GREENSBORO, N.C. — Running back
Chris Mosley practically lived in the end zone at Truist Stadium on Saturday, as the North Carolina Central University football program upended North Carolina A&T 62-20 in the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
In picking up their first road win of the season, the Eagles improved to 3-2.
NCCU has won four straight against the Aggies, and this marked the second straight season in which the Eagles put up at least 60 points on their rivals.
Mosley took the second play of the game's opening drive 53 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the game, to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead following the successful PAT kick by Kaleb Robison.
The Eagles got on the board again following a bad snap by the Aggies that led to a safety and put NCCU up 9-0 at the 8:02 mark of the opening quarter.
By the time Mosley hit the end zone again, from 15 yards out with 6:38 left in the first quarter, the Eagles led their rivals 15-0.
But NCCU's defense wasn't done, either, recording its second safety of the quarter after Aggies quarterback Kevin White was called for intentional grounding in his own end zone. The result of the play credited Christian Smith with a 7-yard sack, and the Eagles had a 17-0 lead at the 5:44 mark.
Arthur Rodgers scored his first of two touchdowns on the night with 6:28 in the half, capping a 6-play, 62-yard drive with a 1-yard score. The score capped a game-opening 24-0 run for the Eagles.
The Aggies (1-3) did score two touchdowns in the second quarter, but Mosley also found the end zone, thanks to a 50-yard pass from quarterback Walker Harris.
By the time the first half ended, the Eagles led 31-14.
The Eagles' opening drive of the second half ended with a touchdown pass caught by Chauncey Spikes from Harris for a touchdown, to give the Eagles a 38-14 lead with a successful PAT kick from Kaleb Robinson.
Mosley caught his second touchdown of the night on the Eagles' next drive, a 30-yarder from Harris, and Rodgers added his second rushing touchdown with 4:01 left in the third quarter, putting the Eagles up front 52-14.
The Aggies' final score of the night came on a fumble return in the third quarter.
Mosley's third rushing score of the night – and his fifth overall – came with 14:44 remaining in the contest, when he busted free for a 75-yarder.
Robison's 21-yard field goal with 5:32 remaining ended the night's scoring.
The Eagles put up the best offensive performance in program history, racking up 765 yards of total offense, 366 of which came on the ground. It marked the first time in program history NCCU recorded 700 yards of total offense in a game.
NCCU's defense held the Aggies to just 294 total yards and 42 on the ground.
The Eagles will hit the road again next Saturday, taking on East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will air live on ESPN+.
For more information on NCCU athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
Game Notes
- Running back Chris Mosley accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving), which tied a program record held by Robert Clark, who scored five against Fayetteville State on Sept. 27, 1986.
- Mosley finished with 168 rushing yards on 11 carries, averaging 15.3 yards a carry.
- Fellow running back Arthur Rodgers also had a stellar game, rushing 12 times for 149 yards and two scores.
- Quarterback Walker Harris had another standout performance, passing for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
- Achieving 765 yards of total offense is a first for NCCU. Prior to Saturday's game, the most total yardage the Eagles ever recorded in a game was 684 (vs Bowie State, Oct. 30, 1982).
- NCCU's defense has held back-to-back opponents under 300 yards of total offense (NCAT 294, Fayetteville State 234). NCAT's 42 rushing yards are the lowest total for an Eagle opponent since Howard managed just 38 rushing yards last season.
