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DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – North Carolina Central University rallied back from a 20-6 deficit to take a fourth quarter lead, but Winston-Salem State University intercepted a pass in the end zone with less than two minutes left and scored the game-winning touchdown just 25 seconds later for a 34-27 victory in front of 9,711 fans inside NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
WSSU (3-0) gained a 20-6 advantage on a 50-yard pass play from Kameron Smith to Dominique Fitzgerald with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Just when it appeared that the visiting Rams had total control of the game, NCCU sophomore
Arthur Goforth returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, equaling the third-longest kickoff return in school history.
After a defensive stop by the Eagles, NCCU senior running back
Tim Shankle capped a five-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown scamper.
Frankie Cardelle’s extra-point kick evened the score at 20-20 just four seconds into the final stanza.
The NCCU defense held the Rams to a three-and-out on the following possession and the WSSU punt pushed the Eagles back to their own 7-yard line. On NCCU’s first play from scrimmage, a school record 93-yard touchdown run by senior running back
Tony McCord capped a 21-0 run to give the Eagles a 27-20 at 12:09 of the fourth quarter.
WSSU answered the challenge by converting on a fourth-down-and-12 play with a 27-yard connection from Smith to Tevin Brantley, giving the Rams a first down from the Eagles’ 2-yard line. On the next play, Smith found running back Tyrone Goldson for a touchdown to tie the score at 27-27 with 8:22 left in the contest.
The two rivals exchanged possessions before NCCU used six plays to move 25 yards to the Rams’ 33-yard line. On first and 10 with just over two minutes remaining, NCCU junior quarterback Michael Johnson under-threw a pass intended for Geovonie Irvine in the end zone that was intercepted by Miami transfer Rashaun Jones for a touchback.
With the NCCU fans deflated, WSSU wasted little time for the game-winner. Following an incomplete pass, Nicholas Cooper raced 49 yards to the Eagles’ 31-yard line. Smith then lofted a 31-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass to Brantley with just 94 seconds left.
NCCU managed to move the pigskin to the Rams’ 24-yard line, but on third down with just eight ticks on the clock Johnson was hit as he threw and WSSU’s Jared Mitchell intercepted the wobbling pass to seal the victory.
WSSU amassed 419 yards of total offense, with quarterback Smith accounting for 317 total yards. The Navy transfer completed 18-of-29 passes for 294 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for 23 yards. Brantley was on the receiving end of six passes for 166 yards and two scores. The WSSU ground game was topped by Cooper with 88 yards on 14 carries.
NCCU (1-1) posted 365 total yards with a balanced 193 yards passing and 172 yards rushing. Johnson completed 22-of-39 passes for 193 yards, but snapped a seven-game streak with a touchdown passes and threw a pair of interceptions. Irvine gathered a career-best eight receptions for 95 yards. Cardelle added to the scoring ledger with field goals of 20 and 34 yards.
Defensive back Alton Keaton collected a game-high 11 tackles along with a fumble recovery to top the WSSU defense, while junior linebacker
Eliezer Sandifer paced the Eagles with nine stops, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.
WSSU takes a 3-0 record into next week’s match-up with Chowan, while NCCU visits No. 3 Appalachian State.
