DURHAM, N.C. – With 16 seconds remaining in a critical MEAC match-up, North Carolina Central University took its first lead of the game with a fourth-down, 4-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Chauncey Caldwell to sophomore receiver
Xavier McKoy.
However, on the game's final play, starting with just five seconds on the clock, Bethune-Cookman University quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. rolled to his left, set his feet and fired a pass to the end zone, where the ball was deflected and caught by Keavon Mitchell for the game-winning, 48-yard touchdown.
The wild 13-10 Wildcat victory ends NCCU's run for a fourth consecutive conference championship.
Caldwell accounted for 248 of NCCU's 307 yards of total offense, rushing for a season-high 148 yards and passing for 100 yards, completing 14 of 32 attempts with an interception and the go-ahead touchdown.
Bethune-Cookman (6-4, 5-2 MEAC) was held to 178 total yards, with nearly half of the Wildcats 100 yards passing coming on the last play.
Senior linebacker Kenneth O'Neal topped the Eagles' defense with seven tackles, including 1.5 stops for a loss with a solo sack. Sophomore defensive end
Kawuan Cox registered 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two pass break-ups.
NCCU (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) will close out the regular-season on Nov. 18 against rival North Carolina A&T in Greensboro.
