North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

THE GAME: North Carolina Central University “Eagles” at Savannah State University “Tigers”

THE KICKOFF: Saturday, October 20, 2007 – Kickoff at 1:00 p.m. (ET) 

THE SITE: Memorial Stadium – Savannah, Ga. (10,000 capacity) 

2007 RECORDS:  NCCU (5-2 overall); Savannah State (1-5 overall) 

THE EVENT: North Carolina Central University and Savannah State University meet on the gridiron for only the third time, and the first time since 1975. The Eagles visit Savannah, Georgia for first time since 1974.

THE SERIES: This will be the third football meeting between Savannah State University and North Carolina Central University. NCCU leads the series 1-0-1. In the first-ever contest between the Tigers and Eagles, the two teams played to a 0-0 tie to open the 1974 season (Sept. 14, 1974) in Savannah, Ga. The following year in Durham, N.C., NCCU defeated the Tigers 30-0 in another season-opener on Sept. 13, 1975.

LAST WEEK FOR NCCU: North Carolina Central University used a fourth-quarter field goal to claim a 17-14 win in an evenly-contested game against North Greenville University in front of a sellout homecoming crowd of 11, 327 inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C. NCCU rookie kicker Taylor Gray made a 22-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter to break a 14-14 tie and give the Eagles the lead for good. The game was so balanced between the host Eagles and Crusaders that each averaged 4.4 yards per play and only six seconds separated the time of possession. NCCU amassed 306 yards of total offense (174 passing, 132 rushing), while NGU recorded 284 total yards (182 passing, 102 rushing). NCCU improved its overall record to 5-2, while NGU fell to 1-6. The visiting Crusaders scored first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Rashad Cummings capping an 11-play, 60-yard drive at 4:59 of the first quarter. Adrian Escalona missed the extra-point kick to keep the score at 6-0. NCCU responded with a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown to freshman receiver Corey Harris, his first college catch. Gray’s extra-point kick gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead at 14:54 of the second quarter. Just minutes before intermission, rookie defensive back Rakeem Vick returned an interception 23 yards to the Crusaders’ 28-yard line to set up a go-ahead 4-yard touchdown run by red-shirt freshman Tim Shankle, putting NCCU on top 14-6 at 1:45 of the second quarter. On its opening possession of the second half, NGU drove 70 yards in nine plays to pull to within two points with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Eric Moeller to Jarvis Garrett. Moeller found Travis Talbert in the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie the score at 14-14 with 10:59 of the third quarter. After Gray’s fourth-quarter kick gave the Eagles a 17-14 edge, NGU’s Escalona missed a potential game-tying 40-yard field goal attempt with 9:18 left in the visitor’s best opportunity to even the score. NCCU’s stalwart defense was topped by twin brothers Eric and Derrick Ray, who combined for 19 stops. Eric led the team with 10 tackles, while Derrick amassed nine takedowns (five solo), including two hits for a loss with a sack, four pass break-ups and his third interception of the season. NCCU’s Brown completed 14-of-33 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Will Scott was Brown’s favorite target with five catches for 73 yards. Rookie running back Justin Campbell topped the Eagles ground game with 64 yards on 12 carries. NGU’s Moeller finished with 182 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions on 19-of-32 passing. Talbert caught six balls for 51 yards, while Cummings rushed for 92 yards and a score on 22 attempts. The Crusaders defense was topped by Andre Bernardi and Doug Wilson with 11 tackles each. 

LAST WEEK FOR SAVANNAH STATE: Savannah State suffered its fourth consecutive setback as the Tigers lost 32-14 at Morehouse College on Oct. 13.  Morehouse scored in every quarter and amassed 451 yards of total offense, while Savannah State managed 204 total yards and scored on two third-quarter passes. 

