DURHAM, N.C ­ North Carolina Central University, after leading 27-6 in the fourth quarter, allowed two late touchdowns, including a 75-yard punt return, but held on to defeat Saint Augustine’s College 27-18. 

NCCU is now 6-0 for just the fifth time in school history (1941, 1951, 1963 and 1969) and the first time in 37 years.

     NCCU (6-0, 4-0), who led the CIAA in scoring defense (12.2 points per game ) and rushing defense (70.8), dominated a porous Saint Augustine’s offense for three quarters, limiting them to just 87 total yards in the first three frames. 

     The Eagle defense was led by senior linebacker Naim Adbul-Malik, who recorded six tackles and an interception return for 35 yards. NCCU junior linebacker Derrick Ray added four tackles, including three hits for a loss, while D.J Fretwell amassed six tackles and recovered one fumble. 

     The Eagles jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when freshman quarterback Stadford Brown connected with senior wide receiver Charles Futrell from 10 yards out in the right corner of the end zone at Broughton High School at the 8:53 mark of the first stanza.

     Junior place kicker Brandon Gilbert capped off a 10-play drive by connecting on a 36-yard field goal to give NCCU a 10-0 advantage with 2:32 left in the first quarter. Gilbert, who scored nine points for NCCU, passed James Martin (1970-74, 180 points) and is now tied for fifth place with Jefferson Inmon (1969-72, 186 points) on the school’s career scoring list.

     With just 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, junior defensive back Craig Amos intercepted a SAC quarterback Kevin Johnson pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, his second of the season. Amos’ four interceptions this season ties a career-high and his two interceptions returned for touchdowns are tied for the most in single-season NCCU history.

     Senior wide receiver Julius McClellan streaked down the right sideline and caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Brown, giving NCCU a 24-0 lead with just 1:33 minutes left in the first half.

     After allowing a 27-yard touchdown pass from back-up quarterback Duane Smith to tight end Eric McLaughlin with just 53 seconds left before the break, NCCU led at halftime 24-6.

     Neither team managed a score in the third quarter, but NCCU added another Gilbert field goal early in the fourth quarter as he connected from 22 yards out.

     Senior Andre McGlone then sparked the Falcons with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown with 5:05 left in the game to narrow the gap to 27-12.

     SAC recovered the ensuing on-side kick and drove 50 yards with just three plays, capped by an 11-yard connection from Smith to McLaughlin, to make things interesting with 3:57 on the clock. Smith’s pass attempt on the two-point conversion missed the mark, keeping the score 27-18.

     The Falcons attempted a second straight on-side kick, but NCCU rookie Micguel Johnson recovered to seal the victory.

Brown and the NCCU passing attack, which averaged 238.2 yards per game, was limited to just 147 yards. Brown completed 12-of-29 attempts for 147 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Entering the contest, Brown had only thrown three interceptions in his previous five games.

     For the second consecutive game, sophomore running back Jeff Toliver led NCCU in rushing, carrying the ball 14 times for 57 yards. Senior running back Greg Pruitt, Jr. rushed nine times for 55 yards, while senior running back Corey Brown carried the ball four times for 45 yards.

SAC was paced by Smith, a wide receiver who replaced starting quarterback Kevin Johnson in the second quarter and connected on 13-of-23 attempts for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Rashard Wilson had five catches for 41 yards, and McLaughlin added three catches for 64 yards, including his two touchdown receptions.

     Since head coach Rod Broadway arrived at NCCU, the Eagles are 11-2 in their opponent’s home stadium.

    NCCU finishes its four-game road trip Saturday as it travels to Luther Nick Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville, N.C. to face the Fayetteville State Broncos. NCCU’s last road loss came against FSU on Oct. 9, 2004, by a score of 17-7. NCCU has won 23 of its last 26 contests overall and nine straight conference games.