NCCU Uses Special Teams Touchdown to Beat Norfolk State

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- North Carolina Central University used a dominant run game and a special teams touchdown for the fifth straight week to defeat Norfolk State University 24-13, sending 18 NCCU seniors out in style during their last home game inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

NCCU (5-6, 3-4 MEAC) amassed 163 yards on the ground with touchdown runs by senior quarterback Jordan Reid and junior running back Andre Clarke, who led the way with 93 rushing yards. Reid also completed 8-of 16 passes for 103 yards with two interceptions.

The play of the game took place near the start of the fourth quarter with Norfolk State lining up for a field goal that would make it a one-possession game. Instead, NCCU junior Sayyid Muhammad blocked the field goal and teammate C.J. Moore scooped up the loose ball and raced 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles an 11-point cushion. It was the second blocked kick of the contest for Muhammad, who blocked a punt in the third quarter.


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Moore enjoyed a huge afternoon for NCCU. In addition to his game-clinching touchdown, the junior out of Raleigh, N.C., finished with a game-high 12 tackles and three passes defended, including an interception in the end zone to prevent a Spartan score at the end of the first half.

Junior linebacker Ty Brown collected 10 tackles, including 1.5 hits for a loss, along with a forced fumble and two pass deflections for the Eagles. Fellow linebackers Tazmon Foster and Kris Johnson tallied eight stops each, while lineman Felix Small sacked the quarterback twice on the final drive to preserve the victory.

NCCU junior kicker Oleg Parent booted a 25-yard field goal and converted all three extra-point kicks to account for six points.

Norfolk State (3-8, 3-4 MEAC) out-gained the Eagles 396 total yards to 266, but the Spartans scored only once on three trips into the red zone and missed three field goals and an extra-point kick.

NCCU wraps up the season with a trip to Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 23 to face long-time rival North Carolina A&T at 1 p.m.

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COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION