North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

     DURHAM, NC - North Carolina Central University sophomore Brandon Gilbert kicked a 30-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to lift the Eagles to a 26-23 victory over Bowie State University in the 2005 CIAA Championship Game at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, NC. 
     A capacity crowd of 10,580, mostly Eagles fans, watched as NCCU overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to capture its first conference title in 25 years. 
     NCCU's special teams proved to be the difference as Eagles' MVP Gilbert made 4-of-5 field goals with kicks of 33, 47, 23, and the game-winner of 30 yards. 
     Bowie State (8-3) jumped out to a 17-0 lead courtesy of an Isaac Redmon 2-yard touchdown run, a 31-yard field goal by Ronald Walls, and a 7-yard touchdown catch by Glenn Thomas from Lamar Manigo. The Bulldogs' No. 1 defense in the nation held the Eagles to just 28 total yards and three first downs in the first half, while BSU racked up 212 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes.
     The second half, however, was dominated by NCCU as the Eagles recorded 260 total yards, while holding the Bulldogs to 169 yards and only one trip to the end zone.
     NCCU (10-1) scored on its opening drive after intermission as Greg Pruitt, Jr. rumbled 26 yards to pay dirt.
     Gilbert's 33-yard kick with 4:56 left in the third quarter made it a one possession game with the score 17-10.
     BSU answered quickly as Manigo connected with Glenn again, this time a 46-yard pass to extend the Bulldogs' advantage to 23-10, as the extra-point kick by Walls sailed wide.
     Gilbert's career-long 47-yard blast prior to the close of the third quarter kept the Eagles within striking distance at 23-13.
     NCCU's defense provided a spark to start the fourth quarter as a blitzing Derrick Ray deflected Manigo's pass, which was intercepted by defensive lineman Greg Peterson to give the Eagles the ball at BSU's 9-yard line. NCCU settled for a 23-yard field goal by Gilbert to pull to within 23-16.
     After a missed 36-yard field goal attempt by the Bulldogs, NCCU quarterback Adrian Warren threw a 60-yard bomb to junior transfer Julius McClellan to tie the score at 23-23 with 7:41 remaining.
     A stingy NCCU defense forced BSU to punt after three offensive plays, and the Eagles took possession with 5:08 left. NCCU chewed up the clock along with 39 yards on 10 plays to set up Gilbert's heroics.
     "I am very proud of these kids," NCCU head coach Rod Broadway said. "I already knew these guys were champions, but today's win made them champions. They have worked hard, and they deserve it."
     Warren completed 13-of-26 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown, while his favorite target was senior Torey Ross, who caught seven passes for 70 yards, including two first-down grabs during the final drive. Sophomore running back Greg Pruitt, Jr. led the NCCU running attack with 99 yards on 21 carries with a score. 
     NCCU sophomore Ray amassed a game-high 11 tackles (6 solo), including 2.5 hits for a loss and two pass break-ups. Senior lineman Ronald Dowdy recorded seven tackles, two quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble for the Eagles. 
     Bowie State was led by quarterback Manigo as he completed 10-of-23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.  Redman proved to be a hard man to tackle as he ran for 112 rushing yards on 28 carries with a touchdown to earn MVP honors for BSU.  Thomas ended his day with 96 receiving yards on four catches with two touchdowns. Sterling Green and Jasper Chamberlain collected 10 tackles each for the Bulldogs.
     The 2005 Eagles are the first team in NCCU's 82-year gridiron history to win 10 games in a season. With the CIAA Championship in hand and a No. 4 ranking in last week's NCAA regional poll, NCCU (10-1) now waits to hear about the NCAA Division II playoffs that begin next Saturday. 
     The announcement of the 24-team field for the 2005 NCAA Division II playoffs can be seen on ESPNews between 1-2 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday, Nov. 6.

Eagles alive and kickin' - Mike Potter, The Herald-Sun

Dascenzo: Kicker Gilbert a hero for a day (The Herald-Sun)