Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina A&T, Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

Mr. C is doing a tripleheader today, starting with a MEAC showdown between B-CU and NCAT. In the early going, NCAT stopped the Wildcats with an interception by Zerius Lockhart and then B-CU quickly ended the Aggies' first drive with a three and out.0.


0-0 with 12 minutes left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Heading down the highway to Elon after this game to get my first live look at James Madison this season, as the Dukes take on the Phoenix in CAA play. Finishing off the day by watching and writing up the Appalachian State vs Louisiana-Monroe game that will be on ESPN3.

[Mr. C]

Lockhart comes up big for A&T again, forcing a fumble at midfield after the Wildcats had picked up a first down on third and long. Aggie ball at the B-CU 36.

[Mr. C]

A&T loses five yards and has to punt away an excellent scoring chance midway through the first period.

[Mr. C]

82-yard TD pass from Quentin Williams to Jontavious Carter put Bethune-Cookman on top. Williams feathered the pass just over the defender after getting excellent time to throw. NCAT TV announcers (who I am sharing a press box with — long story) thought it was holding on the Wildcat line.

Bethune-Cookman 7, NCAT 0 with under seven minutes left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Tarik Cohen finally gets his first carries on the third series of the game for NCAT. Three straight carries to move it to the Aggie 40.

[Mr. C]

NCAT has been erratic on offense thus far and had to punt it away to B-CU again, which takes over at the Wildcat 17.

[Mr. C]

The teams trade three and outs with 1:38 left in the first period. B-CU ball again at the 16 after a near blocked punt.

[Mr. C]

To set the tone for this game, Bethune-Cookman is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the MEAC, while North Carolina A&T is 4-1 and 2-0. It may be early, but this game could ultimately decide the MEAC title.

[Mr. C]

Seems like a lot of nerves for both teams, with lots of false starts and turnovers thus far. B-CU has a dropped pass at its own 45 that kills the next drive as the first period ends.

[Mr. C]

TD for NCAT, but it is called back on holding. Cohen loses the TD, but comes back and motors to the B-CU 18 with 22 yards.

[Mr. C]

29-yard field goal for A&T's Cody Jones makes it a four-point game.

Bethune-Cookman 7, North Carolina A&T 3, 12:47 left in the second period.

[Mr. C]

A&T DT Michael Neal with outside pressure kills a Wildcat drive at the 41 with a sack.

[Mr. C]

Near punt block by A&T on the Wildcats and then a near disaster on the punt return as a Wildcat player forces an Aggie player into the ball. B-CU recovers, but the ball goes back to A&T because he was forced into the ball.

[Mr. C]

First time I've been at Aggie Stadium in 20 years. A lot of changes and a new press box. Unfortunately, A&T needs to work on its game-day operations. Also, the press box has extremely poor sight lines, with too many small windows.

[Mr. C]

Getting my first live look at All-American tailback Tarik Cohen. He is impressive, with great balance and likes to inflict punishment on defenders.

Aggies on the move behind Cohen, QB Kwashaun Quick and WR Denzel Keyes to move the ball to the Wildcat 2.

[Mr. C]

B-CU stops two plays near the goal line. Third and goal from the 3 and B-CU has to call time out with 12 men on the field.

[Mr. C]

Quick nearly drops a high snap, recovers and throws a jump ball, fade route in the end zone to Keyes and the tall, athletic WR brings it down for the TD pass despite being mugged.

North Carolina A&T 10, Bethune-Cookman 7, 3:45 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

37-yard run by QB Anthony Jordan for B-CU to the A&T 44 on first down.

[Mr. C]

After watching nearly a half of the two top MEAC teams in person, I have to say I am disappointed with the continuing downward spiral of HBCU football.

[Mr. C]

A&T dodges a bullet as B-CU drops a pass in the end zone as time winds down in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Halftime

North Carolina A&T 10
Bethune-Cookman 7

[Mr. C]

Halftime stats

North Carolina A&T

5-13 passing for 35 yards

33 carries for 125 yards, Cohen 11 carries for 58 yards

160 yards of total offense

Bethune-Cookman

8-12-1 passing for 145 yards (82 yards on one TD pass)

19 carries for 63 yards

208 yards of total offense

NCAT has forced two B-CU turnovers

[Mr. C]

Backup QB Quick is back on the field to start the second half for A&T. No injuries to report. Totally based on first-half performance. The Aggies are on the move with a jet spread offense. Down to the B-CU 43.

