NORFOLK, Va., — This weekend marks the second full slate of conference games in the 2019 season, as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) race begins to take shape. The two-time defending MEAC champion Aggies will be on the road, and Bethune-Cookman will be at home for the first time this season in a contest that will be shown via rebroadcast on ESPNU. Elsewhere, South Carolina State will hit the road for its first game since Sept. 14, North Carolina Central will head to Tallahassee, Fla. for a match-up against Florida A&M and Howard will take on Harvard in a non-conference match-up.
Howard Bison (1-4, 1-1 MEAC) vs. Harvard Crimson (1-1, 1-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, Oct. 5 • Harvard Stadium • Cambridge, Mass. • 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Coming off a 37-29 loss to Bethune-Cookman, Howard will hit the road for its first-ever meeting with Harvard out of the Ivy League. This will be the first time Harvard has faced an HBCU on the football field. In his first college start, freshman quarterback Quinton Williams threw for 179 yards and three scores and added 25 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown en route to earning MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. Receiver Kyle Anthony had seven catches for 117 yards this past Saturday, and running back Dedrick Parson had 14 carries for 101 yards, while also catching five passes for 15 yards.
North Carolina A&T State Aggies (3-1, 1-0 MEAC) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (1-4, 0-1 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 • Dick Price Stadium • Norfolk, Va. • 2 p.m.
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
North Carolina A&T State pitched its second shutout in the last six games, blowing out Delaware State 37-0 in front of a national ESPNU audience on Thursday, Sept. 26. Aggies running back Jah-Maine Martin’s four-touchdown performance is the second-highest single-game total in school history, tying Maurice Hicks’ four-touchdown outing against South Carolina State in 2000 – and for his efforts, Martin was named MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Receiver Elijah Bell had nine catches for 101 yards, tying Herbert Harbison and Wallace Miles for the school record in career receptions with 172. Norfolk State quarterback Juwan Carter threw for 308 yards in last week’s 30-28 loss to Florida A&M for his third career 300 yard passing game. North Carolina A&T State leads the all-time series, 32-11.
North Carolina Central Eagles (2-3, 1-0 MEAC) vs. Florida A&M Rattlers (3-1, 1-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 • Bragg Memorial Stadium • Tallahassee, Fla. • 2 p.m.
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
North Carolina Central is coming off a 27-17 win over Morgan State this past Saturday, a game in which the Eagles achieved several milestones. Quarterback Davius Richard ran for two touchdowns, including a 62-yarder, which was the longest run by an Eagles quarterback since Sept. 30, 2000. NCCU’s 330 rushing yards are the most against a conference opponent since Oct. 23, 2004, when the Eagles were in the CIAA and rushed for 349 yards against Livingstone. Junior cornerback Bryan Mils tied a school record with three picks in the win over Morgan State, becoming just the fourth Eagle to accomplish the feat and the first since Adrian Jones in 1996. He record-tying performance earned him multiple weekly awards, including the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week, the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and MEAC Defensive Player of the Week. In his first season after transferring to NC Central, Mills leads the MEAC in interceptions and is tied for second among NCAA D-I FCS leaders. He also tied for the conference lead with six passes defended (three interceptions, three pass break-ups). Florida A&M defeated Norfolk State 30-28 this past weekend, a game in which the Rattlers reached or approached several milestones. Quarterback Ryan Stanley threw for 293 yards and a score, which moved him into second place in the all-time career passing charts. He needs just 332-yards shy of Quinn Gray’s school record (7,378). Head coach Willie Simmons earned his 30th career win. The two schools have split the last six meetings, with the Rattlers – who celebrate Homecoming this week – winning last year’s matchup 55-14.
Morgan State Bears (0-4, 0-1 MEAC) vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 • Larry Kelly Field at Municipal Stadium • Daytona Beach, Fla • 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN3 (Rebroadcast on ESPNU @ 10:30 p.m. EST)
Morgan State lost to North Carolina Central this past Saturday at home, despite racking up 215 yards on the ground. Wildcats quarterback Akevious Williams completed 16 of 23 passes for 199 yards, and he also rushed 16 times for 101 yards and a career-high three scores in the 37-29 win over Howard. He was named MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance, sharing the honor with North Carolina A&T State running back Jah-Maine Martin. Wildcats return specialist Jimmie Robinson also had a good game at wideout, catching four passes for 55 yards and running back three kicks for 147 yards, including a 92-yarder. He also added five carries for 15 yards. The Wildcats have won the last seven meetings between the two schools, including a 30-28 decision last season.
South Carolina State Bulldogs (2-1, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Delaware State Hornets (1-3, 0-2 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 • Alumni Stadium • Dover, Del. • 7 p.m.
TV: MEAC Digital Network / ESPN3
South Carolina State is coming off back-to-back bye weeks after a 55-16 loss to South Florida back on Sept. 14. MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Brian Cavicante had a team-high nine tackles, including eight solo stops, in the Hornets’ 37-0 loss to North Carolina A&T State on Thursday, Sept. 26. With a win, Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough will tie his mentor Willie Jeffries on his way to becoming the winningest coach in program history. South Carolina State won last year’s contest against Delaware State, 30-19.
Courtesy: MEAC
