Photo: NCCU's quarterback Stadford Brown fumbles as Presbyterian College's Brian Leonardi (right) gets the strip and fellow Blue Hose teammate Chris Bowman (top) looks to make the play on Saturday at O'Kelley-Riddick Stadium. The Blue Hose won 34-27.
Attendance: 7,021
By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun
N.C. Central's defense had gained a reputation for wreaking havoc on opponents' passing all season, but the Eagles hadn't seen a running game like the one Presbyterian put together Saturday.
NCCU managed three touchdowns in the final eight minutes, but when it was over the Eagles were looking at the losing end of a 34-27 score at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
Blue Hose sophomore S.J. Worrell rushed for a career-high 154 yards, while quarterback Tim Webb -- starting in place of starter Grayson Mullins, who did not make the trip for reasons that were not announced -- completed 16 of 23 passes for three touchdowns.
"They played us tough until the very end," Blue Hose coach Bobby Bentley said. "With our No. 1 quarterback out, we decided to put more emphasis on the running game today, and I thought we did a good job."
NCCU quarterback Stadford Brown completed 26 of 47 passes for 372 yards -- both career bests -- and three touchdowns with one interception. Will Scott caught eight passes for 134 yards, both career highs, including two for touchdowns. Freshman Deshawn Spears had season highs of nine catches and 103 yards.
"I'm proud of my team because, once again, we didn't quit," NCCU coach Mose Rison said. "We got behind and knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but we kept playing.
"And I can't say enough about Stadford's game. He's a gutsy quarterback and a good football player."
The game was NCCU's first at home as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision against a fellow FCS member. The two schools are the only members of the NCAA in their first season at this level, and this was the first win against an FCS team for the Blue Hose (2-3). The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Eagles (4-2).
The Eagles scored on their first drive, going 70 yards in 11 plays as Brown connecting with Spears from 15 yards out. Taylor Gray's kick gave NCCU a 7-0 lead with 9:04 left in the quarter.
Presbyterian tied the score with 14:20 left in the half, as Chetyuane Reeder scored from 6 yards out to complete a 13-play, 70-yard march.
The Blue Hose scored again on their next series, with Reeder going in from the 1 to finish a 15-play, 78-yard drive that included a pair of fourth-down conversions.
But the biggest play of the first half came with 1:57 to go, when the Eagles' Tim Shankle came up short on fourth-and-goal from the Presbyterian 3.
NCCU was deep in Blue Hose territory again late in the third period after Tyrone Williams' 21-yard interception return gave the Eagles the ball at the Presbyterian 49. But Brown was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-6 at the 16.
The Blue Hose responded with a 10-play, 84-yard drive. Webb hit Larry Thomas for a 17-yard scoring pass, helping make it 21-7 with 12:07 left in the game.
Presbyterian scored an important insurance touchdown less than a minute later after Brown fumbled at NCCU's 7-yard line and PC's Antwan Thomas recovered. Two plays later, Webb found Larry Thomas in the back of the end zone, and after Cam Miller's kick was blocked, the Blue Hose led 27-7 with 11:30 to go.
The Eagles scored again with 7:38 as Shankle went in from 2 yards out. Gray missed the conversion kick, and Presbyterian's Chris Robinson covered the onside kick to end the drama.
The Blue Hose took four plays to take the ball 39 yards for a score, with Webb hitting Jordan High alumnus Robert Bumgarner from 17 yards out for the first catch of his career. Miller's boot stretched the lead to 34-13 with 6:05 remaining.
"And [it was] the first touchdown catch of my life," Bumgarner said with a laugh. "It felt pretty good to be the first option and score a touchdown in my hometown.
"Central has a great football team, but our defense made the plays we needed for them to make."
NCCU cut the margin to two touchdowns when Brown hit Brandon Alston from 25 yards out with 4:36 left for the Hillside alum's first touchdown reception. This time, Gray made the point-after kick, and Tyrone Williams recovered the onside kick to give the Eagles life.
The Eagles cut the margin to 34-27 with 3:22 left, as Brown connected with Scott from 43 yards out.
"At least we never quit," Scott said. "No matter what, we don't quit."
Presbyterian recovered the onside kick but ran out of downs at the NCCU 25 with 1:24 left. The result wasn't decided until Antwan Thomas broke up a Brown pass on fourth-and-14 from the Presbyterian 45.
"We just turned it on too late," Brown said. "I'm proud of the way we came back. Both Scott and Spears made a lot of big catches today.
"But the bottom line is we lost. Whether it was by an inch or a mile, we lost."
NOTES -- The Eagles were without one unnamed player, suspended for his role in the fight after last week's victory over North Carolina A&T. The suspended player apparently was not in NCCU's two-deep. ... NCCU will have an open date Saturday before hosting North Greenville for homecoming on Oct. 13. Presbyterian hosts North Greenville on Saturday.
