DURHAM, N.C. (November 14, 2024) – Howard University football team meets MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) foe North Carolina Central (NCCU) in a Friday Night Under the Lights showdown at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium. It will be Senior Night for NCCU and kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., broadcasted live on ESPNU.
GAME INFO
GAME 11
Howard (Bison) at North Carolina Central (Eagles)
Friday, November 15, 2024
7 p.m.
O'Kelly Riddick Stadium (10,000)
Durham, N.C.
LAST TIMEOUT
NCCU (6-3, 2-1 MEAC) is coming off a bye after a 24-21 road loss to South Carolina State (Oct. 31). The loss snapped a five-game win streak for the Eagles.
Howard (4-6 overall, 1-2 MEAC) dropped a 38-14 home loss to MEAC leader South Carolina State Saturday (Nov. 9).
FOLLOW THE ACTION
WATCH: ESPNU/
Tiffany Greene (Play-by-Play) and Jay "Sky" Walker (Color Analyst)
LISTEN: WHBC |
Trevin A. Jones (Play-by-Play),
Nathaniel Henry (Color Analyst) &
Sareyah Rudd (Sideline Reporter)
IN-GAME: LIVE RESULTS
THE SERIES
The teams have split the last two outings.
The Bison won, 50-21, last year in Washington, D.C. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Eagles, who lead the series, 9-1, since 2013.
Each won the MEAC Regular Season crown the past two years, appearing in the Celebration Bowl. In 2022, NCCU knocked off Jackson State to become HBCU National Champions while Howard dropped a decision to Florida A&M last season.
THE COACHES
Howard is coached by
Larry Scott (USF, '00), who is in his fifth season and NCCU is led by Tre Oliver (NCCU, '98), who is in his fifth season with the program.
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
HOWARD COACH LARRY SCOTT
"Our focus is on a day-to-day basis. It is another opportunity, another football game, a good team under the lights. I would not have it any other way. It is a game where everything is stacked up against us going into Durham."
NCCU COACH TRE OLIVER
"There are benefits of playing under the lights before a national TV audience. It provides you with an opportunity to represent your University and the MEAC brand."
On All American Kenny Gallop, Jr.
"Kenny Gallop, Jr. is a physical football player with good range, an unbelievable talent. He consistently makes plays all over the field and always going to be around the football."
KEY PLAYERS
SCOUTING THE BISON
On offense, the Bison will rely on the running and passing of redshirt sophomore quarterback
Ja'Shawn Scroggins (84 carries for 480 yards, 3 TDs; 104-of-189 for 1,083 yards, 8 TDs).
The run game is led by the duo of MEAC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year graduate
Jarett Hunter (151 carries for 714 yards, 5 TDs; 20 receptions for 128 yards) and his backfield mate junior
Eden James (86 carries for 403 yards, 3 TDs; 19 receptions for 125 yards).
The passing game will be bolstered by senior wide receivers
Isiah Williams (32 catches for 372 yards & a 2 TDs) and
Kasey Hawthorne (34 receptions for 404 yards, 3 TDs) and
Breylin Smith (17 receptions, 195, a TD).
The offensive line is anchored by senior all conference guard
Darius Fox (Washington).
Defensively, All-American safety
Kenny Gallop Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.) leads the team in tackles (74 total tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 1 FR & 4 PBs).
Gallop has plenty of help in senior All-MEAC linebacker
Terrance Hollon (55 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 FFs & 3 FRs), graduate defensive back
Carson Hinton (36 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups) and senior defensive back
Robert Jones III (32 total tackles, team-leading 7 PBUs, 2 INTs, & a FR).
Up front, the trio of junior
Noah Miles (32 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, a FF & a FR), sophomore
Ishaun Abdul-Ali (24 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, a blocked kick, a FF & a FR) and senior
Jamel Stewart (27 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs & 2.5 sacks).
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
NCCU is led offensively by redshirt junior quarterback Harris Walker (119-of-192 for 1,511 yards, 17 TDs & 5 INTs), redshirt junior running back J'Mari Taylor (156 carries for 862 yards & 11 TDs; 24 receptions for 193 yards & 2 TDs), redshirt junior running back Chris Mosley (15 carries for 220 yards & 3 TDs).
The potent receiving corps is senior wide receiver Joaquin Davis (25 receptions for 421 yards & 4 TDs), sophomore Markell Quick (21 receptions for 417 yards & 5 TDs) and junior Chauncey Spikes (15 receptions for 191 yards & 3 TDs).
