jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667
DURHAM -- N.C. Central took six weeks of frustration out on visiting Central Methodist on Saturday, winning its first game of the season 52-7 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
The Eagles were the home team for only the second time this season, while Central Methodist (5-2) had the long road trip, traveling about 950 miles by bus from its campus in Fayette, Mo.
NCCU (1-6) scored every time it got the ball in the first half, building a 38-0 lead.
"We were ready to play," NCCU coach Mose Rison said. "They came a long way to play this game. To win the way we won, hopefully it will be start of something good."
Quarterback Michael Johnson had one his best outings of the season, completing 15 of 20 passes for 218 yards with a pair of touchdown passes. He hit Andre Johnson with a 59-yard scoring strike and later found Geovonie Irvine with a 49-yard bomb. Johnson gave way to Keon Williams after one possession in the second half.
"It was great to come away with the win," Michael Johnson said. "We couldn't come out and disappoint our fans again.
Tim Shankle finished with a season-high 93 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Eagles.
Place-kicker Frankie Cardelle, who has struggled with accuracy during the first half of the season (4 of 11) made his first three field goal attempts in the game, including a season-long 41-yarder on his first boot. His only miss came with 4:24 left in the game when his 47-yard attempt was deflected at the line.
NCCU's defense also helped set up the Eagles with a pair of interceptions. Calvin Hillie got an interception in his second straight game and it led to a 6-yard rushing touchdown by Tim Shankle. Later in the half, Brian Frierson picked off a Bryant Jackson pass near midfield and returned it to the Central Methodist 12. NCCU had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by McCardelle.
"We came out and played really good," Hillie said. "Their quarterback was small but he was quick. We did a good job against him."
The Eagles held Jackson to 5 of 17 passing for 23 yards and three interceptions.
Central Methodist only managed 93 yards of offense, compared to 361 for NCCU.
NCCU's perfect day on offense ended on the first possession of the second half. The Eagles appeared to pick up where they left off as they marched down the field to the Central Methodist 25. But then drive bogged down because of a penalty and three pass plays that went awry.
The Eagles made up for it, though. NCCU held on defense forced a punt that Arthur Goforth fielded at the Central Methodist 47 and returned it for a touchdown to make it 45-0.
The defense stepped up back-to-back interceptions the next time it stepped on the field. The first blunted Central Methodists' best drive of the game as it got to the NCCU22 before committing the turnover. The fourth interception of the day bailed out the Eagles, who had given Central Methodist awesome field position following a punt of minus-1 yard by Brian Haslesberger deep in the Eagles' end at the 11-yard line.
NCCU's final score came after a blocked punt that Malik Cromartie returned for a touchdown with 3:03 left.
The Eagles surrendered their only points with 27 second left when Logan Cornish hit Brandon Merritt with a 19-yard touchdown pass. Central Methodist benefited from a fourth-down pass interference penalty that wiped out an interception and an earlier personal foul for a late hit out of bounds.
N.C. Central next hosts Central State (Ohio) on Oct. 31 for homecoming. The extra week of rest should help wide receiver Will Scott and free safety Jeffery Henderson get healed up and ready for action. Both suffered slight knee injuries in the last game against Appalachian State and did not play against Central Methodist.
