WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Eagles of North Carolina Central University defeated the Howard University Bison 41-6 to keep their MEAC championship hopes alive.The Eagles got off to a slow start as a fumble on the opening drive set up a Howard 39-yard field goal. The Eagles responded on the very next drive with a field goal of their own, a 25-yarder by Nigel Macauley, to tie the game at 3. That kick by Macauley broke the school record for field goals in a season with 17.
The game remained tied until the 2:47 mark in the second quarter, when a 6-yard touchdown run by redshirt junior quarterback Malcolm Bell put NCCU up 10-3. It did not take long for NCCU to extend its lead as a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by redshirt freshman Davanta Reynolds put the score at 17-3.
At halftime the score was 20-3 as a 21-yard field goal by Macauley, the 18th of his rookie campaign, on the last play of the half gave the Eagles a comfortable lead.
After going scoreless in the third quarter, redshirt freshman Ramone Simpson found the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the score at 27-6.
In the fourth quarter, Bell went on to find his rhythm in the passing game with an 8-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Armani Lanier, his sixth of the season, and a 74-yarder to junior LaVontis Smith to get two passing touchdowns on the day, and three total.
"We started out a little slow in the first quarter, but after that we got clicking," NCCU head coach Jerry Mack said. "I'm very proud of the guys offensively, defensively, and special teams came out and made a lot of different plays tonight."
NCCU has beaten Howard three years in a row and now takes the all-time series lead at 10-9-1.
On defense, NCCU (7-3, 6-1 MEAC) stopped all four of Howard's fourth down conversion attempts, remaining the only team in the NCAA to not allow a fourth down conversion. Senior safety C.J. Moore led the way with 11 tackles. The Eagles also intercepted four passes, with picks by Reynolds, Reggie Hunter, Cyrus Stanback and Tre'Von King. "Defense played outstanding, to hold a team to six points, and what they've been doing all year long on fourth down has been outstanding," Mack said.
NCCU finished the game with 424 yards of total offense. Bell accounted for 333 yards of it, gaining 41 on the ground and 292 through the air. "We just stayed the course, started a little slow, but came out in the second half and got it rolling," said Bell.
NCCU is currently on a six-game winning streak, claiming each game by an average margin of victory of 17 points. Next week, the Eagles travel to Greensboro to play in their regular-season finale against rival North Carolina A&T to determine the conference winner.
Looking ahead to next week, Mack said, "It's championship week, that's what we talked to the guys about in the locker room. We work 12 months out the year for one opportunity to have a chance to play for a championship, and we got
it this Saturday."
BOX SCORE
Written by Justice Davis, NCCU student assistant
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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