Attendance: 7,021
By MIKE POTTER, The Herald-Sun
N.C. Central's defense had gained a reputation for wreaking havoc on opponents' passing all season, but the Eagles hadn't seen a running game like the one Presbyterian put together Saturday.
NCCU managed three touchdowns in the final eight minutes, but when it was over the Eagles were looking at the losing end of a 34-27 score at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
Blue Hose sophomore S.J. Worrell rushed for a career-high 154 yards, while quarterback Tim Webb -- starting in place of starter Grayson Mullins, who did not make the trip for reasons that were not announced -- completed 16 of 23 passes for three touchdowns.
"They played us tough until the very end," Blue Hose coach Bobby Bentley said. "With our No. 1 quarterback out, we decided to put more emphasis on the running game today, and I thought we did a good job."
NCCU quarterback Stadford Brown completed 26 of 47 passes for 372 yards -- both career bests -- and three touchdowns with one interception. Will Scott caught eight passes for 134 yards, both career highs, including two for touchdowns. Freshman Deshawn Spears had season highs of nine catches and 103 yards.
"I'm proud of my team because, once again, we didn't quit," NCCU coach Mose Rison said. "We got behind and knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but we kept playing.
"And I can't say enough about Stadford's game. He's a gutsy quarterback and a good football player."
The game was NCCU's first at home as a member of the Football Championship Subdivision against a fellow FCS member. The two schools are the only members of the NCAA in their first season at this level, and this was the first win against an FCS team for the Blue Hose (2-3). The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Eagles (4-2).
The Eagles scored on their first drive, going 70 yards in 11 plays as Brown connecting with Spears from 15 yards out. Taylor Gray's kick gave NCCU a 7-0 lead with 9:04 left in the quarter.
Presbyterian tied the score with 14:20 left in the half, as Chetyuane Reeder scored from 6 yards out to complete a 13-play, 70-yard march.
The Blue Hose scored again on their next series, with Reeder going in from the 1 to finish a 15-play, 78-yard drive that included a pair of fourth-down conversions.
But the biggest play of the first half came with 1:57 to go, when the Eagles' Tim Shankle came up short on fourth-and-goal from the Presbyterian 3.
NCCU was deep in Blue Hose territory again late in the third period after Tyrone Williams' 21-yard interception return gave the Eagles the ball at the Presbyterian 49. But Brown was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-6 at the 16.
The Blue Hose responded with a 10-play, 84-yard drive. Webb hit Larry Thomas for a 17-yard scoring pass, helping make it 21-7 with 12:07 left in the game.
Presbyterian scored an important insurance touchdown less than a minute later after Brown fumbled at NCCU's 7-yard line and PC's Antwan Thomas recovered. Two plays later, Webb found Larry Thomas in the back of the end zone, and after Cam Miller's kick was blocked, the Blue Hose led 27-7 with 11:30 to go.
The Eagles scored again with 7:38 as Shankle went in from 2 yards out. Gray missed the conversion kick, and Presbyterian's Chris Robinson covered the onside kick to end the drama.
The Blue Hose took four plays to take the ball 39 yards for a score, with Webb hitting Jordan High alumnus Robert Bumgarner from 17 yards out for the first catch of his career. Miller's boot stretched the lead to 34-13 with 6:05 remaining.
"And [it was] the first touchdown catch of my life," Bumgarner said with a laugh. "It felt pretty good to be the first option and score a touchdown in my hometown.
"Central has a great football team, but our defense made the plays we needed for them to make."
NCCU cut the margin to two touchdowns when Brown hit Brandon Alston from 25 yards out with 4:36 left for the Hillside alum's first touchdown reception. This time, Gray made the point-after kick, and Tyrone Williams recovered the onside kick to give the Eagles life.
The Eagles cut the margin to 34-27 with 3:22 left, as Brown connected with Scott from 43 yards out.
"At least we never quit," Scott said. "No matter what, we don't quit."
Presbyterian recovered the onside kick but ran out of downs at the NCCU 25 with 1:24 left. The result wasn't decided until Antwan Thomas broke up a Brown pass on fourth-and-14 from the Presbyterian 45.
"We just turned it on too late," Brown said. "I'm proud of the way we came back. Both Scott and Spears made a lot of big catches today.
"But the bottom line is we lost. Whether it was by an inch or a mile, we lost."
NOTES -- The Eagles were without one unnamed player, suspended for his role in the fight after last week's victory over North Carolina A&T. The suspended player apparently was not in NCCU's two-deep. ... NCCU will have an open date Saturday before hosting North Greenville for homecoming on Oct. 13. Presbyterian hosts North Greenville on Saturday.
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