This time, NCCU (6-2, 5-0 MEAC) overcame first-half injuries to its offensive and defensive leaders to rally for a 21-17 come-from-behind victory, spoiling Morgan State’s homecoming at Hughes Stadium on Saturday.
After the opening kickoff, NCCU took just four plays and 1:35 on the clock to score on a 38-yard pass from senior quarterback Malcolm Bell to senior receiver LaVontis Smith.
Three plays into its initial drive, MSU (2-4, 2-2 MEAC) threw an interception to junior linebacker Reggie Hunter, which he returned to the Bears’ 20-yard line. [lasso align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B00Q0LVPES” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″ ref=”amzn-college-flags-and-banners-co-north-carolina-central-eagles-pennant-12-x-30-ncaa-banner” type=”single” id=”71915″ link_id=”5092″]
Once again, four plays later sophomore running back Dorrel McClain blasted into the end zone from two yards out for a 14-0 cushion less than five minutes into the contest.
It appeared as though NCCU was on its way to a convincing victory. That was not the case.
After a 57-yard sprint by running back Eric Harrell set the Bears up at the NCCU 12-yard line, quarterback Chris Andrews found Ricky Fisk for an over-the-shoulder touchdown connection to pull MSU to within 14-7 at 5:02 of the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, NCCU junior Mike Jones dropped a punt and Morgan State recovered at the Eagles’ 7-yard line. The Bears evened the score on the next play, a 7-yard dash for a touchdown by Harrell.
The tone of the game completely changed at the 3:08 mark of the second quarter, when NCCU quarterback Bell got hit on a rushing attempt and not only lost the football, but suffered a head injury that kept him off the field for the remainder of the afternoon.
That was bad news for a team that already lost senior linebacker LeGrande Harley to a foot injury in the first quarter. The news worsened when NCCU back-up quarterback Naiil Ramadan threw an interception on his first pass attempt, which led to a go-ahead, 40-yard field goal by Alex Raya on the final play of the second quarter to provide MSU with a 17-14 edge at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, NCCU made the most of a MSU 18-yard punt that gave the Eagles the ball at the MSU 39-yard line. Ramadan used completions of four and 13 yards to Smith and Ramone Simpson, respectively, along with a 7-yard quarterback keeper to set up the game-winner. On second down and three yards to go, the redshirt-freshman signal caller lobbed a pass to Jalen Wilkes on a post route for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:59 remaining in the contest.
On MSU’s ensuing possession, NCCU defensive end Antonio Brown forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Nolan Corpening.
The Eagles used up 1:54 of the clock and punted the ball back to the Bears with 32 seconds left.
With Morgan State looking to hand the Eagles their first conference setback in more than a year, Hunter intercepted his second pass of the day to seal the victory for NCCU.
Hunter added eight tackles to his two interceptions, including two assisted stops for a loss. Senior linebacker Jeremy Miles also tallied eight takedowns with an assisted sack. Brown as all over the field for the Eagles, notching five tackles, including 2.5 hits for a loss with a pair of assisted sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries.
Before exiting the game, Bell completed 7 of 11 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, while adding six ground yards. The Richmond, Virginia native now ranks second on NCCU’s career total offense list with 6,672 yards, as he passed Gerald Fraylon (1981-84; 6,620 yards) and will likely not catch Earl Harvey (1985-88; 10,667 yards).
In relief, Ramadan completed 6 of 8 passes for 77 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Smith collected four receptions for 65 yards and a score, while Kahlil Stinson also had four catches for 51 yards. Simpson accounted for 103 all-purpose yards with 85 rushing yards and 18 receiving yards on two grabs.
NCCU enters a bye week before returning to action on the road at Delaware State on Nov. 5.
Courtesy: NCCU Athletics