THE COACHES: Mose Rison enters his second season at NCCU, but assumes the role of head coach for the first time in his 25-year coaching career. Former NCCU Chancellor James H. Ammons announced Rison as the school’s 19th head football coach on Feb. 6, 2007. Rison served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the Eagles historic 11-1 campaign in 2006. He will continue calling plays as the offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. With Rison directing NCCU’s offense, the 2006 Eagles scored 371 points (30.9 per game), the most in school history. Under Rison’s tutelage, freshman quarterback Stadford Brown was named as the “SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year,” the 2006 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and CIAA Rookie of the Year. A 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University, Rison spent the 2005 season as the Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Coordinator at Davidson College, where the Wildcats averaged more than 200 yards passing per game running a West Coast offensive system. He has also held positions at Livingstone College (Offensive Coordinator, 2004), the University of Arizona (Wide Receivers/Passing Coordinator, 2003), Stanford University (Wide Receivers, 1995-2000), Rutgers University (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, 1991-94), the U.S. Naval Academy (Wide Receivers, 1988-90), and Central Michigan University (Wide Receivers, 1981-87). During his tenure at Stanford, Rison coached in three bowl games, including the 2000 Rose Bowl. Rison, the cousin of five-time NFL All-Pro receiver Andre Rison, spent two seasons (2001-02) in the National Football League coaching ranks as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets, helping to develop Laveranues Coles and Santana Moss. He has also held NFL summer internships with the Baltimore Ravens (2000), Chicago Bears (1999), New York Jets (1993) and Detroit Lions (1988). A standout running back for Central Michigan from 1974-77, Rison helped the Chippewas to a 13-1 record and a Division II national title as a freshman. He rushed for 1,283 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a senior to earn all-conference and team MVP honors. Rison and his wife, Marilynn, have two children, Dominique (21) and Tara (18). Dominique lives in Charlotte, N.C. and attends Johnson & Wales University. Tara is a freshman at North Carolina Central University, majoring in business. 

 Theo Lemon is in his first season as head football coach for the Savannah State University Tigers. On April 10, 2006, athletic director Robert “Tony” O’Neal named Lemon the 20th head football coach at SSU. Lemon brings with him a wealth of knowledge that comes from more than 20 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level and four years of collegiate head coaching experience. He served as head coach at Central State University in 2003. Prior, to coaching at Central State, Lemon served as the head football coach at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., from 2001 to 2002. From 1996-2000 he was an assistant football coach at Wake Forest. In 1999, Lemon was part of the Wake Forest coaching staff that guided the team to a 7-5 record and advanced to a postseason bowl game for the first time since 1992. In 2000, he was promoted to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator for the Demon Deacons. Lemon’s collegiate coaching career also includes stints at Rutgers, East Carolina University, Northeastern, Kentucky State and a graduate assistantship at Ohio University. Lemon has also been an NFL Summer Intern Coach with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992 and the San Francisco 49ers in 1995. Lemon, 48, earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 1980 and his master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1990. As a player for Ohio University, he was a four-year starter at the defensive back position. The Massillon, Ohio, native is married to Channon Lemon and the couple has two sons, Willis, 12, and Dean, 9.

HEAD COACHES CROSSED PATHS AT RUTGERS:  During the 1994 football season, the North Carolina Central University and Savannah State University head football coaches walked the same sideline at Rutgers University. NCCU head coach Mose Rison served as an assistant coach with the wide receivers and tight ends, while Theo Lemon was an assistant coach with the linebackers. 

THE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH: 
 North Carolina Central University – 
 #2 - QB - Stadford Brown (So., 6-1, 201) – 98-of-195 passing, 1,150 yards, 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions.
 #3 - WR - Deshawn Spears (Fr., 5-7, 145) – Tied for team-lead with 25 catches for 233 yards, touchdown.
 #4 - LB - Derrick Ray (Sr., 6-0, 215) – Has 41 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions.
 #11 - LB - Eric Ray (Sr., 6-0, 235) – 59 tackles, 6.5 hits for loss, 2 pass break-ups, forced fumble, interception.
 #13 - DE - Xavier Joe (Sr., 6-2, 253) – Has 30 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, team-high 6.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries.
 #25 - RB - Tim Shankle (Fr., 5-10, 220) – Leads team with 374 rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry), 3 touchdowns.
 #26 - FS - Darren Brothers (Sr., 6-1, 183) – Leads team with 11 passes defended (4 interceptions, 7 pass break-ups).
 #32 - CB - Craig Amos (Sr., 5-10, 180) – 34 tackles, 3 INTs, 6 pass break-ups, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked kicks.
 #56 - LB - D.J. Fretwell (Sr., 6-1, 243) – Team-high 69 tackles with 3.0 tackles for a loss.
 #83 - WR - Will Scott (Jr., 6-2, 169) – Leads team with 410 receiving yards (17.1 avg.), 4 touchdown catches.
 #87 - WR - Wayne Blackwell (Jr., 6-2, 204) – Tied for team-lead with 25 catches for 316 yards, 3 touchdowns.

