Eagles defeat Savannah State

October 20, 2007
SAVANNAH, Ga- North Carolina Central broke open a close game with 17 unanswered points in a 30-14 win over Savannah State at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers fell to 1-6 while NCCU improved to 6-2 with the victory.

Trailing 14-13, the Eagles stunned the crowd of 3,119 when quarterback Stadford Brown threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brandon Alston, with five seconds left before halftime.

Taylor Gray kicked the extra point and NCCU went into intermission with a 20-14 lead.

In the third quarter, Justin Campbell, who finished with a game-high 74 yards rushing, scored on a 14 yard run to extend the Eagles led to 27-14 with 5:08 on the clock.

Gray kicked his third field goal of the afternoon, for 27-yards, with 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter for the final points for the contest and a 30-14 Eagles lead.

Savannah State led 7-0 with 4:02 left in the first quarter when quarterback Greg McCrary scored on a quarterback keeper for 25 yards. Jeremy Johnson converted the extra point. The touchdown was set up on a fumble recovery by the Tigers.

NCCU answered the Tigers score a pair of field goals by Gray and a touchdown to take a 13-7 lead.

Gray kicked a 20 yarder with 41 seconds left in the first quarter and hit one from 28 yards out with 14:08 remaining in the second quarter.

On their second possession of the second quarter, SSU's quarterback fumbled the ball and Central defensive end Xavier Joe scooped it up and raced 46 yards for a touchdown with 10:29 left before the half.

Savannah State took the kickoff and put together a four-play, 50 yard drive that resulted in a 38 yard touchdown pass from McCrary to Deleon Hollinger with 9:23 remaining in the quarter.

NCCU's defense held Savannah State to just 24 rushing yards. The Eagles also had two sacks, recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes.

McCrary completed 11 of 23 passes for a career-high 186 yards for SSU. McCrary and Antwan Edwards each rushed for 10 yards. Hollinger caught three passes for a career-high 141 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Chris Herans had a game-high 14 tackles. Calvin Leonard was in on 12 stops and Antwain Allen had 10 tackles. Jeremy Boston had a interception.

For NCCU, Brown passed for 179 yards and Wayne Blackwell caught seven passes for 53 yards. Paul Johnson and D. J. Fretwell had six tackles each.

Savannah State will return to T. A. Wright Stadium on October 27 as the Tigers celebrate Homecoming 2007 against Edward Waters (3-5). The NAIA Tigers are coming off a 31-28 homecoming win over UNC Pembroke.