Defensively, the Eagles are led by senior linebacker Jaki Brevard (62 total tackles, 8.0 sacks & 0.5 TFLs), redshirt junior defensive lineman Quantez Mansfield (29 total tackles, 9.5 TFLs & 3.5 sacks), senior defensive back Kole Jones (44 total tackles, 2.0 TFLs & 3 PBs) and redshirt junior linebacker Max U'ren (44 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs & 0.5 sacks).
MEAC RANKINGS (TEAM & INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL)
HOWARD
As a team, Howard ranks first in Red Zone defense and rushing offense (179.0 yards per game).
Individually, Scroggins is third in total offense, sixth in all-purpose running and fourth in passing...Hunter is fourth in rushing (72.8) and all-purpose and 10
th in total offense…James is ninth in rushing and 10
th in all-purpose…
Jaydon Green (Chicago) is eighth in punting…
Anthony Reagan Jr. (Camden, N.J.) is third in kick returns…Hawthorne is eighth in receiving and ninth in scoring…Williams is ninth in receiving.
Defensively, Gallop is second in tackles and 10
th in sacks…Hollon is third in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries and 10
th in tackles…Miles is fourth in sacks and seventh in tackles for loss...Stewart is ninth in sacks…Jones is second in pass breakups, fourth in interceptions and eighth in forced fumbles.
NCCU
The Eagles lead the conference in offensive scoring (34.8 ppg), kick returns (26.3), rushing offense (167.0), punting and third and fourth down conversion defense).
Individually, Taylor leads the MEAC in rushing and scoring and all-purpose running and seventh in total offense…Walker is second passing and third in total offense…Quick and Davis are fourth and fifth, respectively, in receiving…Senior Juan Verlade leads the MEAC in punting (44.5 yards per punt) and fourth in scoring…Redshirt senior wide receiver Chris Mashburn leads the conference in kick returns and sophomore wide receiver Daryl Taylor is No. 1 in punt returns.
Defensively, Isaiah Norris is fourth in pass breakups…Brevard is sixth in tackles for loss, redshirt junior defensive back Malcolm Reed is second in pass breakups, fourth in interceptions and eighth in tackles…Redshirt defensive lineman Ryan Wynn is ninth in forced fumbles…Mansfield is eighth in sacks.
FCS NATIONAL RANKINGS (TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL)
HOWARD
The Bison are tied 12
th in fumbles lost, tied for 13
th in passing yards allowed and fourth down conversion defense, tied for 16
th in blocked kicks, 18
th in Red Zone defense and 25
th in sacks.
NCCU
NCCU is ranked in several national FCS statistical categories. The Eagles are second in 4th down conversion defense, third in 3rd down conversion defense, fourth in team tackles for loss, fifth in kick returns, tied for seventh in defensive TDs, tied for eight in blocked punts, tied for 11
th in passing yards allowed, 14
th in pass efficiency defense, 15
th in first downs offense and 17
th in scoring.
BISON NOTES
Jones, who is quietly having a great season, was named MEAC Defensive Player of the after two interceptions and two pass breakups versus Delaware State (Nov. 2)…Hunter and Hawthorne have been two of the most productive players in recent history...Hunter has amassed over 3,500 yards and 31 TDs in a Bison uniform...Hawthorne has accounted for over 2,300 yards and 25 TDs with his receiving, rushing and passing...James has put up some good numbers in his first two seasons, rushing and receiving for over 1,600 yards while averaging almost 5.0 yards per carry....13 different Howard players have caught at least one pass and 12 have scored at least one TD.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
In addition to their outstanding contributions on the football field, Gallop and Hollon have been cited for special recognition:
Gallop has been named a semifinalist for the Aneas Williams Award, presented to the top defensive back in HBCUs.
Hollon has been named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded for contributions on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. Hollon is a first team All-MEAC selection and a member of the MEAC Commissioner's Academic Team Award, boasting a 3.9 GPA while being involved in outreach community programs in the Washington, D.C.area.
KENNY GALLOP JR. WATCH
CAREER STATS
208 solo tackles, 114 assists for 322 tackles
20.5 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries & 3 interceptions
NEXT UP
Howard will close out the regular season against the Beltway rival, Morgan State (Nov. 23).
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website
www.hubison.com.
