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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
Norfolk State University "Spartans" vs. North Carolina Central University "Eagles"
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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 21, 2017 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.
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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.
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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
Norfolk State (2-4 overall, 2-1 MEAC); #25 N.C. Central (5-1 overall, 3-0 MEAC)
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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).
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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 fifth straight victory for the Eagles, NCCU remains at No. 25 in this week's STATS FCS Top 25 poll.
•  The Eagles have won 11 straight home games, the longest home win streak in school history and the fourth-longest current streak in NCAA Division I-FCS.
•  NCCU has won 18 consecutive conference games, which is the second-longest current streak in NCAA Division I-FCS (Jacksonville State: 27-OVC). S.C. State holds the MEAC record with 21 straight conference victories from 2008-10.
•  Saturday will be the 15th meeting between the Eagles and the Spartans since the teams first met on Nov. 14, 1981. NCCU leads the series 9-5 with four straight wins.
•  NCCU (two interceptions, two fumbles lost) and Norfolk State (three interceptions, one fumble lost) have only turned the ball over four times each, which ties for fifth among NCAA Division I-FCS leaders in turnovers lost.
•  Norfolk State has scored four touchdowns on fumble recoveries.
•  NCCU's defense ranks third in NCAA Division I-FCS and tops MEAC in third-down conversion percentage defense (26.9 percent). The Eagles are also 16th in the nation with an average of 7.8 tackles for loss per game, and 16th with 3.0 sacks per game.
•  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 of the last five 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. 16), NCCU junior
Marley Conley was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
•  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.
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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.
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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 15th football meeting between NCCU and Norfolk State since the teams first met in 1981. NCCU leads the series 9-5, including four straight victories and seven of the last nine. NCCU holds a 6-2 advantage in match-ups versus the Spartans in Durham, with Norfolk State's last road win coming on Nov. 4, 1995.
9/24/2016 - NCCU 34, NSU 31 (Norfolk, Va.)
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 (Durham, N.C.)
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.)
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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
(NCCU 34, Norfolk State 31 - Norfolk, Va. - Sept. 24, 2016) North Carolina Central University amassed 401 yards of total offense and forced the Spartans to settle for three red-zone field goals during a 34-31 victory over Norfolk State University in William "Dick" Price Stadium.
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THE LAST MEETING IN DURHAMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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 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.
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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 24, Gardner-Webb 17 (Durham, N.C.): No. 25 North Carolina Central University amassed 409 yards of total offense, including a season-high 333 passing yards by freshman quarterback
Chauncey Caldwell, to lift the Eagles past Gardner-Webb University by a score of 24-17 inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The nationally-ranked Eagles extended their school record home win streak to 11 games. Sophomore wide receiver
Xavier McKoy made the most of his three catches, finishing with 139 receiving yards, including an 89-yard touchdown on the third-longest pass play in NCCU history.
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Hampton 16, Norfolk State 14 (Norfolk, Va.): Hampton jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and outlasted Norfolk State 16-14 in the 55th edition of the Battle of the Bay rivalry on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium.
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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.
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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).
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NCCU REMAINS NO. 25 IN 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
NCCU entered the STATS FCS Top 25 poll at No. 25 last week. After the Eagles recorded a 24-17 win over Gardner-Webb on Oct. 14, their fifth consecutive victory, NCCU remains 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.
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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 enters the contest against Norfolk State riding an 18-game conference win streak, which is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA Division I-FCS behind Jacksonville State's 27 straight Ohio Valley Conference wins. 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.
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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 64 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.).
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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.
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