GAME NOTES

Greensboro, NC—In a key early season showdown, Howard University takes on North Carolina A&T in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener at 7:30 pm. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

The two teams are coming off a bye week and have had more than a week off since they last played. The Bison (1-2, 0-0 in the MEAC) are coming off a 76-19 defeat at the hands of Old Dominion on September 14 while the Aggies (2-0, 0-0 in the MEAC) defeated Elon College, 23-10 at home on that same date.

Howard has done it with some high-powered offense that is averaging almost 400 yards per game. Junior quarterback Greg McGhee has run the equal opportunity offense, who has completed passes to 12 different receivers and ranks among the conference leaders in passing, total offense and rushing.

The rushing attack has been led by sophomore running back William Parker (41 carries, 227 yards, 1 TD).

The young defense has been led by red-shirt junior Cameron Alston (30 tackles), junior cornerback Ademola Olatunji (24 tackles, 2 interceptions), senior linebacker Tabrian Resby (29 tackles, 4.0 tackles for losses) and sophomore defensive end Damon Gresham Chisholm (13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for losses).

The Howard special teams have also been solid with the kicking of sophomore John Fleck (44 yards per punt, 5 for 5 on field goals) and return specialists, junior Richard Aiyegoro (31 yards per kick return) and senior Brandon Flanagan (10,0 yards per punt return).

"We're excited, " said NC A&T head coach Rod Broadway, in his third season with the Aggies. "They're (Howard) a good team. The quarterback's good, the running backs are good, the wide receivers are good and the offensive line is sound. They're a good football team. We've got to be better than we've been to give ourselves a chance to be successful."

North Carolina A&T has done it with stingy defense, outstanding special teams play and an error-free offense.

The Aggies lead all FCS schools in rushing defense, allowing only 56 yards per game on the ground. Senior linebacker D'Vonte Grant (14 tackles, interception for a TD), sophomore defensive end Daniel Pinnix (11 tackles, 4.5 for losses, 3 sacks) and senior defensive back Travis Crosby (19 tackles, 2.5 for losses) spearhead the NC A&T defense.

In sophomore Tony McRae (3 kick returns, 180 yards, 1 TD), the Aggies have one of the most dangerous return specialist in the country. D'Vonte Graham (10.7 yards per punt return), and freshmen Dominic Frescura (45 yards per punt) and Cody Jones (3 for 3 on field goals) give NC A&T one of its best units in years.

"It's a great game for us," said Howard interim head coach Ray Petty. "It's going into our first conference game. Coach Broadway and his staff are doing a great job, turning that program around within two years. They're sound in all phases of the game. They're not doing anything to beat themselves. They're really sound in what they're doing. They're taking the ball away from people and they're great on special teams. They have one of the best returners in the country. They do an outstanding job."

The game marks the 20^th anniversary of the 1993 Classic when both teams entered the game at 6-0 and ended up with the Bison going on to win, 41-35 in overtime and later finish undefeated.