N.C. Central 30, Livingstone 8

DURHAM, NC (Oct. 27, 2001) The Eagles of North Carolina Central University impressed a sell-out crowd of 10, 208 in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on the First Union Homecoming Classic, as they defeated the Blue Bears of Livingstone College by a score of 30-8 in Durham, NC.

There was 1:52 left on the first-quarter clock when NCCU's Roger Burbage put a 27-yard field goal right down the uprights to put the Eagles up 3-0. From that point on it was all NCCU (2-3 CIAA, 4-4 overall).

Later, in the second quarter of play, NCCU took the ball from their own 48-yard line, and went 52 yards in nine plays to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room. Cheo Johnson was the ball carrier who ran in from 17 yards out into the end zone for the score.

The second half did not fair much better for the visiting Blue Bears. With 6:34 left in the third quarter, NCCU's Donnie Pippen ran in from the 5-yard line for, yet another, Eagle touchdown. After Burbage's extra point split the uprights, the score was 17-0.

Before the end of the third quarter, NCCU broke the plane of the end zone again. This time Pippen took it in from the 6-yard line to give the Eagles a 24-0 lead.

Livingstone (0-6 CIAA, 1-7 overall) finally got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter. With 13:24 left in the game, David Melton completed a six-yard pass to Shannon Gainey for a touchdown. The Blue Bears went for a two-point conversion, and got it after Melton completed a strike to Antoine Smith. The score then lowered itself to 24-8, and that's the closest the Blue Bears would get on the day.

However, the Eagle scoring was not finished yet. NCCU's Sean Williams threw a lofty pass to Ryan Walden, one of several seniors playing in their final home game, and Walden took it in for a 50 yard touchdown reception. Walden caught the pass over three Blue Bear defenders for his first touchdown of the season at home.

The passing game was important for the Eagles on the day, but so was the running game. NCCU finished with 334 yards rushing, and 84 yards passing. The Blue Bears ended up with 39 yards on the ground, and 141 yards threw the air. Individual statistics on the day for the Eagles were Pippen's 122 yards rushing, and senior Johnson's 92 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Livingstone linebacker and CIAA Player of the Year candidate, Jason Ocean finished the contest with 21 tackles (19 assisted). For the Eagles, Kurtis Stewart finished out the contest with seven tackles (five solo), while seniordefensive back Ron Thomas, Jr. ended up his playing days in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium with six tackles, a sack, an interception, two pass break-ups and a blocked punt.

Players of the game were announced at the end of the contest. The First Union Homecoming Classic player of the game for Livingstone was sophomore linebacker Jason Ocean. For the Eagles, the player of the game was Pippen.

As a side note, senior David Pratt, who was moved to tight end after two seasons at defensive end, was moved back to the defensive line for the final LC possession of the game. Pratt had a monster hit on the quarterback, Melton, and also forced a fumble.

This game was also Senior Day, as well as Homecoming, for the Eagles. The seniors appearing for the last time in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium were Alik Tillery, Erick Clark, Roger Burbage, Ron Thomas, Montez Patterson, Darrell Sanders, Cheo Johnson, Chris Gilmore, Kevin Bonsu, Choya Boykin, Curtis Johnson, Artis Woods, Shawn Brooks, and David Pratt.

The Eagles will now try to get their first winning season since 1996 as they travel to Charlotte, NC to take on the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University in the seventh Carolinas Classic in Ericsson Stadium next Saturday at 2:00 pm.

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