BALTIMORE, Md. – North Carolina Central University used a strong second half and a four-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Davius Richard to spoil Morgan State's homecoming with a 28-17 road victory over the Bears inside Hughes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Morgan State held a 10-7 advantage at halftime, but the Eagles posted 267 of their 415 yards of total offense after intermission and scored touchdowns on three consecutive second-half possessions to earn a win in their conference opener.
 
Richard, who ended the day with 242 yards on 16-for-20 passes, completed 9 of 10 throws in the second half for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He distributed the ball to eight different Eagles, while also rushing for 49 yards.
 
Richard's first scoring toss was spectacular leaping, one-handed grab by tight end Quentin Chaplin from two yards out to tie the score at 7-7 with 1:37 left in the first quarter.
 
Midway through the third quarter, Richard found tight end Isiah Macklin streaking down the sideline for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.
 
Two minutes later Morgan State (0-7, 0-3 MEAC) regained the advantage with a 55-yard touchdown run by Romello Kimbrough.
 
NCCU answered the challenge three minutes later when Richard threw a 53-yard bomb to Andrew Smith, who made an over-the-shoulder grab to put the Eagles back on top, 21-17, with 1:35 remaining in the third stanza.
 
In the middle of the fourth quarter, with the Eagles holding a four-point lead and facing fourth-and-two to go from the Morgan State 26-yard line, NCCU head coach Trei Oliver called timeout and decided to go for it. Latrell Collier, who finished with a team-high 66 ground yards, bulled his way behind the Eagles strong offensive front for three yards and a first down.
 
Moments later, Richard connected with Collier for an 18-yard touchdown pass, capping a 13-play, 91-yard drive to provide the Eagles with a two-score lead.
 
An interception by Kole Jones sealed the victory for NCCU (3-4, 1-0 MEAC).
 
Linebacker Noah Rainbow-Douglas topped NCCU with 10 tackles, including 2.0 stops for a loss with a sack, along with a pass break-up. Fellow linebacker Cole Williams added eight takedowns, while safety Manny Smith contributed six stops, and cornerback JaJuan Hudson tallied five tackles and a pair of pass break-ups.
 
Up next, NCCU hosts South Carolina State on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m., inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.