DURHAM, North Carolina -- The Gray Offense edged the Maroon Defense in a tightly-contested scrimmage to wrap up spring practice for North Carolina Central University under first-year head coach Jerry Mack.
The Gray team scored three touchdowns, kicked two field goals and three extra points, and moved the chains 14 times to amass 41 points. The Maroon team made eight stops, including an interception and a 3-and-out to tally 34 points, while also adding 13 tackles for a loss with six sacks.
Junior wide receiver Adrian Wilkins, who garnered All-MEAC and All-America honors in 2013, continued to dazzle NCCU fans by making two trips to the end zone. His first touchdown catch was a 25-yard over-the-shoulder grab in the back of the end zone. His second was a screen pass that he broke off for a 25-yard score. Wilkins finished with a team-best six receptions for 87 yards.
Junior transfer quarterback Quinn Billerman, who was the triggerman on both of Wilkins' touchdowns, completed 14 of 22 passes for 150 yards with those two scores and an interception.
Sophomore quarterback Malcolm Bell completed his first three passes for 86 yards (25, 31, 30), finishing with 136 yards on 8-for-12 passing.3
Senior running back Andre Clarke topped the ground game with 30 yards on eight carries. Junior Deyonta Wright contributed 16 yards on nine rushes, while junior Kevin Thompson accounted for the Eagles' rushing touchdown with a seven-yard scamper.
The Maroon Defense was charged by senior Ty Brown, who has converted from linebacker to defensive end. Brown collected a team-high six tackles, including three hits for a loss with a sack.
Junior defensive back Theo Livingston recorded five stops, including a pair of tackles for a loss with a sack, senior defensive lineman Felix Small posted five tackles with a sack, redshirt-freshman defensive back Tariq Jacobs tallied five takedowns, including a hit for a loss, while sophomore linebacker Jeremy Thompson also had five tackles. Junior defensive back Haki Dennis had an interception and a pass break-up to go along with three tackles.
In the kicking game, sophomore Brandon McLaren was perfect on the day with field goals of 30 and 27 yards, as well as an extra-point kick. Senior Oleg Parent converted both of his PAT kicks.
NCCU opens the 2014 campaign at East Carolina on Aug. 30. The first of six NCCU home games will take place on Sept. 6 versus Elizabeth City State.
For on-the-go information about NCCU football, download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.
Final Score: Gray Offense 41, Maroon Defense 34
Scoring System: Standard scoring for the offense, plus one point for each first down. For the defense, four points for each stopped drive, plus one point for an interception or fumble recovery and one point for a three-and-out.
Team Statistics
Passing: 22-of-34 for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception
Rushing: 34 rushes for 28 yards and 1 touchdown
Defense: 1 interception, 13 tackles for a loss with 6 sacks
Statistical Leaders
Passing:
Quinn Billerman: 14-of-22 for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns (both 25 yards), 1 interception
Malcolm Bell: 8-of-12 for 136 yards (completed first three passes for 86 yards – 25, 31, 30)
Receiving:
#21 – Adrian Wilkins: 6 catches for 87 yards, 2 touchdowns (both 25 yards)
#26 – Kevin Staton: 3 catches for 54 yards
#8 – Quentin Atkinson: 3 catches for 34 yards
#28 – Deyonta Wright: 3 catches for 32 yards (also 9 rushes for 16 yards)
Rushing:
#5 – Andre Clarke: 8 carries for 30 yards
#28 – Deyonta Wright: 9 carries for 16 yards
#25 – Idreis Augustus: 3 carries for 12 yards
#27 – Kevin Thompson: 2 carries for 9 yards and 1 touchdown (7 yards)
Defense:
#6 – Ty Brown (DE): 6 tackles, including 3 tackles for a loss with a sack
#23 – Theo Livingston (DB): 5 tackles, including 2 tackles for a loss with a sack
#42 – Felix Small (DL): 5 tackles, including a sack
#19 – Tariq Jacobs (DB): 5 tackles, including a tackle for a loss
#7 – Jeremy Thompson (LB): 5 tackles
#1 – Michael Jones (DB): 4 tackles
#24 – Haki Dennis (DB): 3 tackles, interception, pass break-up
Kicking:
#43 – Brandon McLaren: 2-for-2 field goals (30 yards, 27 yards), 1-for-1 PAT kick
#36 – Oleg Parent: 2-for-2 PAT kicks
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