Saturday, April 9, 2016

Three Interceptions, Five Sacks Lead Defense to Victory in NCCU Spring Football Game

DURHAM, North Carolina – Three interceptions and five sacks sparked the Gray defense to a 45-33 victory over the Maroon offense in North Carolina Central University's annual spring football game inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Friday.

Sophomore defensive end Antonio Brown (Jacksonville, Fla.) got things started for the Gray team by recording his first of a game-high three sacks on the opening drive.

The Gray unit's three interceptions were all highlights. Freshman defensive back Jaquell Taylor (Raleigh, N.C.) returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Brandon Galloway (High Point, N.C.), who has converted from tight end to safety, saved a touchdown with an interception in the end zone. And sophomore Roderick "Dee" Harris (Simpsonville, S.C.) intercepted a pass and showed how an interior lineman can run with an 18-yard return.



The Maroon offense used six explosive plays of 30 yards or more to amass 358 yards of total offense, with 243 yards through the air and 115 yards on the ground.

Freshman running back Dorrel McClain (Cary, N.C.), the 2015 MEAC Rookie of the Year, rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns (1 yard, 30 yards) on just eight carries for an average of 6.6 yards per run.

Freshman quarterback Naiil Ramadan (Charlotte, N.C.) completed 15-of-26 passes for 215 yards, including a 52-yard bomb to sophomore receiver David Miller (Wilmington, N.C.).

The game ended with a 30-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback Darius Dobson (Charlotte, N.C.) to Marc Bronson.

Standard scoring applied for the offense, plus one point for each first down. The defense tallied four points for each stopped drive, plus one point for an interception or fumble recovery and one point for a three-and-out. No team was allowed to score more than seven points per drive.

The Eagles open the 2016 gridiron campaign on Sept. 3 at Duke University in the Bull City Gridiron Classic.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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