DURHAM, N.C. (November 15, 2024) - Howard University football team turned in what may be its most impressive performance on specials teams in recent memory, but a lack of offense resulted in a 26-3 loss to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game before 5,429 at O'Kelly Riddick Stadium.
 
It was a Friday Night Under the Lights special. The Bison (4-7, 1-3 MEAC) set the tone early, opening a 3-0 lead over the Eagles on a Dylan West (Akron, Ohio) 36-yard field goal.
 
From there, the high-powered NCCU offense, which came into the game leading the conference in scoring (34 points per game) and total offensive yards (430) was unable to get untracked as the Bison played a bend-but-don't-break defense. Twice the Eagles were able to move the ball into the Red Zone but the Bison held on downs and forced field goal attempts, and both times, Howard came up with blocks. First it was senior defensive back Robert Jones III (Fairwood, Md.) and the other was by fifth-year senior Carson Hinton (Detroit), resulting in Howard holding onto 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The offense was not able to add to the lead, but senior punter Jaydon Green (Chicago) made sure that he would not give the explosive Eagles offense a short field as his punts would flip the field and force NCCU to drive the ball down the field.
 
NCCU (7-3 overall, 3-1 MEAC) was finally able to get just enough going against the staunch Bison defense, engineering an 11-play, 71-yards drive that he capped off with Walker Harris passing to Chris Mosley for a 12-yard TD. The ensuing PAT was blocked by senior Xavier Robiou (North Miami Beach, Fla.) so the Eagles took a 6-3 advantage going into the half.
 
The Howard offense continued to sputter, but the defense made sure that it kept the game close. That was until NCCU running back J'Mari Taylor took over and changed the game. A candidate for MEAC Player of the Year, Taylor scored on a 61-yard jaunt at the 7:44 mark of the third period to extend the Eagles lead, 14-3.
 
The Bison special teams came up with yet another big play when return specialist Isiah Williams (Rockville, Md.) recorded his first interception, following a fake punt attempt by NCCU on fourth down.
 
The Bison offense was not able to take advantage, so NCCU again turned to Taylor and this time he scored on an 18-yard run early in the fourth quarter to open the margin, 20-3. Taylor removed any comeback hopes by adding his third TD on a 40-yard sprint that closed out the scoring.
 
On the day, Taylor finished with 208 yards rushing and another 79 on pass receptions to total 287 yards of total offense.
 
For the game, Howard had a season-low 121 yards of total offense, including a season-low 38 yards on the ground. Graduate running back Jarett Hunter (Mineral, Va.) led the team with 29 yards on eight carries.
 
Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas), a redshirt sophomore, who came into the game among the conference leaders in total offense, was limited to 83 yards on 11-of-26 passing. He was also sacked six times by the Eagles' defense while his unit went 0-for-13 on third down conversions.
 
Green had his best day in a Bison uniform with 10 punts for an average of almost 40 yards, including four landing inside the NCCU 20-yard line.
 
Jones, who is playing as well as anyone defensive back in the MEAC, picked off his third interception in the last two games and also blocked his second kick of the season in a losing effort.
 
Hinton (six total tackles & a blocked kick) and senior linebacker Terrance Hollon (10 total tackles & a forced fumble) each had outstanding performances.
 
NEXT UP: Howard looks to end the season on a winning note when it travels to Baltimore to face rival Morgan State Saturday (Nov. 23) at 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.