GREENSBORO, North Carolina — N.C. A&T ended its regular season today with a perfect record, toppling Central 24-10.
The unbeaten Aggies (11-0, 8-0) celebrate their first unbeaten MEAC season since 1999. The Aggies are 11-0 for first time in their 93-year history.
Why the Aggies won: A&T protected the football, had a healthy quarterback and got a big lift from backup running back Jamari Smith. The Aggies had no turnovers, and never really came close to one after two deflected passes on their first possession. Junior Lamar Raynard played against the Eagles for the first time and was efficient, making plays with his arm and his feet and taking only one sack. And Smith, a graduate transfer, accounted for 113 total yards and gave A&T some elusiveness in the backfield to go with Marquell Cartwright’s power.
The big plays: A&T’s Elijah Bell, the league’s best wide receiver, made two. He outjumped a Central defensive back in the end zone to haul in a 13-yard touchdown for the game’s first points. Then in the fourth quarter, he made a one-handed catch for a 38-yard gain down the sideline that kept alive a clock-killing 10-play drive that ended with a field goal.
What it means for A&T: The Aggies are 11-0 for the first time in the program’s 93-year history. This is their third MEAC championship in the last four years, but their first outright title since 2003 and the first time they’re undefeated in the MEAC since 1999. They’ll head to the postseason for the third year in a row.
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