 |
|
|
|
N.C. A&T 22, N.C. Central 0(Raleigh, NC--Sept. 1) North Carolina A&T State University blanked North Carolina Central University 22-0 in the eighth annual Aggie-Eagle Football Classic at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. The win for the Division I-AA Aggies' is the 12th straight victory over the Division II Eagles, and the first shutout since Sept. 7, 1991 when A&T defeated NCCU, 48-0.Statistically, the game was tighter than the final score would indicate. A&T gained 174 yards of total offense (only 8 yards in the first quarter) to NCCU's 173 total yards. The Aggies took advantage of big plays to score, especially on special teams. The Aggies posted the only score in the first half courtesy of an 87-yard punt return by Curtis Deloatch with 7:24 left in the first quarter. Less than two minutes into the second half, A&T's Brice McLean blocked a punt by Roger Burbage which trickled out of the back of the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 lead. Aggie running back Maurice Hicks, who rushed for just 58 yards after averaging 135.2 ground yards per game last season and finished the year with seven straight games with more than 100 rushing yards, gained 40 yards on a touchdown scamper at 10:08 in the third stanza. He was selected as A&T's Offensive Most Valuable Player. A two-yard plunge by Tre Hardrick finished the Aggie scoring at 13:32 of the fourth quarter. Aggie defensive lineman Ivan Butler recorded 8 tackles, including three takedowns for a loss, to claim A&T Defensive M.V.P. honors. The Eagle defense was topped by senior linebacker Chris Gilmore, NCCU's Defensive M.V.P., with 13 tackles (7 solo), including four hits for a loss and a pass break-up. Freshman quarterback Sean Williams, who replaced injured starter Lamont Alston in the first half, finished with 94 yards passing and 22 yards rushing to earn the NCCU Offensive M.V.P. award.
|
