DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University amassed a season-high 452 yards of total offense and quarterback
Davius Richard posted the sixth-best passing performance in school history, but Norfolk State University left Durham with a 38-21 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Richard, a freshman from Belle Glade, Florida, threw for three touchdowns and 384 yards on 30-of-46 passing. Only NCCU hall of fame quarterback Earl "Air" Harvey (1985-88) has thrown for more passing yards, as he holds the top five single-game passing efforts in school history.
NCCU junior wide receiver
E.J. Hicks collected career-highs of seven receptions for 140 yards, while junior
Ryan McDaniel also had seven catches for 63 yards. Sophomore
Treveyon Pratt added four grabs for 54 yards and a touchdown, and junior
Daeshawn Stephens contributed three catches for 47 yards with two trips to the end zone.
Defensively, senior safety
Deonta Fair tallied a team-high 10 tackles, followed by sophomore linebacker
Jerome Foster with 9 takedowns. Senior defensive tackle
Cyrus Stanback registered sevens stops with a sack, and junior safety
Stephen Stokes collected five tackles with 2.0 hits for a loss.
Norfolk State (4-6, 3-3 MEAC) was topped by quarterback Juwan Carter with 249 yards and two touchdowns passing, along with a rushing touchdown. Safety Nigel Chavis amassed a team-best 10 tackles, while defensive end De'Shaan Dixon posted five tackles, including 3.0 hits for a loss with 2.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The visiting Spartans jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead, but NCCU (4-6, 3-3 MEAC) took the opening drive of the third quarter 90 yards to pull to within three points on Stephens' first of two touchdown catches.
Norfolk State responded with a 60-yard drive for a score, then scooped up a sack-fumble for a defensive touchdown to go ahead 31-14 at 5:48 of the third stanza. That proved to be enough of a cushion for the Spartans to upset the sellout homecoming crowd of 12,319.
NCCU returns to O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 16) for "Senior Day" against South Carolina State University. Kickoff on ESPN3 is set for 2 p.m.
