NC Central Dominates SC State At Home
DURHAM, NC – The North Carolina Central University Eagles (6-1 overall and 2-0 MEAC) ensured their fans had something to cheer about under the Thursday Night Lights at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Their home winning streak extended to nine games, as they defeated the South Carolina State Bulldogs (3-5 overall and 1-1 MEAC), in a 62-28 thrashing.
Even with the absence of Latrell Collier, the Eagles running back in the First Quarter, it didn’t deter them from having a great performance.
Davius Richard, the star Senior Quarterback of North Carolina Central, had a marvelous performance as he finished the game with 18-for-27 passing attempts, 352 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
“It feels good to finally win against South Carolina State, especially when we hadn’t won against them,” Richard commented. He added, “To beat them during my Senior Year means a lot. We had a goal since the beginning of last week to start fast and learning how to execute. We did some good and bad stuff, but you can’t be mad when you put up 62 points for a victory.”
Coach Trei Oliver for NCCU reflected on the game, “I thought we played well in all three phrases. I was pleased with the effort that we put in tonight.”
The Eagles first got on the board at 11:53 in the First Quarter, when QB Davius Richard threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Runningback J’Mari Taylor, as NCCU took a 7-0 lead. Not long after, Linebacker Max U’Ren returned a fumble for 20 yards for a touchdown, with NC Central leading 14-0.
The second quarter was more competitive. Eagles QB Davius Richard opened the quarter with a five-yard touchdown run, for a 21-0 advantage. South Carolina State got on board when Bulldogs QB Jr. Corey Fields launched a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tight End KeShawn Toney, as they still trailed 21-7, with 11:05 remaining. It didn’t take long for the Eagles star Quarterback Davius Richard to help NCCU get on board, thanks to two touchdown passes to Wideouts Twan Flip, Jr. and Durham native Devin Smith and a one-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs commenced the quarter, thanks to Jr. Corey Fields’ 23-yard touchdown pass to KeShawn Toney.
North Carolina Central took a 41-14 advantage into halftime.
South Carolina State opened up the third quarter when Runningback Jawarn Howell does a Emmitt Smith-style 48-yard touchdown run, which NCCU still had a 41-21 advantage with 12:43 remaining. However, QB Davius Richard threw two more touchdown passes in the quarter, to both runningback J’Mari Taylor and Wideout Chauncey Spikes, as they closed the third quarter with a 62-21 advantage.
South Carolina State scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter at 8:44 remaining, when runningback Andre Washington ran 48 yards for a touchdown.
Next week, North Carolina Central will celebrate their homecoming as they face the Norfolk State Spartans in a 4PM contest at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. On the other hand, South Carolina State will also have their homecoming on campus at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, as they face the Howard Bison.