NCCU overcomes 17-point deficit to win
first CIAA Football Championship in 25 years
November 5, 2005
DURHAM, NC - North Carolina Central University sophomore Brandon
Gilbert kicked a 30-yard field goal with three seconds remaining
to lift the Eagles to a 26-23 victory over Bowie State University
in the 2005 CIAA Championship Game at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium
in Durham, NC.
A capacity crowd of 10,580, mostly Eagles fans, watched as
NCCU overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to capture its first
conference title in 25 years.
NCCU's special teams proved to be the difference as Eagles'
MVP Gilbert made 4-of-5 field goals with kicks of 33, 47, 23,
and the game-winner of 30 yards.
Bowie State (8-3) jumped out to a 17-0 lead courtesy of an
Isaac Redmon 2-yard touchdown run, a 31-yard field goal by
Ronald Walls, and a 7-yard touchdown catch by Glenn Thomas
from Lamar Manigo. The Bulldogs' No. 1 defense in the nation
held the Eagles to just 28 total yards and three first downs
in the first half, while BSU racked up 212 yards of total offense
in the first 30 minutes.
The second half, however, was dominated by NCCU as the Eagles
recorded 260 total yards, while holding the Bulldogs to 169
yards and only one trip to the end zone.
NCCU (10-1) scored on its opening drive after intermission
as Greg Pruitt, Jr. rumbled 26 yards to pay dirt.
Gilbert's 33-yard kick with 4:56 left in the third quarter
made it a one possession game with the score 17-10.
BSU answered quickly as Manigo connected with Glenn again,
this time a 46-yard pass to extend the Bulldogs' advantage
to 23-10, as the extra-point kick by Walls sailed wide.
Gilbert's career-long 47-yard blast prior to the close of
the third quarter kept the Eagles within striking distance
at 23-13.
NCCU's defense provided a spark to start the fourth quarter
as a blitzing Derrick Ray deflected Manigo's pass, which was
intercepted by defensive lineman Greg Peterson to give the
Eagles the ball at BSU's 9-yard line. NCCU settled for a 23-yard
field goal by Gilbert to pull to within 23-16.
After a missed 36-yard field goal attempt by the Bulldogs,
NCCU quarterback Adrian Warren threw a 60-yard bomb to junior
transfer Julius McClellan to tie the score at 23-23 with 7:41
remaining.
A stingy NCCU defense forced BSU to punt after three offensive
plays, and the Eagles took possession with 5:08 left. NCCU
chewed up the clock along with 39 yards on 10 plays to set
up Gilbert's heroics.
"I am very proud of these kids," NCCU head coach
Rod Broadway said. "I already knew these guys were champions,
but today's win made them champions. They have worked hard,
and they deserve it." Warren completed 13-of-26 passes
for 169 yards and a touchdown, while his favorite target was
senior Torey Ross, who caught seven passes for 70 yards, including
two first-down grabs during the final drive.
Sophomore running back Greg Pruitt, Jr. led the NCCU running
attack with 99 yards on 21 carries with a score.
NCCU sophomore Ray amassed a game-high 11 tackles (6 solo),
including 2.5 hits for a loss and two pass break-ups. Senior
lineman Ronald Dowdy recorded seven tackles, two quarterback
hurries, two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble for the
Eagles.
Bowie State was led by quarterback Manigo as he completed
10-of-23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Redman proved
to be a hard man to tackle as he ran for 112 rushing yards
on 28 carries with a touchdown to earn MVP honors for BSU.
Thomas ended his day with 96 receiving yards on four catches
with two touchdowns. Sterling Green and Jasper Chamberlain
collected 10 tackles each for the Bulldogs.
The 2005 Eagles are the first team in NCCU's 82-year gridiron
history to win 10 games in a season. With the CIAA Championship
in hand and a No. 4 ranking in last week's NCAA regional poll,
NCCU (10-1) now waits to hear about the NCAA Division II playoffs
that begin next Saturday.
The announcement of the 24-team field for the 2005 NCAA Division
II playoffs can be seen on ESPNews between 1-2 p.m. Eastern
time, Sunday, Nov. 6.
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