Central State overwhelmed by N.C. Central, 42-3, in Cleveland Classic

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Central State can't afford many things while it tries to rebuild a once dominant football program. The school in Wilberforce, Ohio is besieged by financial woes, with only 13 scholarships for its 70-man squad.

The absence of one of those players on Saturday created a void the Marauders were never able to fill. Without injured starting quarterback Jeffrey Brooks, Central State could not get on track, or into the end zone, as it fell, 42-3, to North Carolina Central at the Cleveland Classic at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Marauders (0-2) were held to 208 total yards of offense, 89 in the first half.

"It always hurts when your three-year starter is out," said Central State coach E.J. Junior about Brooks. "Jeff brings leadership. He knows the offense. He's a competitor. He would've done better, but he would've been under the same fire from North Carolina Central's defensive line."

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N.C. Central bounces back

CLEVELAND -- N.C. Central coach Henry Frazier III had expected his Eagles to perform better Saturday than they did a week earlier in a 48-0 loss to Rutgers. They did not disappoint Frazier.

For the Eagles, all things considered, played as their coach had hoped. His defenders swarmed to the ball, his offense shoved the Central State defense up and down the football field and his Eagles dominated the Marauders en route to a 42-3 win in the 2011 Cleveland Classic. His team's performance, however, was hardly spotless.

"We still were a little sloppy," said Frazier, in his first season at NCCU. "We still committed a lot of penalties, and we had six or seven dropped passes." Perhaps still unnerved by the Rutgers loss, his Eagles dropped three passes in their first two possessions. Those drops, which led to punts, cost them close to 100 yards of offense and ruined opportunities to grab a quick lead.


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First Annual Cleveland Classic Football Game books North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Central State (Oh.) Marauders

Cleveland, OH – The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced at a press conference on January 12, 2011 that they will launch its first annual Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s football game on September 10, 2011 when Central State University Marauders will battle North Carolina Central University Eagles at Cleveland Browns Stadium at noon.

The Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s is more than just a football game and will include an entire weekend of festivities and events for all ages while celebrating premier historically black universities.


Videographer: chicagomarchingbands

"I would like to welcome the Cleveland Classic back home! It's another example of people choosing to host their events in Cleveland. Our downtown sports venues, superb theater district and top of the line restaurants are just a few of the amenities that truly offer a uniquely Cleveland experience,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson, City of Cleveland.

The weekend festivities will begin with a College and Career Fair and a Greek Step Show on Friday, September 9th On Saturday, September 10th, a free tailgate party will energize the community and crowd prior to the noon kickoff at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The game will also include a dynamic Key Bank Marching Bank Half-time Show. The Cleveland Classic weekend is estimated to provide an economic impact of several million dollars to the local region.


Videographer: Music213

“The development of the annual Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s serves as an exciting, catalytic and economically beneficial event for Northeast Ohio. It’s a phenomenal weekend full of events with unique cultural opportunities for all ages. We’re very excited about the match up and look forward to an amazing Classic weekend,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Tickets to the Cleveland Classic football game are now on sale through Ticketmaster and start at $15. FOX Sports Ohio is the official television sponsor of the Cleveland Classic game and will air it live in High Definition. As the area’s leading provider of local sports programming, FOX Sports Ohio reaches more than five million households in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, western Pennsylvania, western New York and West Virginia.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.clevelandclassicfootball.com.