NCCU's Will Scott receives a pass from Michael Johnson and runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter Saturday.
Special to The Herald-Sun
GREENSBORO -- N.C. Central rallied from a big deficit in spite of numerous turnovers and mistakes that nearly let the game get away early.
And that's part of what made the ending of Saturday's game against North Carolina A&T so heartbreaking.
After rallying to tie the game with 17 unanswered points, the Eagles had a field goal blocked in overtime before giving up a 24-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime to fall 23-17 to North Carolina A&T at Aggie Stadium. The loss breaks NCCU's three-game winning streak agains the Aggies.
"I thought we made a lot of awful mistakes," said NCCU coach Mose Rison, who pointed to the Eagles' seven penalties that cost 121 yards -- many coming at crucial points in the game -- as a reason for the loss. "I talk to them about things you can do and can't do, especially in a game of this magnitude. We shouldn't have been in that situation."
The Eagles already had dodged chances to let the game slip away. Patrick Courtney missed a 36-yard field goal with six seconds remaining that would have given N.C. A&T the lead, then missed his third of the game on the opening drive of overtime. But the blocked field goal in overtime and failed fourth-down conversion to open the second extra period kept NCCU from taking advantage.
Will Scott led the Eagles (0-5) with five receptions for a career-high 179 yards and a touchdown, twice setting a career long for a reception after the Aggies fell behind 17-0, largely due to four turnovers committed by quarterback Michael Johnson -- three on interceptions, one on a fumble.
Scott helped rally central with his pair of career-long receptions, though.
After A&T was penalized for roughing the kicker on a punt attempt, Williams hit Scott for a 62-yard pass -- the longest of his career to that point -- that brought NCCU to the Aggies' 5-yard line. The play accounted for all but 44 yards of the Eagles' first-half offense.
The pass set up Saeed Abdul-Azeez's 3-yard touchdown reception with 17 seconds remaining in the half to pull the Eagles within 17-7, and Scott followed with a 73-yard touchdown reception with 12:29 remaining in the game -- the longest reception of his career -- to trim the deficit to 17-14.
Scott also made a 20-yard reception on a screen play to drive the Eagles to the A&T 20-yard line and set up a 20-yard field goal that tied the score.
"We got off to a slow start," Scott said. "I guess the big game made guys uneasy. Once we made that big play, we started moving the ball easier."
The big plays swung the momentum clearly into NCCU's favor, and after Courtney's missed field goals, only a 44-yard attempt separated the Eagles from a thrilling victory. But Jerrell Herring blocked Frankie Cardelle's field goal attempt to end the first overtime, giving A&T a second chance that it didn't let slip.
NCCU failed to convert on fourth down in double-overtime, and Carlton Fears hit Wallace Miles for the winning touchdown pass shortly after.
"I just imposed my will," Herring said of his block. "I just knew if we got another chance we could take advantage."
