In a stunning display of offense and defense, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) overwhelmed North Carolina A&T (NCAT) with a commanding 66-24 victory in their highly anticipated college football matchup. This game marked a major statement for the Eagles as they outpaced their long-time rivals in almost every aspect of play.
First Quarter: A Competitive Start
The game began with a bang as NCAT’s Aaron Harris electrified the crowd with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just 13 seconds into the game. However, the Aggies’ missed PAT would leave them with a 6-0 lead. NCCU wasted no time responding, with quarterback Walker Harris connecting with Joaquin Davis for a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving the Eagles a 7-6 advantage after Juan Velarde’s successful PAT.
NCAT managed to retake the lead briefly with a 27-yard field goal from Andrew Brown, making it 9-7. However, NCCU’s J’Mari Taylor exploded for a 66-yard touchdown run on the following possession, putting the Eagles up 14-9. Harris then found Markell Quick for a 60-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 20-9 by the end of the first quarter.