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Aug. 26, 2008

Gametracker

EAGLES FOOTBALL 2008 - GAME #1

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (0-0, 0-0 CIAA)

AT

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY (0-0)

THE GAME: Fayetteville State University "Broncos" at North Carolina Central University "Eagles"

THE KICKOFF: Sunday, August 31, 2008 - Kickoff at 4:00 p.m.

THE SITE: O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium - Durham, N.C. (10,000)

2008 RECORDS: Fayetteville State (0-0 overall, 0-0 CIAA); North Carolina Central (0-0 overall)

THE EVENT: The 2008 edition of the annual "Labor Day Classic." This will be the third consecutive year NCCU has hosted the event in Durham on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. In 2006, the Eagles defeated Shaw, 21-12. In 2007, NCCU blanked Fayetteville State, 17-0.

THE SERIES: This will be the 32nd meeting between NCCU and FSU since 1936. NCCU leads the all-time series 23-8. FSU won four games in-a-row from 2001-2004, but the Eagles have won the past three contests.

LAST MEETING: (Sept. 2, 2007 - NCCU 17, Fayetteville State 0 - Durham, NC) North Carolina Central University blanked Fayetteville State University, 17-0, as the Eagles won their Division I-FCS home opener with solid performances in all three phases of the game during the annual Labor Day Classic on Sunday at NCCU's O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. NCCU had a balanced offensive attack with 296 yards of total offense, including 154 yards on the ground and 142 yards through the air. The Eagles' defense kept the Broncos from scoring by forcing five turnovers with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. On special teams, NCCU blocked three kicks, including a punt and two field goal attempts, while senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert made two extra points and a field goal to become the school's all-time leading scorer. Gilbert has 234 career points as he passed former All-American wide receiver Robert Clark, who amassed 232 career points from 1983-86, on NCCU's all-time career scoring list with a fourth quarter 22-yard field goal. Gilbert also extended his consecutive extra-point kicks streak to 83 in-a-row. NCCU sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown completed 14-of-22 passes for 142 yards and two touchdown passes, both caught by junior receiver Will Scott, who finished with five receptions for 53 yards and the two scores. Brown's first touchdown pass was a 6-yard strike to Scott with 5:42 left in the second quarter to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive that used 6:55 of the game clock. On Fayetteville State's next possession, NCCU senior safety Darren Brothers forced a fumble that was scooped up by senior cornerback Craig Amos and returned 40 yards to the FSU 15-yard line. On the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, Brown lofted a fade pass to the back corner of the end zone where Scott made an over-the-shoulder catch to put NCCU up 14-0 with 3:50 remaining before intermission. FSU managed to move the pigskin into the red zone twice, getting to the 8-yard line before a fumble and to the 5-yard line that ended with a blocked field goal. Late in the fourth quarter, NCCU rookie punter Taylor Gray knocked a 44-yard punt out-of-bounds at the Broncos' 1-yard line. On FSU's first play, senior quarterback Jay Autry threw an interception to Amos, giving the Eagles the ball on the 11-yard line. After three rushes netted seven yards, Gilbert strolled on the field to make history with a 22-yard chip shot with 27 seconds left in the contest. If not for Gilbert's record-setting performance, the day belonged to Amos, who finished with four tackles (three solo), two blocked field goals, two fumble recoveries for 40 yards, an interception (he had another interception in the third quarter negated by a roughing the passer penalty), and a pass break-up. A few other Eagle defenders posted big games, as well. NCCU senior lineman Courtney Coard led the team with eight tackles, including a sack. Brothers finished with six tackles (four solo), two interceptions, another pass break-up and a forced fumble. Red-shirt freshman Tim Shankle topped the Eagles ground game with 72 yards on 18 carries, while senior Jeff Toliver added 47 yards on eight rushes before leaving the game with a right foot sprain. FSU finished with 219 yards of total offense with 92 rushing yards and 127 passing yards. Autry was 5-of-12 for 80 yards with two interceptions, while freshman quarterback Ben Williams completed 5-of-11 passes for 47 yards and an interception. Freshman running back Richard Medlin ran for a team-high 59 yards on 16 attempts. The Broncos' defense was topped by junior linebacker Terrel Allen with 11 tackles, including 2.5 hits for a loss, while sophomore safety Jeff Gowdy recorded 10 tackles (five solo). The victory marked the first career win for NCCU head coach Mose Rison.

