NC A&T loss leads to scuffle

Photo: NCA&T and NCCU getting pepper sprayed by stadium security during after game brawl at mid-field.

Slide Show: The NCCU/A&T Scuffle and Pepper Spray Dance:
http://mm.news-record.com/legacy/indepth/07/ncat_092207/

By Keith Tolbert, Special to the News & Record

GREENSBORO -- N.C. A&T was 6 yards from ending almost two years of futility, but fell short of victory once again Saturday night.

The Aggies drove 74 yards in the game's final two minutes and had a second-and-goal at the N.C. Central 6 with 23 seconds left. Quarterback Herbert Miller dropped back and tried to hit a receiver in the slot, but the pass was intercepted by Central's Eric Ray, who preserved a 27-22 Eagles victory before a near-sellout crowd at Aggie Stadium.

After the game, some N.C. Central players stomped on the Aggies' logo at midfield, causing a shoving match among players and prompting at least one security officer to use pepper spray. The teams were separated after about two minutes.

"I can still taste the pepper spray," said A&T coach Lee Fobbs, who was in the middle trying to break up the scuffle. "It was very unfortunate that it happened, and we will deal with our guys."

Players wouldn't comment on the scuffle.

"It was two rival schools ... it was a lot of emotion," said Rod Gray, an assistant in the A&T sports information department. "The coaches did a good job of separating everybody."

Central coach Mose Rison said: "I'm disappointed in what happened."

The loss was the 20th straight for A&T (0-4), which hasn't won since 2005. Central raised its record to 4-1.

The midfield incident overshadowed a fine football game in which the lead changed four times.

The Aggies outgained the Eagles in yardage 412-199 and entered the fourth quarter with a 19-14 lead.

But it was all downhill for A&T after that.

On the fifth play of the fourth quarter, Aggies quarterback Shelton Morgan tried to throw a short out pass to a receiver, but Derrick Ray jumped in front of it and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 21-19 lead.

On the Aggies' next possession, Morgan took them deep into Eagles territory, but he overthrew a receiver. This time defensive back Jeffrey Henderson was there, and he returned the interception 72 yards for a touchdown. That made the score 27-19 with 8:30 to play.

Eric Houston kicked an A&T field goal with 4:51 left, and the Aggies drove to the Central 6 on their next possession. Then came the final interception.

"The opportunity we had was taken away on a great play by the defender," Fobbs said of Eric Ray. "We thought we had something, but he just stepped in front and made a great play."

It was Central's third interception of the fourth quarter.

"You've got to take care of the football," Fobbs said. "We thought we could do some things against them and we did, but we didn't take care of the football."

While the Aggies were making plenty of mistakes, the N.C. Central offense was quietly efficient. Although the Eagles were outgained, they made no turnovers.

Staff writer Jason Hardin contributed to this report.


N.C. Central 7 7 0 13 -- 27

N.C. A&T 0 9 10 3 -- 22

NCCe--Scott 44 pass from S.Brown (Gray kick)

NCAT--Safety

NCAT--Ferguson 1 run (Houston kick)

NCCe--Chr.Edwards 4 pass from S.Brown (Gray kick), :48.

NCAT--McNair 1 run (Houston kick)

NCAT--FG Houston 27

NCCe--D.Ray 23 interception return (Gray kick)

NCCe--Henderson 72 interception return (kick failed)

NCAT--FG Houston 39

A--19,320.


NCCe NCAT
First downs 11 18

Rushes-yards 32-102 42-164

Passing 97 248

Comp-Att-Int 11-18-0 22-30-3

Return Yards 116 56

Punts-Avg. 6-28.0 3-39.3

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0

Penalties-Yards 7-35 9-80

Time of Possession 27:11 32:49

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--N.C. Central, Shankle 14-66, J.Campbell 8-36, Abdul-Azeez 5-16, Team 1-(minus 4), S.Brown 4-(minus 12). N.C. A&T, Ferguson 13-113, Miller 7-27, McNair 5-18, Robinson 9-11, Parnell 1-3, Morgan 7-(minus 8).

PASSING--N.C. Central, S.Brown 11-18-0-97. N.C. A&T, Morgan 13-17-2-121, Miller 9-13-1-127.

RECEIVING--N.C. Central, Blackwell 4-18, Spears 3-19, Scott 1-44, Alston 1-16, Chr.Edwards 1-4, J.Campbell 1-(minus 4). N.C. A&T, Walls 6-42, Caldwell 5-69, C.Dawson 3-30, Lowrance 2-11, Morgan 1-35, Miller 1-15, Whitaker 1-15, Ferguson 1-14, Fisher 1-12, Christen 1-5.