Washington, DC—North Carolina Central spotted Howard a 3-0 lead and then reeled off 20 straight points to get by Howard University 41-6 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Greene Stadium.

It was Senior Day for the Bison as 15 members of the team were honored in the pregame ceremonies.
           
It inspired the defense as it forced a fumble that was recovered by Elijah Anglin.  The Eagles defense held and forced a 39-yard Fleck field goal with a little less than five minutes off the clock.
           
NCCU (7-3, 6-1 in the MEAC) was able to come back and tie the score at 3-all on a Nigel MaCauley 25-yard field goal.  It was a moral victory for the Bison defense as the Eagles drove 77 yards on 15 plays, only to be stymied and settle for the field goal.
           
That appeared to loosen up things for NCCU.  In a little under three minutes, the Eagles scored 17 straight points.  Quarterback Malcolm Bell capped off a 71 yards drive with a six-yard burst up the middle.  A little more than one minute later, Davanta Reynolds stepped into a Kalen Johnson pass and returned it 27 yards for a TD.
           
"We can't allow teams to get two or three scores and get a big lead on us," said Howard head coach Gary "Flea" Harrell.  "We're not that type of football team right now where we can come from behind."
           
After the Bison failed to get a first down on their ensuing possession, the Eagles got the ball back and made the best of the opportunity as Nigel MacAuley nailed a 21-yard field goal to end the half as NCCU took a 20-3 lead to the locker room.
           
"We don't make make any excuses," said Harrell. "The defense came out and played well in the first half, but there were too many big plays in the second half and offensively there were just too many turnovers and too many sacks once again."
           
Howard appeared to wake up and although they failed to get a touchdown, a 41-yard John Fleck field goal narrowed the deficit to 20-6 early in the third quarter.
           
But from there, the Eagles began to flex as its defense intercepted three more passes and turned them into 21 points to close out the scoring.
           
Johnson, who was sacked 12 times in last week's loss at Stony Brook, put up some good numbers, completing 19 of 38 for a career-high 242 yards while also rushing for a career-high 57 yards.  But he was sacked three sacks and was intercepted four times.
           
"Of course, a young Kalen Johnson had a rough day with turnovers, but he's fighting," said Harrell.  "I'm proud of Kalen.  He's a young kid.  He knows that he needs a lot of improvement."
           
Bell completed 16 of 26 for 292 yards and two touchdowns and another 28 yards on the ground and a TD.
 
NEXT UP: The Eagles travel to Greensboro, NC to take on their rival, North Carolina A&T at 1:30 pm in what could prove to be the MEAC championship.  Howard closes out the season against the Hornets of Delaware State next Saturday at 2 pm.