Winston-Salem State 23, North Carolina Central 12

DURHAM, NC -- North Carolina Central University's special teams, which has been a bright spot for the Eagles this season, allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown and missed a field goal and two extra points during a 23-12 loss to CIAA Western Division rival Winston-Salem State University at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.

The loss drops the Eagles to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the CIAA, eliminating NCCU from the conference championship race.

NCCU has out-gained its opponents in all three CIAA losses. On Saturday, the Eagles amassed a season-high 449 total yards against the Rams, including a season-best 228 yards passing. NCCU had drives of 52, 48, 47, 85, 74 and 47 yards, but scored only one offensive touchdown.

WSSU (3-4 overall, 3-2 CIAA) tallied 301 total yards with 214 through the air. The Rams had nearly twice as many kickoff return yards (2 for 170 yards) than rushing yards (33 carries for 87 yards).

Before a crowd of 6,819 had a chance to settle into their seats, WSSU freshman Martin Hicks returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Ashton Oakley's extra point kick was blocked, but the tone was set for the day.

On WSSU's next possession, Oakley capped an 8-play, 56-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal at 10:32 of the first quarter.

On the second play of the second quarter, Eagle quarterback Lawrence Fuller ran for a 21-yard touchdown, but it was erased by a holding penalty. After an incomplete pass, NCCU freshman Brian Burke attempted a 40-yard field goal, but it sailed wide left.

The Rams took that 9-0 lead into the locker room at the half.

NCCU captured some momentum when Ram quarterback Rodney Milbourne was hit by Eagle defensive end Andre Cannon, forcing a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by fellow defensive end Scheldon Connor at 8:53 of the third quarter. Burke missed the extra point kick, his first unsuccessful PAT boot of the year after making his first 10 attempts, but the Eagles were in striking distance at 9-6.

Four plays later, however, on a third down and 14 yards to go play, Ram quarterback Milbourne eluded several Eagle rushers and bought enough time to find a wide open Sherman Riggsbee for a 64-yard touchdown. Oakley's PAT kick made the score 16-6 with 7:24 on the third quarter clock.

On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, NCCU started on its own 14-yard line and moved the pigskin to the visitor's 4-yard line, where the Eagles faced fourth down and goal. Eagle quarterback Fuller rolled to the left on the option and ran inside the 1-yard line, but was stopped by freshman linebacker Anthony Robinson before crossing the goal line.

On NCCU's next possession, Fuller connected with Clyde Price for a 17-yard pass play to get to the Ram 1-yard line. This time Fuller finished the drive with a QB sneak for a touchdown. Burke missed the mark again on the extra point kick, making the score 16-12 with 4:13 left in the game.

WSSU rookie Hicks crushed the Eagles' momentum when he returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to NCCU's 21-yard line. Three consecutive rushes by sophomore running back Willie Byrd was enough to put the game away, as Byrd's 1-yard touchdown plunge and Oakley's kick provided the final margin.

Fuller had career-highs of 96 yards rushing and 228 yards passing to top NCCU's offense. Sophomore Sean Williams, in his first start as a wide receiver, caught 6 passes for 118 yards, while running back Anthony Saunders pounded out 69 ground yards on 11 carries.

Milbourne came off the bench to lead WSSU with 122 yards on 6-of-7 passing, including the 64-yard touchdown strike. Byrd, the CIAA's top rusher, finished with 90 yards on 21 carries. Riggsbee had 5 catches for 89 yards, and Brandon Free added 5 receptions for 92 yards.

NCCU defensive back Leland Paul recorded a game-high 12 tackles (7 solo).

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