THE COACHES: Mose Rison enters his second season as head coach at NCCU after finishing the 2007 campaign with a 6-4 record. Rison was announced as the school's 19th head football coach on Feb. 6, 2007, assuming the role of head coach for the first time in his 25-year coaching career. Rison served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the Eagles historic 11-1 campaign in 2006. He continues calling plays as the offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. With Rison directing NCCU's offense, the 2006 Eagles scored 371 points (30.9 per game), the most in school history. Under Rison's tutelage, freshman quarterback Stadford Brown was named as the "SBN Sports Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year," the 2006 CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and CIAA Rookie of the Year. A 1978 graduate of Central Michigan University, Rison spent the 2005 season as the Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Coordinator at Davidson College, where the Wildcats averaged more than 200 yards passing per game running a West Coast offensive system. He has also held positions at Livingstone College (Offensive Coordinator, 2004), the University of Arizona (Wide Receivers/Passing Coordinator, 2003), Stanford University (Wide Receivers, 1995-2000), Rutgers University (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, 1991-94), the U.S. Naval Academy (Wide Receivers, 1988-90), and Central Michigan University (Wide Receivers, 1981-87). During his tenure at Stanford, Rison coached in three bowl games, including the 2000 Rose Bowl. Rison, the cousin of five-time NFL All-Pro receiver Andre Rison, spent two seasons (2001-02) in the National Football League coaching ranks as the wide receivers coach with the New York Jets, helping to develop Laveranues Coles and Santana Moss. He has also held NFL summer internships with the Baltimore Ravens (2000), Chicago Bears (1999), New York Jets (1993) and Detroit Lions (1988). A standout running back for Central Michigan from 1974-77, Rison helped the Chippewas to a 13-1 record and a Division II national title as a freshman. He rushed for 1,283 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a senior to earn all-conference and team MVP honors. Rison and his wife, Marilynn, have two children, Dominique (22) and Tara (19). Dominique lives in Charlotte, N.C. and attends Johnson & Wales University. Tara is a sophomore at North Carolina Central University majoring in business.

Fayetteville State head coach Kenny Phillips is in his ninth year as head coach with the Broncos and boasts an overall record of 48-38. He has guided FSU to three of the last five CIAA Western Division titles, including conference championships in 2002 and 2003. His 2002 team captured the school's first-ever conference championship in football and made the school's first appearance in the NCAA Football Playoffs, finishing with a 10-2 overall record. Phillips was voted as the 2002 CIAA Coach of the Year. The 2003 team repeated as CIAA Champions. A native of Greenville, NC, Phillips graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in Physical Education from East Carolina University in 1985, and went on to earn a master's degree in Education Administration from East Carolina in 1987. Phillips played linebacker for the Pirates, and was selected team M.V.P. as a senior. He served as an assistant coach at North Carolina State (1997-99), Ohio University (1995-97), North Carolina A&T (1989-95), Catawba College (1987-88), and East Carolina (1984-87).

THE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH:

North Carolina Central University -

#2 - QB - Stadford Brown (Sr., 6-1, 207) - 149-of-293 passing, 1,711 yards, 14 touchdowns in 2007.

#11 - DL - Donald Laster (So., 6-0, 233) - Fifth on the team with 48 tackles in 2007.

#16 - PK - Brandon Gilbert (Sr., 5-10, 190) - NCCU's all-time leading scorer with 234 career points.

#25 - RB - Tim Shankle (So., 5-10, 220) - Team-high 598 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2007.

#7 - LB - Rakeem Vick (So., 5-10, 208) - Ninth on the team with 31 tackles in 2007.

#87 - WR - Wayne Blackwell (Sr., 6-2, 209) - Team-high 42 catches for 509 yards and four touchdowns in 2007.

Fayetteville State University -

#1 - CB - Donte' Wise (Sr., 5-8, 173) - 34 tackles, 8 passes defended (3 INT, 5 PBU) in 2007.

#2 - QB - Bryan Hardy (Sr., 6-3, 212) - Threw for 587 yards and six touchdowns in 2007.

#11 - LB - Terrel Allen (Sr., 6-0, 220) - Team-high 72 tackles, including 5.5 hits for a loss in 2007.

#22 - RB - Richard Medlin (So., 6-1, 220) - Ran for team-high 594 yards and three touchdowns in 2007.

#40 - LB - Joel Kuvuna (Jr., 6-2, 220) - 69 tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 2007.

#81 - WR - Bobby Wilder (Sr., 6-2, 190) - Team-high 26 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns in 2007.

