NORFOLK, Va. - North Carolina Central University amassed 548 yards of total offense and junior quarterback
Davius Richard accounted for five touchdowns as the Eagles beat Norfolk State, 48-14, to clinch their first MEAC championship in six years and earn the conference's bid to the Celebration Bowl.
Richard completed 22-of-31 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 24 yards and another score.
NCCU senior receiver
E.J. Hicks converted five catches into 127 receiving yards, including an 81-yard touchdown dash.
Andrew Smith finished for five grabs for 41 yards,
Devin Smith collected four receptions for 81 yards, and
Joaquin Davis added two catches for 14 yards with a touchdown.
Running backs
Latrell Collier and
J'Mari Taylor registered two touchdowns apiece, one on the ground and another through the air. Collier recorded a team-best 96 rushing yards and caught four passes for 48 yards.
Sophomore defensive back
Kole Jones and redshirt freshman
Max U'Ren posted a team-high seven tackles each, while Jones prevented a Spartan touchdown with an interception in the end zone.
Freshman
Jayden Flaker sparked the Eagles on special teams with a huge blocked punt, his second of the season, which set up NCCU for a touchdown and a two-score advantage late in the second quarter.
After a slow start by NCCU, the Eagles exploded 28 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 28-7 lead into the locker room at intermission. Norfolk State (1-9, 1-3 MEAC) trimmed the gap to 28-14 in the third quarter, but the visitors scored three more touchdowns in the second half to seal the victory.
In his third season as head coach,
Trei Oliver has delivered a conference title to his alma mater, the program's first since 2016, and will lead the Eagles to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17.
However, before the bowl game, NCCU (8-2, 4-1 MEAC) closes out its regular season at Tennessee Tech on Nov. 19.
For more information about NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