 Savannah State University – 
 #5 - QB - Greg McCrary (Fr., 6-1, 180) - 22-of-61 passing, 201 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 interceptions.
 #8 - FS - Javorris Jackson (Jr., 6-4, 216) - Leads team with 7 passes defended (4 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups).
 #9 - WR - Deleon Hollinger (So., 5-11, 179) - Tops Tigers with 17 catches for 194 yards, touchdown.
 #20 - KR - Justin Babb (Fr., 5-9, 174) - Leads team with an average of 73.7 all-purpose yards per game.
 #22 - RB - Antwan Edwards (Fr., 5-9, 177) - Leads team with 361 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry), touchdown.
 #26 - SS - Antwan Allen (So., 5-10, 185) - Tops Tigers with 50 tackles (29 solo), 4.0 hits for a loss, 2 interceptions.

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON:
 Category                  NCCU ... Savannah St.
 Scoring Offense: 17.4 pts/gm ... 10.0 pts/gm
 Scoring Defense: 13.7 pts/gm ... 32.5 pts/gm
 Total Offense: 267.1 yds/gm ... 217.2 yds/gm
 Total Defense: 279.9 yds/gm ... 371.8 yds/gm
 Rushing Offense: 102.9 yds/gm ... 132.3 yds/gm
 Rushing Defense: 135.4 yds/gm ... 216.7 yds/gm
 Passing Offense: 164.3 yds/gm ... 84.8 yds/gm
 Passing Defense: 144.4 yds/gm ... 155.2 yds/gm

NCCU AMONG NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS: NCCU is not officially eligible to be included in NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision statistics until the 2011 football season as part of its reclassification period, but the Eagles would figure in prominently in the FCS statistics. NCCU would currently rank tied for second the Division I-FCS in interceptions (14), third in turnovers gained (21), tied for fourth in turnover margin (1.71), fifth in pass efficiency defense (93.70 rating), tied for fifth in scoring defense (13.7 points allowed per game), seventh in total defense (279.86 yards per game), and eighth in pass defense (144.43 yards per game).

OH BROTHERS: NCCU senior safety Darren Brothers currently leads the Eagles with 11 passes defended, including team-highs of four interceptions and seven pass break-ups. A native of Elizabeth City, N.C., Brothers would also rank among the nation’s top 10 if NCCU were eligible for the NCAA Division I-FCS statistical rankings. Brothers would be tied for eighth in the nation in passes defended (1.57 per game) and tied for 16th in interceptions (0.57 per game). He also has 23 tackles (12 solo) and a forced fumble on the season.

JOE ON RECORD SACK PACE: NCCU senior defensive end Xavier Joe has collected 6.0 sacks in his first seven games this season. His 0.86 sack-per-game average would rank tied for 13th in the nation if NCCU was eligible for the NCAA Division I-FCS statistical rankings. Nonetheless, Joe is only 2.0 sacks away from matching former NCCU end Michael Lattimore’s single-season record of 8.0 sacks in 1995 (record since 1994 when assisted sacks started to count as a half).

