Complete game notes PDFÂ Â |Â Â
Press Conference Video Â
Â
THE GAMEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Gardner-Webb University "Runnin' Bulldogs" vs. North Carolina Central Univ. "Eagles"
Â
THE KICKOFFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Saturday, October 14, 2017 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.
Â
THE SITEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium (10,000 capacity / Mondoturf) - Durham, N.C.
Â
THE RECORDSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Gardner-Webb (1-4 overall, 0-0 Big South); #25 N.C. Central (4-1 overall, 3-0 MEAC)
Â
MEDIA COVERAGEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Audio/Video: NCCU Sports Network "
GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:40 p.m. (
Jonathan Duren, play-by-play; Joe Simmons, color analyst).
Â
QUICK HITSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
•  After a road win at Howard, the fourth straight victory for the Eagles, NCCU enters this week's STATS FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25.
•  The Eagles have won 10 straight home games, the longest home win streak in school history.
•  NCCU has won 18 consecutive conference games. S.C. State holds the MEAC record with 21 straight conference victories from 2008-10.
•  Gardner-Webb's four losses have come against an FBS opponent (Wyoming) and three FCS teams that are currently nationally-ranked No. 5 (Wofford), No. 15 (N.C. A&T) and No. 21 (Western Carolina). The Runnin' Bulldogs lost by just three points (27-24) to fifth-ranked Wofford.
•  Gardner-Webb has upset four teams ranked in the FCS top-15 since 2013.
•  NCCU and the Runnin' Bulldogs have met four times, from 1996-99, with each winning on the road for a 2-2 series tie. Gardner-Webb won the last contest 16-0 on Sept. 11, 1999.
•  NCCU has lost four straight games against NCAA Division I-FCS non-conference opponents, with the Eagles last such win on Sept. 14, 2013 at Charlotte (40-13).
•  NCCU's defense ranks 10th in NCAA Division I-FCS with an average of 8.4 tackles for loss per game. The Eagles are also 16th in FCS with 3.2 sacks per game.
•  In NCCU's last four games, the Eagles have allowed only seven second-half points. NCCU has pitched a shutout in five straight second-half quarters.
•  Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 35 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including two defensive scores by
Davanta Reynolds this year.
•  NCCU junior safety
Davanta Reynolds has had a takeaway in four consecutive games: a 15-yard interception return versus Shaw, an 85-yard fumble return for a TD against S.C. State, a 31-yard interception for a TD at Florida A&M, and a 35-yard interception return at Howard.
•  On Monday (Oct. 9), NCCU junior kicker
Aedan Johnson was named MEAC Specialist of the Week for the third time this season.
•  NCCU owns a 24-3 record against MEAC opponents in the last three seasons under head coach
Jerry Mack, including a 3-0 mark against rival NC A&T.
•  Fourth-year head coach
Jerry Mack captured conference titles in each of his first three seasons at NCCU, and became the first head coach in school history to win 24 games in his first three years.
Â
2016 NCCU HIGHLIGHTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
•  Captured the conference's first outright championship since 2012, after sharing the league crown in 2014 and 2015.
•  Became first football team in school history to win a third consecutive conference championship.
•  Beat nationally-ranked No. 9 North Carolina A&T 42-21 on Nov. 19, 2016, to cap an undefeated conference campaign.
•  Earned a trip to the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
•  Posted the most wins in the program's Division I era with nine triumphs.
•  Broke the NCCU single-season record with 4,614 yards of total offense.
•  Received first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18, and then finished at No. 19 in the final 2016 poll.
•  Placed a league-high 17 student-athletes on the All-MEAC teams.
Â
THE SERIESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
This will be the fifth meeting between the Eagles and Gardner-Webb. NCCU and the Runnin' Bulldogs met four times from 1996-99, with each winning on the road for a 2-2 series tie. Gardner-Webb won the last contest 16-0 on Sept. 11, 1999.
09/11/1999 - Gardner-Webb 16, NCCU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
09/12/1998 - NCCU 15, Gardner-Webb 13 (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
09/06/1997 - Gardner-Webb 20, NCCU 12 (Durham, N.C.)
09/07/1996 - NCCU 31, Gardner-Webb 14 (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Â
THE LAST MEETINGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
(Gardner-Webb 16, NCCU 0 - Durham, N.C. - Sept. 11, 1999) Gardner-Webb pitched a 16-0 shutout against NCCU in Eagles head football coach Rudy Abrams' home debut. A stingy NCCU defense surrendered just one touchdown to the Bulldogs, but GWU kicker Ryan Cieslak accounted for 10 points by connecting on all three field goal attempts. The Eagles out-rushed Gardner-Webb by one yard (121 to 120 yards), but completed just 5-of-15 passes for 38 yards.
Â
LAST WEEKÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
NCCU 13, Howard 7 (Washington, D.C.): A pair of takeaways resulted in 10 points for NCCU, including the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter, as the Eagles extend their MEAC win streak to 18 games with a 13-7 road victory over Howard University on Saturday in the nation's capital.
Â
Gardner-Webb 42, Shorter 14 (Boiling Springs, N.C.): Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell ran for 139 yards and two scores on eight carries, and passed for 144 yards and two scores as Gardner-Webb rolled to a 42-14 win over Shorter. The Runnin' Bulldogs ran for 418 yards on 45 carries, which is the second-highest rushing total in school history. Gardner-Webb piled up 579 yards of total offense on 63 plays.
