DURHAM, N.C. — Despite having the ball in the closing minutes, down one score, North Carolina Central University football fell to South Carolina State, 34-27, Friday evening in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
The Eagles fell to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in MEAC play.
The Bulldogs scored first on their second drive of the game behind a 50-yard field goal by kicker Nico Cavanillas Alti to cap a 10-play, 27-yard drive that took 5:07 off the clock.
Kaleb Robison matched with a field goal of his own on the ensuing drive, tying the game at 3-3 with a 41-yarder, capping a 6-play, 51-yard drive.
South Carolina State (8-3, 4-0 MEAC) scored 14 points in just 10 seconds to take a 17-3 lead over the Eagles to close out the first quarter. The scoring started after William Atkins IV connected with Deyandre Ruffin from 28 yards out to take the 10-3 lead.
The Bulldogs then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, and on the first play of the drive, Atkins hit Nigel Johnson deep down the left side for a 51-yard touchdown.
But the Eagles answered with 17 straight points in the second quarter. Robison got that streak started with his second field goal of the night for the Eagles, a 31-yarder to make it 17-6 midway through the second quarter.
Then, on the ensuing drive, Eric Adams recorded his fourth interception of the season and his second return for a touchdown. This one was a 33-yard pick-six to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 17-13.
The Eagles then went 98 yards in their next possession, taking a 20-17 lead on a 9-yard run from Chris Mosley.
NCCU took that lead into the locker room for halftime.
But the Bulldogs tied the game following an Eagles turnover on the opening kickoff of the second half, as Alti made his second field goal of the game, this one from 28 yards.
NCCU retook the lead on the ensuing drive, when quarterback Walker Harris hit Mehki Wall from 35 yards out to put the Eagles up 27-20 with 8:33 left in the third quarter.
It was Wall's fourth receiving touchdown of the season.
The back-and-forth affair continued into early in the fourth quarter, after S.C. State tied the game at 27-27 following a 24-yard touchdown pass from Atkins to Jordan Smith that capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive.
Then, with 1:51 to play in the game, Josh Shaw took the handoff 30 yards up the right side of the field for the game-winning touchdown.
Wall led the Eagles offensively, with 88 yards on five catches and a score.
Running back Chris Mosley recorded his fifth 100-yard game of the season, going for 105 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.
Defensive back Jelani Vassell led the NCCU defense with a career-high 12 tackles.
The Eagles will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 22, when they travel to Baltimore, Md., to take on Morgan State. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN+.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