EAGLES SCORING IN THE AIR:  Through seven games, the NCCU offense has found the end zone 14 times, with all but three coming through the air. Red-shirt freshman running back Tim Shankle has scored all three NCCU rushing touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown has thrown 11 touchdown passes, with four to junior receiver Will Scott, three going to junior receiver Wayne Blackwell, and one each to rookie receiver Deshawn Spears, senior receiver Brandon Alston, senior tight end Christopher Edwards, and rookie receiver Corey Harris. The Eagles’ special teams has accounted for one touchdown this season with senior Craig Amos recovering a fumble in the end zone versus Elizabeth City State (Sept. 15), while the NCCU defense has scored the other two touchdowns courtesy of interception returns at North Carolina A&T (Sept. 22) by senior linebacker Derrick Ray (23 yards) and freshman safety Jeffery Henderson (72 yards).

NCCU’S AMOS STUFFING THE STATS:  NCCU senior cornerback Craig Amos has been a super stat-stuffer so far this season. The Winston-Salem native had an MVP performance in the Whitney Young Classic (Sept. 15) when he scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery, intercepted a pass, collected a team-best six tackles (four solo) and deflected four other passes. On Sept. 2 against Fayetteville State, Amos collected four tackles (three solo), two blocked field goals, two fumble recoveries for 40 yards, an interception (he had another interception in the third quarter negated by a roughing the passer penalty), and a pass break-up. Through seven games, Amos has 34 tackles (22 solo), three interceptions for 14 yards, six pass break-ups, three fumble recoveries for 40 yards and a touchdown, and two blocked kicks. Amos now has 15 career interceptions and eight career blocked kicks.

SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown is climbing his way through the NCCU record books. Courtesy of an amazing 2006 rookie campaign, Brown currently ranks sixth on the school’s all-time career passing list with 3,727 passing yards and is sixth on the Eagles’ career total offense list with 3,735 total yards (statistics as of Oct. 16). Brown needs 216 passing yards to move past Herman Matthews (3,942 passing yards, 1966-69) into fifth place on the school’s career passing list, and requires 329 yards of total offense to pass Herman Matthews into the fifth spot (4,063 total yards, 1966-69). Brown threw for 2,577 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, while starting all 12 games for the 11-1 Black College Football National Champions.

AMOS PICKING OFF THE OPPOSITION: With his third interception of the season on Sept. 15, NCCU senior Craig Amos jumped into seventh place on the school’s all-time career interceptions list with 15 picks. Amos needs one more to equal Tony Lindsey’s 16 interceptions from 1985-88. The NCCU all-time interceptions leader is Melvin Wallace with 22 picks from 1982-85. Amos is also ranked tied for seventh on NCCU’s career passes defended list with 41 (15 interceptions, 26 pass break-ups).

ALSTON INCREASES SCHOOL’S CAREER PUNT RETURN RECORD:  NCCU senior wide receiver and return specialist Brandon Alston continues to improve upon the career punt return record he broke as a junior in 2006. Alston is the school’s all-time leading punt returner with 1,109 career yards (as of Oct. 16).

PETERSON N.F.L. UPDATE: Former NCCU defensive lineman Greg Peterson, a 2007 fifth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, continues to make his mark in his rookie season in the National Football League. In his homecoming game against the Carolina Panthers (Sept. 30), Peterson recorded three solo tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery. The former Eagle now has 12 total tackles (nine solo) and is second on the Buccaneers with 1.5 sacks.

BACK-TO-BACK BLANKINGS:  On Saturday (Sept. 8), the NCCU defense recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 11 years. On Sept. 2, the Eagles posted a 17-0 win over Fayetteville State. On Sept. 8, NCCU notched a 6-0 victory over St. Augustine’s. In the middle of the 1996 campaign, NCCU collected three consecutive shutouts. The 1996 season was also the last time NCCU had two shutouts in the same year. The Eagles finished the 1996 campaign with the No. 1 ranked pass defense in the country (NCAA Division II). 