Â
THE COACHESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
NCCU:
Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his fourth season as a college head coach. Mack has led NCCU to three consecutive conference championships and a trip to the 2016 Celebration Bowl. In recognition of his success in 2016, Mack was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Coach of the Year, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Regional Coach of the Year, and as one of 15 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS Coach of the Year. He was also recognized as the HBCU Football Coach of the Year by Black College Sports Page and The Pigskin Club in Washington, D.C., and the HBCU Male Coach of the Year by HBCU Digest. He boasts 12 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.
Â
Gardner-Webb: Carroll McCray (Gardner-Webb, 1983) is in his fifth season in charge of his alma mater's football program. McCray's teams have proven to be giant slayers during his time in Boiling Springs, knocking off four teams ranked in the top-15 since 2013. McCray came back to GWU in January 2013, after spending the 2012 season as the head coach at North Greenville University. He has previous stops as associate head coach at Mercer and as head coach at Austin Peay. As an assistant, McCray has an outstanding track record with stops at Furman, Mississippi State, Samford, South Carolina and Appalachian State. He was a three-year letterwinner on the offensive line at Gardner-Webb under coach Tom Moore.
Â
NCCU ENTERS STATS FCS TOP 25 POLLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
After the Eagles recorded a 13-7 road win at Howard on Oct. 7, their fourth consecutive victory, NCCU enters the STATS FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25. The Eagles received their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18 and finished at No. 19 in the final FCS Coaches poll. NCCU ranked No. 22 in the final 2016 STATS FCS Top 25 poll.
Â
NCCU CONFERENCE WIN STREAK REACHES 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
NCCU will enter the Oct. 21 contest against Norfolk State riding an 18-game conference win streak. A victory over the Spartans would match the second-longest stretch of success in the MEAC by Hampton at 19 from 2004-06. S.C. State holds the record at 21 from 2008-10, while Bethune-Cookman also posted 18 straight league triumphs from 2011-13. NCCU has not lost to a conference opponent since Oct. 3, 2015, a 28-26 setback to Bethune-Cookman.
Â
EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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 63 games, NCCU has scored 35 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including two by
Davanta Reynolds this season, three in 2016, 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 14 punt returns, six kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Â
NCCU IN MEAC PLAYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Since becoming eligible to compete for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship in 2011, NCCU has a conference record of 33-18. The Eagles posted league marks of 1-7 in 2011, 5-3 in 2012 and 3-5 in 2013, 6-2 in 2014, 7-1 in 2015, 8-0 in 2016, and 3-0 in 2017. In four seasons under head coach
Jerry Mack, NCCU owns a 24-3 conference record, including 18 consecutive MEAC wins.
Â
MACK OFF TO FAST START AS NCCU HEAD COACHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Jerry Mack is the first NCCU football head coach to win 24 games in his first three seasons, passing Rod Broadway's 22 victories from 2003-05. After the Eagles went 7-5 in Mack's first season for a share of the MEAC title, and 8-3 in 2015 for consecutive MEAC co-championships, the Eagles closed out the 2016 season at 9-3 overall and 8-0 in conference play to earn the outright MEAC championship. Mack was named 2016 MEAC Coach of the Year and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year.
Â
NCCU NO. 24 IN PRESEASON FCS COACHES POLLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
After a 9-3 season and a third straight conference championship, North Carolina Central University was ranked No. 24 in the preseason FCS Coaches Poll. The Eagles received their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18 and finished at No. 19 in last season's final poll.
Â
TEN NCCU EAGLES VOTED TO PRESEASON ALL-MEAC TEAMSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Ten NCCU Eagles were voted to the Preseason All-MEAC Football Teams. Earning All-MEAC First Team honors for NCCU were junior running back
Ramone Simpson (Wilmington, N.C.), sophomore offensive lineman
Nick Leverett (Concord, N.C.), senior defensive lineman
Ja'Quan Smith (Miramar, Fla.), senior defensive lineman
Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.), senior linebacker
Reggie Hunter (Henderson, N.C.), junior defensive back
Alden McClellon (Lake Butler, Fla.) and senior punter
Nathaniel Tilque (Charlotte, N.C.). Receiving All-MEAC Third Team recognition were junior running back
Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), junior wide receiver
Jalen Wilkes (Greenville, S.C.) and junior defensive back
Davanta Reynolds (Tucker, Ga.).
Â
TWO NCCU EAGLES ON HBCU PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LISTÂ
NCCU senior defensive end
Antonio Brown and junior safety
Alden McClellon have been named to the 2017 Watch List for the Black College Football Player of the Year Award, the Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced on Aug. 16. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Brown, a 6-3, 250-pound Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection out of Jacksonville, Florida, ranked third in MEAC with 8.0 sacks and fourth with a team-high 14.5 tackles for a loss last season. He collected 56 total tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries. McClellon, a 5-11, 190-pound Preseason All-MEAC First Team honoree from Lake Butler, Florida, finished second on the 2016 squad with 79 total tackles, including 7.5 hits for a loss, 2.0 sacks, 5 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The winner of the 2017 Black College Football Player of the Year Award will be honored with the Deacon Jones Trophy during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which takes place on Feb. 10, 2018 in Atlanta. Four finalists will be unveiled on Dec. 12.
Â
ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
North Carolina Central University is in its seventh season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletics competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles have won 13 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, 2016), 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, 66 all-Americans, 41 NFL draft picks, 13 conference championships and two Black College National Championships (1954, 2006). 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. 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.
Â
