jjohnson@heraldsun.com
DURHAM -- N.C. Central will say goodbye to a small but effective class of five seniors today as the Eagles take on Savannah State in the last football game of the season.
Record-breaking wide receiver Will Scott, left tackle Gabriel Manns, fullback Saeed Abdul-Azeez, middle linebacker Alex Winters and strong safety Derek Harvey comprise the group that Coach Mose Rison said he wants to send out the right way with a victory.
Scott leads the Eagles with 38 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a top-10 receiver in the school's record book with 114 career receptions, good for ninth all-time, and 1,856 career yards, which is 10th best.
Manns has been the key pass protector for quarterback Michael Johnson this season at left tackle. Rison said Manns would deserve all-conference consideration this season if NCCU was competing in a league. The Eagles still are a couple of years away from Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference membership as they transition from Division II to the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Abdul-Azeez has been primarily a blocker in the Eagles' offense this season but has 11 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. None of his carries have been for a loss.
Winters is fourth on the defense in tackles with 41 along with an interception.
Harvey has started three games and been in on 19 tackles. He's also forced a fumble.
Savannah State and NCCU have played four previous games, all wins by the Eagles, but the teams did play to a remarkable 0-0 tie in 1974. A year ago, NCCU opened a 10-0 lead and then held on to win 10-7, which also was on Senior Day.
Rison said he expects another close game because Savannah State has a quarterback who is as comfortable running the ball as he is throwing it. Kurvin Kurry had 55 rushing yards and 171 passing yards with a pair of TD passes a week ago against Webber International in a loss.
The Eagles have had trouble defending accomplished double-threat quarterbacks such as Appalachian State's Armonte Edwards and Old Dominion's Thomas DeMarco.
"We're playing a team that has been tough to defend," Rison said. "But we're coming off our best defensive effort of the season, so I am optimistic. We want to win with great defense.
"Last year, it was 10-7 and we were lucky to get out of there with a win. They've been very competitive."
The Eagles played their most physical game on defense against Winston-Salem State, according to Rison. Two Winston-Salem State quarterbacks left the game with injuries.
The defense may be a bit shorthanded, though. Defensive tackle Teryl White, who is third on the teams with 51 tackles, has been bothered by a shoulder injury and did not play against Winston-Salem State. Linebacker Rakeem Vick was slowed by an ankle injury and also missed the WSSU game.
Rison said both wanted to be able to play today in the finale.
A win today would allow the Eagles to finish the season with the identical record of year ago, and it would come against better competition.
"I'm really proud of this team," Rison said. "We've played teams this season that are going to make us better. There is no way we could have gone up against this schedule with teams from the past."
