Oct. 12, 1985. The Spartans have a 4-2 lead in games played in Norfolk, Virginia.

10/31/2015 - NCCU 24, NSU 16 (Durham, N.C.)
11/15/2014 - NCCU 19, NSU 14 (Norfolk, Va.)
11/16/2013 - NCCU 24, NSU 13 (Durham, N.C.)
11/4/1995 - NSU 27, NCCU 6 (Norfolk, Va.)
9/10/1994 - NSU 26, NCCU 24 (Norfolk, Va.)
9/11/1993 - NCCU 30, NSU 20 (Durham, N.C.)
9/17/1988 - NCCU 10, NSU 7 (Norfolk, Va.)
9/19/1987 - NCCU 28, NSU 20 (Durham, N.C.)
10/12/1985 - NSU 32, NCCU 14 (Durham, N.C.)
10/6/1984 - NSU 29, NCCU 26 (Norfolk, Va.)
10/8/1983 - NCCU 47, NSU 6 (Durham, N.C.)
10/9/1982 - NSU 14, NCCU 9 (Norfolk, Va.)
11/14/1981 - NCCU 27, NSU 20 (Durham, N.C.)

THE LAST MEETING    
(NCCU 24, Norfolk State 16 - Durham, N.C.) North Carolina Central University broke open a 7-7 fourth quarter tie by scoring 17 points in the final stanza for a 24-16 homecoming victory over Norfolk State. NCCU running back Dorrel McClain rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, and added 43 receiving yards. Quarterback Malcolm Bell passed for 193 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown connection with Armani Lanier to open the fourth-quarter scoring, while tacking on 88 rushing yards. Norfolk State quarterback Greg Hankerson threw for 230 yards and rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns. 

LAST WEEK    
(NCCU 65, St. Augustine's 7 - Durham, N.C.) North Carolina Central University scored nine touchdowns during a 65-7 home-opening victory over Saint Augustine's University on Saturday inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. But it was a 2-yard rumble into the end zone by senior center Carl Jones, who lined up in the backfield for his first career score, that highlighted the night. NCCU senior quarterback Malcolm Bell accounted for 270 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, while he also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown. Bell spread the wealth in the passing attack, connecting with nine different receivers. His favorite target was senior receiver Quentin Atkinson, who finished with six catches for 95 yards, followed by David Miller with four receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Wilkes made the most of his two catches, finding the end zone both times on plays of 27 and 32 yards. True freshman tight end Maleek Henderson caught three passes for 28 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown, the first of his career. NCCU enjoyed a steady ground game as well, accumulating 262 rushing yards for an average of 6.4 yards per carry. Sophomore Dorrel McClain recorded 130 yards rushing with a pair of touchdowns, while back-up quarterback Naiil Ramadan also scored on a 7-yard scamper. The redshirt freshman also passed for 144 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore safety Alden McClellon topped the NCCU defensive effort with 10 tackles, including one of the Eagles 10 stops for a loss. The unit's three sacks were posted by linebacker Reggie Hunter (6 tackles), and defensive ends Kawuan Cox (4 tackles) and Antonio Brown (4 tackles). Cox also contributed another hit for a loss and a forced fumble, which he recovered. Saint Augustine's (0-3) finished with 246 yards of total offense.

(#13 William & Mary 35, Norfolk State 10 - Williamsburg, Va.) No. 13 ranked William & Mary rushed for 277 yards and five touchdowns to lift the Tribe to a 35-10 win over Norfolk State on Sept. 17 at Zable Stadium. W&M held a 459-237 edge in total offense. NSU quarterback Greg Hankerson completed 13-of-25 passes for 125 yards and also led the Spartans in rushing, with 43 yards. The loss was the second in a row for the Spartans, both coming at the hands of top-15 ranked FCS teams. NSU fell to then-No. 2 Richmond last week.

THE COACHES    
NCCU: Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his third season as a college head coach. He boasts 11 years of coaching experience, including stints with five NCAA Division I programs and three conference championship teams. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Mack has held positions as wide receivers coach at the University of South Alabama (2012-13) and the University of Memphis (2011), as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2010), as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2008-09), as wide receivers and tight ends coach at Jackson State University (2006-07), and as an offensive graduate assistant at Delta State University (2004-05). Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season (1999) to Arkansas State University.  He lettered three years at Arkansas State (2001-03) before earning his bachelor's degree in management information systems in 2003. Mack completed his master's degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006.

Norfolk State: Latrell Scott was named the 17th head football coach in Norfolk State history on Dec. 16, 2014. Scott joined NSU following a two-year run as head coach at Virginia State University. Scott directed the Trojans to a 19-4 record and two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Northern Division regular-season titles in his two seasons in Petersburg. The Trojans never lost to a CIAA team under Scott's direction, going a combined 15-0. Scott was named the 2014 CIAA Coach of the Year. NSU is the third head coaching position in Scott's career. In addition to leading VSU the last two years, Scott was head coach at the University of Richmond in 2010. He led the Spiders to a 6-5 mark that season. In addition to his previous stints as a head coach, Scott has also served as an assistant coach at James Madison University (2012), the University of Virginia (2009), the University of Tennessee (2008), Richmond (2005-07), VMI (2002-04), Western Carolina (2001) and Fork Union Military Academy (1999-2000).