[Mr. C]

False start on third and three for A&T and then the MEAC officials mark off a SIX-yard penalty. Something never change.

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Incomplete pass targeting Keyes kills the Aggie drive and forces a punt

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Tipped punt after a slow approach takes an Aggie bounce and rolls dead at the seven. A&T was lucky there.

[Mr. C]

False start backs Bethune-Cookman back to the 3, second and 14.

[Mr. C]

Jawill Davis hauls in a pass for 46 yards for B-CU to give the Wildcats a huge first down at their own 49.

[Mr. C]

The blitz has Quentin Williams wrapped up and he steps up out of pressure and runs for a first down at the A&T 36.

[Mr. C]

Big sack by Julius Reynolds and Angelo Keyes on Williams kills the Wildcat drive at the 46 and forces a punt.

[Mr. C]

50-yard punt return by Khris Gardin gives A&T a first down at the B-CU 29. Cohen slashes for seven.

[Mr. C]

Cohen punishes defenders on a run to the 10 and then B-CU is caused for a personal foul to move the ball to the 6.

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Cohen drives it to the four. 2nd down

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Cohen is hit at the line. Third and goal. Look for another fade route to Denzil Keyes.

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Keyes on the fade route, 6-3 receiver against a 5-10 defender, Touchdown.

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North Carolina A&T 17
Bethune-Cookman 7
5:49 left in the third period

Six TDs this year for Keyes.

[Mr. C]

A&T is putting the screws on the Wildcat offense, which has replaced Williams with Larry Brihm at QB.

[Mr. C]

B-CU is running a jet-paced offense as it moves to the A&T 44.

[Mr. C]

Wildcats are dinking and dunking with passes down to the Aggie 27

[Mr. C]

Aggies are trying to slow things down with 2:29 left in the third with a time out.

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Angelo Keyes with a sack for A&T. 2nd and 10, incomplete pass. Big third and 10 for B-CU at the A&T 27.

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Denzil Jones with a deflection at the line on a third-down pass.

[Mr. C]

Clutch 15-yard catch on the stop route for Jawill Davis to the 14 for the first down.

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3rd and 4 option keeper for Larry Brihm makes it fourth and 1 at the six.

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Bethune-Cookman jumps for a false start, but is saved by a time out just before the infraction.

[Mr. C]

As B-CU comes back out, NCAT responds with a time out after the Wildcats come out in a new formation with new personnel.

[Mr. C]

Brihm on the read option to the Aggie 2. First down Bethune-Cookman as the the third quarter ends.

[Mr. C]

False start on Bethune-Cookman. First and goal at the 7.

[Mr. C]

QB Brihm on the read option sails into the end zone for a Bethune-Cookman TD.

North Carolina A&T 17
Bethune-Cookman 14
14:55 left in the 4th Quarter

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Third and long for A&T and Quick is sacked, but bailed out by a personal foul and an automatic first down on B-CU at the Wildcat 39.

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Sack for B-CU on the Aggies on back-to-back plays, Cohen's screen play moves the ball to the 41.

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Swing pass to Cohen moves it to the B-CU 33. 4th and 4 for A&T

[Mr. C]

Terrific play call with a brilliant fake and inside counter draw to Tarik Cohen, who dashes 34 yards for the touchdown.

North Carolina A&T 24
Bethune-Cookman 14
11:23 left

[Mr. C]

With Larry Brihm about to go down on a sack, he shovels a pass to Michael Jones for a first down in A&T territory. Another pass moves it to the A&T 23.

[Mr. C]

Big third and 10 coming up for B-CU, the pass is tipped, intercepted and dropped by Timadre Abram.

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Loren Suttles breaks up a fourth-down pass for A&T near the 10 and the Aggies take over at the 23 with 8:40 left.

[Mr. C]

NCAT working the clock with six minutes left

[Mr. C]

Bethune gets a stop and moves down the field with under 4 left at the Aggie 23

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Pass in the end zone is broken up on the post

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3rd and 10 at the 23, completion at the 10

[Mr. C]

Running play is stop for no gain and Brihm scrambles for nothing. Third and goal with 2:31 left

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Slant route at the goal line is knocked away. 4th and goal. Ballgame for B-CU

[Mr. C]

Brihm's pass is dumped off on a sprintout to the five, but the Aggies make the tackle to end the drive. 2:09 left with A&T ahead 24-14.

[Mr. C]

Final

North Carolina A&T 24
Bethune-Cookman 14