Lawrence Leads NCCU Past Rival NC A&T

DURHAM, N.C. — A strong first half, a career day from running back Plez Lawrence, and a late defensive stand helped the North Carolina Central University football program win the 98th annual Aggie-Eagle Classic on Saturday at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, as the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T 30-22.

The Eagles improved to 2-1 on the season. Head coach Trei Oliver is now three wins shy of 50 for his head coaching career.

In the closing seconds, the Aggies marched all the way to the NCCU 3-yard line, threatening for a score that would’ve tied the game with a two-point conversion. But an offensive pass interference penalty pushed NCAT back to the 18-yard line, and on the next play, Jakarri Martin II intercepted Aggies quarterback Kevin White to clinch the game.

The Eagles scored on the game’s opening drive, using just eight plays to go 75 yards before Nelson Layne connected with Mehki Wall for a 27-yard touchdown. NCCU then added three more on the next drive, taking a 10-0 lead after freshman kicker Riley Daniels nailed a 37-yard field goal with 5:04left in the first quarter.

Lawrence added six more for the Eagles as he ran around the left side from 14 yards out to give NCCU the 16-0 lead. 

The Aggies (0-3) got on the board on the following possession when White connected with Elijah Kennedy for a 51-yard touchdown catch, cutting the lead to 16-7 with 4:33 left in the half.

NCCU answered in the closing minutes of the half, when Lawrence scampered 73 yards for the score, giving the Eagles a 23-7 lead. But White hit Kennedy from two yards out with eight seconds left to send both teams into the locker room.

The Eagles led 23-14 at the break.

Following an hour and 41-minute weather delay, Lawrence picked up his third score of the afternoon from a yard away to cap a 6-play, 45-yard drive that extended the Eagles’ lead to 30-14 with 8:00 left in the third quarter. 

The Aggies got within a score late in the fourth quarter following a six-yard reception from White to Anthony Rucker. That made it a one-possession game, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 30-22.

Lawrence had, by far, his best game as an Eagle, rushing 22 times for 210 yards and three scores. He had NCCU’s first 200-yard rushing game since J’Mari Taylor’s 206 yards against Howard in 2024.

Layne threw for 146 yards and a touchdown. He has four touchdown passes in three games for the Eagles this season, and he completed a pass to nine different receivers.

Defensive back Joshua Truesdale led the way with 10 tackles and an interception.

The Eagles will be on the road again this coming Saturday, when they head to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on Gardner-Webb. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.