BALTIMORE, Md. – North Carolina Central University amassed 330 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, while adding three interceptions to increase its takeaway total to 16 on the season, as the Eagles defeated Morgan State 27-17 in the MEAC opener for both squads  Saturday night.NCCU Sports Photo

NCCU (2-3, 1-0 MEAC) finished with 416 total yards, as freshman quarterback Davius Richard threw for 86 yards and ran for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Richards’ 62-yard touchdown run prior to halftime is the longest rush by an NCCU quarterback since Lawrence Fuller raced 74 yards against Morris Brown on Sept. 30, 2000.

The Eagles received solid contributions from three running backs. Redshirt junior Isaiah Totten recorded 112 rushing yards, redshirt junior Jordan Freeman provided 95 yards, and redshirt freshman Latrell Collier added 53 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.

NCCU’s 330 yards rushing are the most against a conference opponent since Oct 23, 2004, when the Eagles were in the Division II CIAA and rushed for 349 yards against CIAA foe Livingstone College.

Junior defensive back Bryan Mills enjoyed a career day by tallying all three of NCCU’s interceptions, including two in the end zone to prevent Morgan State touchdowns. Mills matches the NCCU single-game record with his three picks, becoming the first Eagle to accomplish the feat since Adrian Jones on the same date in 1996 against Elizabeth City State.

The Eagles entered the contest as the NCAA Division I leader with 13 takeaways. Thanks to Mills’ trifecta, NCCU now has 10 interceptions and six fumble recoveries in its first five games.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jerome Foster amassed a game-high 10 tackles (8 solo), while redshirt senior defensive end Darius Royster collected nine takedowns (7 solo), including 2.0 stops for a loss with a sack.

Up next, NCCU visits Florida A&M on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m., which will be the Eagles fifth road game in six weeks.

ÑCCU Sports Information