WASHINGTON (October 4, 2018) – After a week away from the gridiron, coach Mike London and the Howard University football team are back in action when they travel to Durham, N.C. to face the North Carolina Central (NCCU) Eagles. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
 
Fans can follow all the action via live stats and ESPN3.
 
Additionally, fans will have the ability to listen to the game live with play-by-play from Trevin A. Jones and his color analyst Tiffany Hoyd. Tune in to the WHBC96.3HD3; SiriusXM Channel 142; or Resident Network Channel 51 for all Bison football coverage. Pregame coverage starts at 1:45 p.m.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On Sept. 22, in a contest that saw momentum swing back-and-forth, the Bison outlasted Bethune-Cookman, 41-35, in the 35th annual Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.
 
Howard utilized a balance attack while converting 55-percent (11-of-20) on third and fourth downs.
 
Overall, the Bison posted 526 total yards (301 passing yards and 225 rushing yards). D.C. native Josiah Crute led the way, rushing for 83 yards on 11 carries, including two TDs. Second-year signal caller Caylin Newton (Atlanta) threw for 301 yards (20-of-32) with two passing touchdowns in the victory.
 
Defensively, Howard held the Wildcats to 33-percent (4-of-12) on third down. Sophomore defensive back Bryan Cook (Cincinnati) had a team-high eight tackles (four solo) while freshman Jalen Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.) returned his first interception for a touchdown.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
 
Saturday's clash will be the 23^rd meeting between Howard and North Carolina Central with the Eagles leading the all-time series, 12-9-1.
 
Last season, Howard struck first with a 75-yard touchdown pass, but came up short against the Eagles, 13-7, at Greene Stadium. At the time, Newton had his best performance in the air, throwing for 328 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Leon Fields II (North Charleston, S.C.) had a team-best seven tackles (four solo), including a tackle-for-loss.
 
HOWARD
 
HU (1-2, 1-0 MEAC) enters Saturday looking to remain unbeaten in conference play after taking week off.
 
"We've been able to get some guys back [during the break]," London stated in Tuesday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) weekly teleconference. "We were also able to work on some things to help us be a better football team."
 
Offensively, Howard ranks among the nation's best passing attacks (#6 in FCS). Newton and junior wideouts Kyle Anthony (Miramar, Fla.) and Jequez Ezzard (College Park, Ga.) spearhead the Bison aerial assault. Newton leads the league in total offense (357.7 total yards per game/#2 in FCS) and passing (299.7 passing yards per game/#7 in FCS) while Anthony (19 receptions, 204 yards, 3 TD) and Ezzard (16 receptions, 372 yards, 2 TD) have combined for 35 catches and five touchdowns.
 
Cook and fellow classmate Tye Freeland (Petersburg, Va.) guide the Bison secondary. Cook leads the club in total tackles with 19 (14 solo) while the Virginia product ranks third on the squad with 13 tackles (12 solo), four pass breakups, and an interception.
 
"[Tye] Freeland and [Bryan] Cook were true freshmen last year," said London. "Now, they're sophomores with game experience against FBS and FCS. They've played in close wins and tough losses. It's been refreshing to see younger guys who played last year now in leadership roles."
 
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
 
Last week (Sept. 29), North Carolina Central (1-3, 0-1 MEAC) scored a touchdown on the game's opening possession, but Florida A&M posted 48 unanswered points to cruise to a 55-14 road victory over the Eagles at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
 
This season, NCCU senior safety Davanta Reynolds, the league's preseason Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team (Second Team), ranks third in the conference with 33 tackles (8.2 per game).
 
"They're a very good football team," London added. "They've been in the upper echelon in the MEAC standings over the years. I know they lost their head coach, but it's still a team with good schemes, system, and players. We need to be ready when we head down there this Saturday."
 
NCCU is under the direction of first-year head coach Granville Eastman, who accepted the interim role after Jerry Mack left to be the offensive coordinator at Rice.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On Oct. 13, Howard hosts Delaware State in their first home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Greene Stadium on Organization Day, Greek Day, and Breast Cancer Awareness.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.