Greensboro, NC—The Howard University football team played perhaps its best first quarter of the season, scoring its first touchdown in the period and taking a brief 14-13 lead.  But in the end, North Carolina A&T showed why it is in the Number 1 team in Black College football as it reeled off 17 straight points to take a 30-14 halftime lead and cruise to a 65-14 win over the Bison in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Aggie Stadium before 21,500.
           
After the Aggies (6-1, 6-0 in the MEAC) took a 7-0 lead on a Kwashaun Quick four-yard run, Howard (0-7, 0-5 in the MEAC) got its first touchdown in the first quarter this season on a 40-yard hookup between red-shirt freshman quarterback Khalen Johnson and Guy Lemonier with a tick left on the clock.
           
North Carolina A&T countered on two-yard burst by Tarik Cohen early in the second period.  The PAT attempt was blocked and the Aggies led 13-7.  The Bison displayed grit and answered with a 15-yard TD pass to Tamlin Antoine less than two minutes later.
           
From there, the Aggies all but put the game away, scoring 17 straight points during a five-minute stretch to take a comfortable 30-14 lead to the locker room.
           
The Bison aided the Aggies cause by committing 11 penalties for 89 yards and managing only six first downs.
           
In the second half, North Carolina A&T began to flex its muscle as Cohen, Quick and wide receiver Denzel Keyes took turns making big plays and keeping the Howard defense off balance.
           
Howard was again hurt by mistakes as it allowed an 82-yard punt return for a TD and a 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
           
Johnson completed 15 of 24 for a career-high 163 yards and two TDs while Lemonier had his best day, catching two passes for 44 yards and a TD and returning three kickoffs for 123 yards, including an 89 yarder that set up a TD.
           
The Aggies were led by Cohen, the MEAC Player of the Year, who ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns while Quick had 85 yards and a TD rushing and 67 yards passing and a TD.

NEXT UP:  The Bison will try to get their first win of the season when they host Savannah State at home at 1 pm next Saturday while the Aggies will attempt to keep their hold on first place when they travel to Tallahassee, FL to take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M University at 3 pm.