ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Despite putting up 24 points in the first half, the North Carolina Central University football program was held scoreless in the second half Saturday afternoon at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, falling 38-24 to South Carolina State.
The loss snaps the Eagles' three-game winning streak and drops them to 5-6 (3-1 MEAC) on the season.
The Eagles scored on their opening drive when running back Gino Addison ran up the middle for 59 yards to record his fourth rushing touchdown of the season giving NCCU an early 7-0 lead.
S.C. State matched the Eagles' score with one of its own on the ensuing drive, when Keely Watson found Tory Hillman down the left side for a 30-yard touchdown catch to even the game at 7-7 with 10:50 left in the opening quarter.Â
NCCU found paydirt on their next possession, when quarterback Joshua Jones found Mehki Wall in the back of the endzone to cap off a 10-play, 59-yard drive and give the Eagles a 13-7 lead.Â
The Bulldogs responded in what ended up being a high-scoring first quarter with a 21-yard touchdown catch from Watson to Ricorian Brown, tying the game again at 14-14 at the 2:13 mark of the frame.Â
The Eagles scored again when Jones found RJ Lancaster from 14 yards out to take a 21-14 lead over the Bulldogs with 11:53 left in the second quarter.Â
S.C. State answered yet again, using a trick play that had Zaivan Offord throw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Malaqhi Jones to tie it back up midway through the second quarter.
Riley Daniels kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1:54 left in the half, giving the Eagles a 24-21 lead, but the Bulldogs (9-2, 4-0 MEAC) hit a 38-yard field goal of their own in the closing seconds, sending both teams into the locker room with a 24-all score.
S.C. State carried the momentum from that late first-half score into the third quarter, taking the opening drive 65 yards in 10 plays before Watson hit Jones from 10 yards out, putting the Bulldogs up 31-24 with 10:21 left in the quarter.
Marquis Lane-Owens gave S.C. State the exclamation point 47 seconds later, registering a 15-yard pick-six to put the Bulldogs up 38-24.
The Eagles had 314 total yards for the game, but they were held to just 110 yards — and no points — in the second half.
Addison recorded his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 119 on 22 carries.
The Eagles will wrap up the regular season next Saturday, celebrating Senior Day at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium against Morgan State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN+.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
Game Notes
- Running back Gino Addison recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game in the last five contests, going for 119 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
- Addison averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
- Quarterback Joshua Jones threw two touchdown passes – his third straight game with multiple touchdown passes.
- Kicker Riley Daniels had made at least one field goal in 10 of 11 games this season.
- The Eagles defense had 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries on the afternoon.
- NCCU recorded one more turnover on defense, thanks to a fumble recovery from linebacker Camereon Cartlidge.
- The Eagles now have an FCS-high 22 takeaways on the season.
- S.C. State has won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams.
