DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University football team scored 19 points in the second half, but fell 41-19 to Elon Saturday evening in the team’s home opener at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
The Eagles fell to 1-1 on the season.
Elon (1-0) took its first drive of the game 82 yards in seven plays, taking a 7-0 lead at the 8:45 mark following a 19-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Downing to Jamarien Dalton. The Phoenix added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second quarter: a 2-yarder from Rushawn Baker and a 74-yard score from TJ Thomas, Jr.
Elon led 21-0 at the break.
That lead grew to 24-0 late in the third quarter after a 31-yard field goal from Jack Berkowitz.
Chris Mosley returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards into Phoenix territory, giving the Eagles prime field position. Four plays and 44 yards later, J’Mari Taylor got N.C. Central on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run. After a failed two-point try, the lead was cut to 24-6.
The Eagles’ momentum continued into the first minute of the fourth quarter, when quarterback Walker Harris connected with Joaquin Davis from 30 yards out for a touchdown to cut Elon’s lead to 24-13.
A 46-yard Berkowitz field goal and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown from Jesse Powell II helped the Phoenix grow a 34-13 lead with 9:55 to play, and Downing added a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the last two minutes to put the game out of reach.
Mosley provided another Eagles highlight with 2:36 left to play, running 80 yards for his second touchdown of the night.
The Eagles will hit the road again this coming Saturday, Sept. 14, when they head to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take on North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
Game Notes
- Quarterback Walker Harris started the game 8-for-8 before throwing his first incomplete pass.
- Harris threw his first interception of the season, which was also the Eagles’ first turnover of the campaign.
- Harris went 16-for-24 through the air for 181 yards and a touchdown.
- Joaquin Davis caught four passes for 101 yards and a score, his first 100-yard receiving game since last season against Delaware State (128).
- J’Mari Taylor, the reigning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, rushed 14 times for 54 yards and a score.
- Jaki Brevard led the Eagles’ defense with eight tackles.
- Malcolm Reed recorded his second career interception and his first since the 2022 season (vs. Virginia Lynchburg).
- This contest snapped the Eagles’ 11-game home-winning streak that went back to 2021.
- Saturday’s game marked the Eagles’ first home-opening loss under head coach Trei Oliver.
Source: NCCU Athletics/NCCUEaglePride.com
