DURHAM, N.C. — Points were at a premium on a rainy Saturday afternoon at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, and while the North Carolina Central University football program found the end zone twice on the ground, the Eagles fell 17-14 to William & Mary during Homecoming.
Despite rushing for 282 yards on the day, the Eagles are now 2-5 on the season following the conclusion of non-conference play. NCCU has lost four in a row for the first time since the 2011 season.
The Tribe (3-4) got on the board first thanks to the special teams unit. Ryan Vail blocked the Eagles' punt, which Jack Reuter recovered at the 10-yard line and took it the other way to put William & Mary up 7-0 at the 13:35 mark of the first quarter.
The score stayed that way until the midway point of the second quarter, when the Eagles capped a 9-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard run from junior quarterback Joshua Jones, tying the game at 7-7.
That score held at the halftime break.
After an Eagles three-and-out, William & Mary took a 14-7 lead at the 7:40 mark of the third quarter when Winston Watkins found Alfred Honesty for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Eagles answered on the ensuing drive, when quarterback Cobey Thompkins scampered 68 yards on a keeper. NCCU's biggest play of the day tied the game at 14-14 with 6:16 remaining in the quarter.
But the Tribe took the lead for good with 12:13 left in the game on a 41-yard field goal from Max Lipinski.
Despite not reaching the end zone, running back Gino Addison rushed 22 times for 169 yards. He averaged nearly eight yards per carry on the afternoon.
Thompkins added 98 yards on the ground, plus his third-quarter score.
The Eagles are off this coming Saturday, before opening MEAC play on Friday, Oct. 23, when they head to Dover, Del., to take on Delaware State in a game that will be shown live on ESPN2.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
Game Notes
- NCCU has lost four in a row for the first time since the 2011 season.
- The Eagles have dropped back-to-back Homecoming games for the first time since 1996-98.
- The Eagles close non-conference play with a 2-5 mark.
- Freshman kicker Riley Daniels went without a made field goal for the first time this season.
- Quarterback Cobey Thompkins had the longest play from scrimmage with his 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
- The Eagles nearly had two 100-yard rushers on the day; running back Gino Addison ran for 169 yards on 22 carries, while Thompkins added 98 yards on the ground.
- The Eagles' 282 rushing yards were the highest total of the season.
- NCCU's defense had two more takeaways, as defensive backs Jakarri Martin II and Amari Sifford each had an interception.
- The Eagles now have 16 takeaways on the season.
- Linebacker Cameron Cartlidge led the Eagles with nine tackles on the afternoon. Martin added eight stops.