THREE NCCU EAGLES EARN WEEKLY MEAC FOOTBALL AWARDS    
Three North Carolina Central University Eagles – Malcolm Bell, Carl Jones and Naiil Ramadan – have been selected for weekly Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football awards for their performances during a 65-7 win over Saint Augustine's, the MEAC announced Monday. Bell, a redshirt-senior quarterback from Richmond, Virginia, has been named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week. He amassed 317 yards of total offense and was responsible for four touchdowns. Bell completed 19 of 24 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 47 yards and another touchdown, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. Jones, a redshirt-senior from Nashville, Tennessee, has been chosen as the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week. He scored a touchdown on first career rushing attempt, a 2-yard rumble into the end zone in the second quarter on Saturday. Jones also helped pave the way for the team's 676 yards of total offense, marking the second-highest offensive output in NCCU history and the most by the Eagles since 1982. Jones graded out at 94 percent on blocking assignments with eight pancake blocks and no sacks allowed. Ramadan, a redshirt-freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been honored as the MEAC Rookie of the Week. He accounted for two touchdowns and 159 yards of total offense in a back-up quarterback role. Ramadan completed 6 of 10 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 15 yards and a touchdown.

MACK OFF TO FAST START AS NCCU HEAD COACH    
Jerry Mack is the first NCCU football head coach to win 15 games in his first two seasons. Willie Smith won 14 in 1973 (7-4) and 1974 (7-2-2). After the Eagles went 7-5 in Mack's first season for a share of the MEAC title, his squad posted an 8-3 record in 2015 to earn a second straight conference co-championship. 

EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTS    
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Eagles have demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. In the past 47 games, NCCU has scored 30 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including six in 2015, five in 2014, nine in 2013 and 10 in 2012. In that time, the Eagles have made trips to the end zone on 12 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

BELL ACHIEVES PASSING, TOTAL OFFENSE MILESTONES    
Among NCCU career leaders, redshirt-senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.) ranks seventh in passing yards (4,462) and fourth in total offense yards (5,438) in his four-year career (2013-16). Bell needs 199 yards of total offense to pass Michael Johnson (2008-11) into third among NCCU career leaders.

BELL FIRST NCCU QUARTERBACK TO RUN FOR 100 YARDS SINCE 1999    
On Oct. 10, 2015, NCCU signal caller Malcolm Bell rushed for 101 yards at Florida A&M to become the first Eagles quarterback to amass 100 yards on the ground since 1999, when Darrell Nesbitt ran for 156 yards against Benedict College (Sept. 25, 1999). The dual-threat quarterback needs 24 rushing yards to become the first Eagle in school history to amass 1,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards in a career.

TEN EAGLES EARN PRESEASON ALL-MEAC HONORS    
Ten NCCU Eagles were voted to the 2016 Preseason All-MEAC Football Team. Leading the way for NCCU on the All-MEAC First Team are senior quarterback Malcolm Bell (Richmond, Va.), senior center Carl Jones (Nashville, Tenn.), senior offensive lineman Desmond Cooper (Stafford, Va.) and senior linebacker Jeremy Miles (Durham, N.C.). All-MEAC Second Team distinction was awarded to sophomore running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), senior offensive lineman Tarrance Wells (Oxon Hill,, Md.), junior defensive lineman Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), sophomore defensive back Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.) and senior return specialist LaVontis Smith (Maben, Miss.). Junior defensive lineman Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.) rounded out NCCU's selections on the All-MEAC Third Team.

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL    
North Carolina Central University is in its sixth season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletic competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles have won 12 conference championships as members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1953, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1980, 2005, 2006) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1972, 1973, 2014, 2015), and have made three appearances in the NCAA playoffs (1988, 2005, 2006). The Eagles won back-to-back football conference championships and a Black College National Championship in their final two years in the Division II ranks (2005 and 2006) before starting the transition to Division I in 2007. During its storied gridiron tradition, NCCU has produced 136 all-conference selections, 65 all-Americans, 41 NFL draft picks, 12 conference championships and two Black College National Championships. Two Eagles have represented NCCU on the National Football League's grandest stage - the Super Bowl. The first NCCU Eagle to make a Super Bowl appearance was Richard Sligh, who was a reserve tackle with the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1968. Sligh, who holds the distinction as the tallest player in NFL history (7'0"), played at NCCU from 1962-64 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL draft. On Jan. 24, 1982, former NCCU Eagle Louis Breeden was a starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier in the season (Nov. 8, 1981), Breeden intercepted a pass thrown by San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and returned it a team-record 102 yards for a touchdown. The following year, he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro. A two-time all-conference pick during his NCCU career from 1973-76, Breeden was chosen by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL draft. He completed his 10-year NFL career with 33 interceptions for 558 return yards and two touchdowns. The first Eagle selected in the NFL Draft was Matt Boone, who was taken by the Giants with the eighth pick in the 18th round in 1956. The latest Eagle announced during the NFL Draft was Ryan Smith, who was chosen by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2016. NCCU's highest draft pick was Doug Wilkerson, who was selected in the first round with the 14th overall pick of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Oilers. The Eagles have also had three second-round NFL draft picks, including Robert Massey in 1989 by the Saints, Charles Smith in 1975 by the Broncos and Chuck Hinton in 1962 by the Browns. HBCU football pioneer John Brown, who represented NCCU (then North Carolina College) on the gridiron in the 1940s, was one of the first to play professional football out of a historically black college or university. Brown shares the honor with Ezzret Anderson of Kentucky State and Elmore Harris of Morgan State, who all began their professional football careers in 1947. Brown and Anderson were teammates on the Los Angeles Dons, while Harris was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. According to NCCU records, Brown was the first of the three to sign a professional football contract. He played center and linebacker with the Dons from 1947-49, before moving to the Canadian Football League.