DURHAM, N.C. (October 6, 2018) – In a contest that witnessed over 1,100 yards of total offense, the North Carolina Central (NCCU) Eagles topped Howard University football, 40-35, at O'Kelly-Riddick stadium.
 
With the setback, HU fell to 1-3 (1-1 MEAC) while the Eagles improved to 2-3 (1-1 MEAC) on the year.
 
Offensively, the Bison racked up 598 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback Caylin Newton (Atlanta) and junior wideouts Jequez Ezzard (College Park, Ga.) and Kyle Anthony (Miramar, Fla.) led the attack.
 
Newton threw for 381 yards (24-of-39) with three touchdown passes. Ezzard (eight catches for 174 yards) and Anthony (nine receptions for 147 yards) combined for 321 receiving yards on 17 balls in the loss.
 
After HU scored on its opening drive with a 22-yard field goal from freshman Faraji Joseph (Greensboro, N.C.), 3-0, the Eagles answered with 91-yard drive, capped off by a 6-yard TD run by Isaiah Totten, 7-3.
 
With time dwindling in the first period, sophomore Saevon Dinkins (Anchorage, Alaska) sacked NCCU's Chauncey Caldwell in the end zone for a safety and trimmed the margin down to two after one, 7-5.
 
Howard began the second quarter with a quick hitter, connecting Newton to Ezzard for a 40-yard bomb and put the Bison back on top, 12-7.
 
North Carolina Central responded and reclaimed the advantage with 35-yard TD pass from Caldwell to Daeshawn Stephens, 14-12.
 
Moments later, Newton would find Ezzard for a 54-yard touchdown and put HU back ahead, 19-14.
 
NCCU continued to match Howard blow-for-blow with other big play resulting in a touchdown and took the lead with six minutes before intermission, 21-19.
 
With under 10 ticks before halftime, North Carolina Central's Adam Lippy connected on a 42-yard field goal and extended NCCU's lead at the break, 24-19.
 
After intermission, the Eagles increased its advantage to double-digits with a 38-yard touchdown pass, 31-19, but the Bison answered with a 7-play, 75 yard drive, highlighted by Ezzard's third TD of the game, 31-26.
 
Seconds into the fourth, Joseph drilled his longest field goal of his career from 35 yards out and cut the deficit to two, 31-29.
 
With less than nine minutes remaining, North Carolina Central pushed the lead back to a touchdown possession after another 42 yarder from Lippy, 34-29.
 
Next drive, the Bison marched down on six plays to regain the upper hand, thanks to a 19-yard TD run from freshman Khalid Dorsey (York, Pa.), but the two-point attempt was unsuccessful, 35-34.
 
On their final possession, NCCU drove nine plays in 2:39 and scored the go-ahead TD with only 24 ticks remaining, 40-35.
 
With only seconds remaining, Newton drove Howard down to NCCU's 17 yard line, but a game-clinching interception by the Eagles' Marcus Martin sealed the deal for North Carolina Central.
 
Defensively, redshirt freshman Jayson Robinson (Sterling, Va.) had a game-high 14 tackles (10 solo) while North Carolina native Marcellos Allison (Durham) had a solid homecoming with nine tackles (two solo), two QB hurries, and a half sack.
 
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.