Eagles Soar Over Rams in Season Opener

DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University Eagles (1-0) kicked off their 2023 season in style in front of 10,000 fans at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, as they dispatched their old CIAA rivals, the Winston-Salem State University Rams (0-1) by the score of 47-21.

The Eagles first got on board when Senior QB Davius Richard launched a 40-yard touchdown reception to Redshirt Senior RB Latrell Collier, to make it a 7-0 lead with 9:34 in the 1st Quarter. Afterwards, Kicker A. Olivio drilled a 40-yard field goal at 4:26, to take a 10-0 lead into the 2nd Quarter.

Collier, who finished the game with 16 carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing and another receiving) commented, “Early on, everything wasn’t really there. Once the game got going, we were able to get to the second level and move up.” Collier added, “When we mix the passing and running in our offense, it keeps us going and makes us have a little bit of success. I try to be an outlet for Davius, especially when we’re on third down – as we’re the best in the country on that end.”

In the 2nd Quarter, North Carolina Central put a barrage of points, which overwhelmed the Rams, as they put up 27 points. Latrell Collier put the initial points in the Quarter, as he made a one-yard touchdown run at 9:57, giving the Eagles a 17-0 lead. Not long after, Senior Defensive Back Brandon Codrington recorded a 81-yard punt return for a touchdown, as the Eagles led 24-0. Richard made two touchdown passes to Junior RB J’Mari Taylor and Junior WR Quentin McCall, to help the Eagles take a 37-0 lead at the Half.

“It was really when my teammates told me to come over on the field,” Codrington reflected on his amazing punt return. He added, “That’s what they brought me in here to do and thst

The second half was when Winston-Salem State fought hard. In the 3rd Quarter at 4:23, the Rams first got on board when Sophomore RB Trevon Hester recorded an eight-yard run. This would prove to be the lone points of the quarter, as the Eagles commenced the Quarter with a 37-7 lead.

The Rams kept their slim hopes alive in the fourth, thanks to Freshman QB Daylin Lee’s two touchdowns, one of which he ran eight yards and another was when he made a pass to Sophomore TE Caleb Rayner. On the other hand, NCCU received scores from Richard’s one-yard run and Olivo’s 34-yard field goal.

When reflecting on the team’s performance, Oliver commented, “It’s a very good win for the opening game. I thought we played pretty good in the first half, but I didn’t like the execution in the second half.” He added, “We need to get some guys on film and there’s a lot of stuff we need to work on. We didn’t want to play our starters to get them banged up in the second half.”

For the Eagles, they will travel to Greensboro to face their rivals – the North Carolina A&T Aggies of the CAA (Colonial Athletic Conference) in a 7PM showdown at Triust Stadium. Meanwhile, the Rams will travel to Columbus, OH to face Ohio Dominican University in a 3:30 PM showdown.