GILBERT BREAKS SCHOOL SCORING RECORD:  NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert scored five points on Sept. 2 versus Fayetteville State to become the school’s all-time career scoring leader. Gilbert currently has 234 points, passing All-American wide receiver Robert Clark, who amassed 232 career points with 38 touchdowns and two extra-point conversions from 1983-86. Gilbert is now four field goals shy of tying the school record for career field goals, currently held by Kevin Houston (1992-95) with 40. Gilbert already holds the school record for career extra-point kicks made with 126, and has made 83 consecutive extra-point kicks. Gilbert will miss the rest of the season with a torn quadriceps muscle in his left (kicking) leg.

INJURIES END SEASON FOR TWO NCCU STARTERS: (Sept. 8, 2007) Two NCCU football starters – senior running back Jeff Toliver and senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert – will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. The duo hope to complete their Eagle gridiron careers during the 2008 campaign after seeking medical red-shirt waivers. Toliver, a 5-9, 207-pound native of Gaithersburg, Md., has a torn ligament in his right foot, an injury he suffered during last week’s 17-0 victory over Fayetteville State. Prior to the start of the season, he was voted by his teammates as one of four team captains. Through the first two games, he was the team’s leading rusher with 92 ground yards. Gilbert, a 5-10, 186-pound native of Graham, N.C., has a torn quadriceps muscle in his left (kicking) leg. He suffered the injury during the team’s pre-season training camp, but continued to play in hopes that the injury would heal and not hinder his performance on the field. After the Sept. 2 contest, however, Gilbert decided he could no longer push ahead. Gilbert is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 234 career points, and also holds the NCCU record for career extra-point kicks made with 126. He is four field goals shy of tying the school record for career field goals.

EAGLES IN NFL STADIUMS:  With an 18-10 victory over Elizabeth City State on Sept. 15 inside Giants Stadium, the Eagles remain undefeated inside National Football League stadiums with a 3-0 record. NCCU edged Morris Brown, 19-16, inside Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sept. 30, 2000. A year later (Nov. 4, 2001), the Eagles beat J.C. Smith, 34-3, inside the Carolina Panthers’ home, then called Ericsson Stadium, in Charlotte, N.C.

GAME WITH WEST ALABAMA CANCELLED:  On Sept. 12, the University of West Alabama Department of Athletics announced the cancellation of the Tigers’ football game versus North Carolina Central University at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. on Oct. 6. The cancellation is the result of a breach in the game contract by the Varsity Sports Marketing Group, the game’s promoter. “We want all of the UWA and NCCU fans to know that our great universities really wanted to play this football game and we did everything possible to salvage it, but we were unable to resolve the contract difficulties with the game’s promoter,” said UWA Director of Athletics E.J. Brophy. This cancellation will result in an open date for both teams on Oct. 6. “We are disappointed that our football program and our fans will not have the opportunity to travel to Alabama for this event,” said NCCU Director of Athletics Bill Hayes. “We have developed a wonderful relationship with the administration of UWA and we were looking forward to the match-up on the gridiron. All possible efforts were exhausted by NCCU and UWA before having to come to this decision. This is quite unfortunate.”

INAUGURAL DIVISION ONE SEASON:  The 2007 gridiron campaign marks the inaugural season for North Carolina Central University in the NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision. Playing as an independent for the 2007 season, the Eagles were NCAA Division II members in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association before the transition. NCCU won back-to-back CIAA football championships in 2005 and 2006, and was declared the 2006 Black College Football National Champions with an undefeated regular season and an overall record of 11-1.

INJURY REPORT: (NCCU) RB – Jeff Toliver, foot sprain (Out for Season); K – Brandon Gilbert, thigh (Out for Season). 

LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL VIA THE INTERNET:  Every game of the 2007 North Carolina Central University Eagles football season will be covered by WRJD 1410 AM. Donal Ware will handle play-by-play duties, Eric Curry will provide color commentary and Hanif Omar will call the action from the sideline. Fans may also listen to the broadcast via the internet by visiting the NCCU Athletics web site at http://ariel.acc.nccu.edu/athletics/audio.html .

SPORTS INFORMATION CONTACTS: 
 NCCU: Kyle Serba (919) 530-7054 / kserba@nccu.edu
 Savannah State: Opio Mashariki (912) 356-2446  / masharik@savstate.edu