DURHAM, N.C. (November 5, 2022) - During its recent two-game win streak coming into the contest against North Carolina Central (NCCU), the Howard University football team had two key elements in its favor: time of possession and third down conversions on both sides of the ball. In the wins over Delaware State and Norfolk State, the Bison controlled the clock for more than 33 minutes, converting over 80-percent of its third down conversions while limiting their opponents to 20-percent of their attempts.
 
So, it was imperative that the team follow that game plan against the highly explosive North Carolina Central offense, which ranks among the nation's leaders in the FCS in several offensive categories.
 
When it was all said and done, Howard (3-6, 2-1 in the MEAC) was not able to stop the big plays and it resulted in the Bison playing catchup the entire game before losing 50-21 to NCCU before a sellout homecoming crowd of 14,322 at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium.
 
The Eagles (7-2 overall, 3-1 in the MEAC) set the tone on their first offensive possession when quarterback Davius Richard hooked up with E.J Hicks for 73 yards to take the quick lead with less than two minutes into the game.
 
NCCU struck again eight seconds later, this time on a safety when the Bison misplayed a kickoff that resulted in two points.
 
"It was probably one of the worst starts you could possibly have," lamented Howard head coach Larry Scott. "You give up a big play on their opening drive and then you have a mental error on the return game and you are already down, 9-0. From there, you're playing catchup and when you play in a game like this, you just can't have those kinds of starts."
 
The Bison, who have faced adversity all season, held the Eagles to two Adrian Olivio field goals for NCCU's next two scores and seemed to settle in.
 
Third-year wideout Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) capped off a 54-yard drive with a two-yard spurt that made the score 15-7, but the explosive Eagles came right back when Richard ended a drive with a three-yard run with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter, 22-7.
 
NCCU's Latrell Collier scored on a three-yard TD run that was set up by a Richard 66-yard jaunt. It upped the margin to 29-7 at the 11:50 mark of the third quarter.
 
"I said all week that he (Davius) would be a problem," said Scott. "He has the ability to make plays with his legs and his arm. He was the difference in the game."
 
Richard rushed for 104 yards and two TDs while completing 13-of-21 for 281 yards and a score.
 
Despite NCCU's ability to strike quickly, the Bison remained within striking distance when senior quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) connected with senior tight end Brennan Brown (Dallas) from 20 yards out to get within two scores, 29-14, at the 9:48 mark of the third quarter.
 
The confident Eagles, under the leadership of Richard, would answer quickly when he connected with another big play, this time to Devin Smith from 64 yards to increase the lead to 36-14.
Feeling desperate, the never-say-die Bison got some energy from return specialist senior running back Ian Wheeler (Houston), who returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to again bring his team to within two scores, 36-21.
 
That was as close as the Bison would get as NCCU closed the door with two more scores while sacking the Howard quarterbacks three times in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
 
With the win, the Eagles can clinch a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season Title and a berth in the Celebration Bowl (December 18) with a win next week over Norfolk State. The Bison return home for a showdown with South Carolina State, which fell out of the title run with a loss to Delaware State.
 
Howard suffered its first conference loss of the season, but despite that, Coach Scott says that all is not lost.
 
"We still have a lot to play for," he pointed quickly in the post-game press conference. "At best, we can finish in a tie. This week will not be who we are playing, but we have to challenge ourselves in terms of who we are as a program and what we are trying to build."
 
GAME NOTES
 
NCCU amassed 497 yards of total offense, averaging 7.6 yards per snap.
 
Despite the mistake on special teams, Howard got outstanding efforts from graduate punter Phillip Richards (Melbourne, Australia), who averaged a career-best 46 yards on four punts while Wheeler, a preseason all-MEAC pick as a return specialist, averaged over 50 yards per kick return, including the 94 yarder.
 
Defensively, the Eagles held Howard to just 99 rushing yards and 179 passing yards...Howard quarterbacks were sacked a season-high six times.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.