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON

SUNDAY'S MATCH-UP:

Category NCCU (2007) FSU (2007)

Scoring Offense: 17.6 pts/gm 19.3 pts/gm

Scoring Defense: 19.5 pts/gm 22.9 pts/gm

Total Offense: 281.8 yds/gm 256.3 yds/gm

Total Defense: 317.7 yds/gm 351.9 yds/gm

Rushing Offense: 110.7 yds/gm 143.4 yds/gm

Rushing Defense: 168.1 yds/gm 182.9 yds/gm

Passing Offense: 171.1 yds/gm 112.9 yds/gm

Passing Defense: 149.6 yds/gm 169.0 yds/gm

TEAM SELECTS FIVE NCCU FOOTBALL CAPTAINS: NCCU announced its team captains for the 2008 football season on Tuesday (Aug. 26). In a vote by the team members, this season's NCCU team captains are senior quarterback Stadford Brown, senior kicker Brandon Gilbert, sophomore defensive lineman Donald Laster, senior offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye, and senior running back Jeff Toliver. "These guys are all outstanding young men, both on and off the field, with great character and leadership," said NCCU second year head coach Mose Rison. "They were selected by their teammates, so that shows they are also well-respected by their peers."

FOUR EAGLES EARN PRESEASON HONORS: Four NCCU seniors -quarterback Stadford Brown, wide receiver Wayne Blackwell, place-kicker Brandon Gilbert and offensive lineman Jovan Olafioye - earned a spot on the 2008 Preseason All-Independent First Team by Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview magazine. Brown was also a repeat selection as the 2008 Preseason Independent Offensive Player of the Year.

GILBERT KICKS HIS WAY TO SCHOOL SCORING RECORD: The last time NCCU lined up against Fayetteville State, NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert became the school's all-time career scoring leader. Gilbert made two extra points and a field goal against the Broncos on Sept. 2, 2007. Gilbert has 234 career points as he passed former All-American wide receiver Robert Clark, who amassed 232 career points from 1983-86, on NCCU's all-time career scoring list with a fourth quarter 22-yard field goal. Gilbert also extended his consecutive extra-point kicks streak to 83 in-a-row. It was Gilbert's last game of the 2007 season due to an injury.

GILBERT CONTINUES EXTRA POINT STREAK: NCCU senior place-kicker Brandon Gilbert has made 83 consecutive extra-point kicks, dating back to Sept. 5, 2005 versus North Carolina A&T when a celebration penalty forced a lengthy try. In fact, Gilbert has not missed an extra-point kick against a Division II opponent during his collegiate career. He is 124-of-126 in PAT kicks, with both misses coming against Division I-AA teams (at Delaware State on Sept. 11, 2004, vs. North Carolina A&T on Sept. 5, 2005).

FSU BRONCOS PREDICTED TO FINISH SECOND IN CIAA WESTERN DIVISION: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced its Preseason All-CIAA Football Team and Predicted Order of Finish at the Football Press Conference on July 24. Fayetteville State University was predicted to finish second in the CIAA West behind the reigning champions Shaw University. Despite defeating Shaw 24-16 last season during Homecoming, Fayetteville State finished with a 4-4 conference and a 4-6 overall record. The Broncos will return 38 letterwinners with six offensive starters and seven defensive starters.

PAIR OF BRONCOS EARN PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS: The 2008 Preseason All-CIAA Team comprised of two Broncos, Terrell Allen and Donte' Wise. Senior Terrell Allen (LB, 6-0, 225, Wilmington, N.C.) led the defense last season with 72 tackles with an average of eight per game. He ranked sixth within the CIAA. Senior Donte' Wise (DB, 5-9, 17l, Fayetteville, N.C.) was also selected to the preseason team. Wise finished last season with three interceptions and five pass breakups. He had 10 punt returns for 100 yards and seven kick-off returns for 152 yards.

FSU COACH CELEBRATES ARENABOWL VICTORY: Fayetteville State University assistant football coach Connell Maynor was a part of the Philadelphia Soul coaching staff that recently won ArenaBowl XXII on July 27. This will be Maynor's ninth season with the FSU Broncos as an assistant coach. He works with the quarterbacks on their technique and execution. Maynor completed his second season with the Philadelphia Soul as the offensive coordinator. He was in his first season on the field as a coach last season after ending his Arena Football League (AFL) career with the Philadelphia Soul in 2006. The Philadelphia Soul captured Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII after knocking off the San Jose SaberCats, 59-56, in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,244 at New Orleans Arena. The victory gave Philadelphia its first title in franchise history and denied San Jose its second straight ArenaBowl championship.

LISTEN TO NCCU FOOTBALL VIA THE INTERNET: Every game of the 2008 North Carolina Central University Eagles football season will be covered by WRJD 1410 AM. Fans may also listen to the broadcast via the internet by visiting the NCCU Athletics web site at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.

SPORTS INFORMATION CONTACTS:

NCCU: Kyle Serba (919) 530-7054

Fayetteville State: Adrian Ferguson (910) 672-1254

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Special Thanks to:

THE CHICKEN HUT

3019 Fayetteville Street

Durham, NC

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The Official Host of the NCCU Weekly Football Press Conference

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