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North Carolina A&T wins 2nd Celebration Bowl in 3 years
ATLANTA (AP) North Carolina A&T won its fourth Historically Black College and University national title Saturday and did it while going unbeaten for the first time.
Lamar Raynard scored on a 1-yard sneak with 38 seconds left and the Aggies won their second Celebration Bowl in three years, defeating Grambling State 21-14.
''It's a great feeling to make history,'' the junior quarterback said.
N.C. A&T (12-0) claimed titles in 1990 and 1999 in addition to 2015, when the Aggies defeated Alcorn State 41-34 in the first Celebration Bowl.
''It's an awesome feeling to be 12-0 right now,'' N.C. A&T coach Rod Broadway said. ''I'm just extremely proud of our players and I'm happy for our school.''
Raynard, one of four finalists for the Black College Hall of Fame player of the year, completed 23 of 43 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown and had 17 yards on eight carries.
Raynard drove the Aggies 56 yards in seven plays for the winning touchdown, shaking off nearly throwing his third interception. Grambling (11-2) challenged the call, but the pass was confirmed an incomplete by video review.
Grambling was trying for a second straight HBCU national title as the Tigers edged North Carolina Central 10-9 last year.
''It was a great game, like two heavyweight fighters going hard at it,'' Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. ''They just made one more play than we did.''
Grambling senior DeVante Kincade, also a finalist for player of the year, completed 19 of 36 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns while also scrambling for 93 yards on 16 carries.
Franklin McCain III made the biggest defensive play for the Aggies. The red-shirt freshman cornerback ended a Grambling drive following the second-half kickoff with an interception at the goal line.
N.C. A&T marched down the field to go ahead 14-7 on Marquell Cartwright's 30-yard run.
Cartwright finished with 110 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Grambling tied it early in the fourth quarter as Martez Carter teamed with Kincade on a 29-yard TD pass to cap an 80-yard drive.
''I wanted to go out with another championship, but it just wasn't meant to be,'' said Kincade, who started his college career at Mississippi. ''I really wish I had another year to play at Grambling. It was an amazing experience.''
N.C. A&T's Lyndemian Brooks recovered a fumble at the Grambling 8 in the fourth quarter, but the Aggies came up empty when Cartwright tried to punch it in from a yard out on fourth down and was stopped by defensive end Brandon Varner.
Grambling went six plays on its final drive of the game but Kincade's pass over the middle was incomplete as time expired.
''It's awesome,'' said McCain. ''Not many programs can say that they went 12-0 and won a national championship. It's unbelievable.''
THE TAKEAWAY
N.C. A&T: The Aggies became the first MEAC team to go undefeated for an entire season as they continued their run of success under Broadway. N.C. A&T is 40-8 with two HBCU national titles in four seasons under Broadway.
Grambling State: The Tigers are back despite failing in their bid for consecutive HBCU national title. Grambling is 38-11 in four seasons under Fobbs, a former Tigers captain who was hired after the team went 2-21 over two years amid player turmoil.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
Both head coaches have a deep connection with the other team. A&T's Broadway spent four years at Grambling, leading the Tigers to the 2008 HBCU national championship. Grambling running backs coach Lee Fobbs, the father of the head coach, was A&T's head coach from 2006-08.
UP NEXT
Grambling State: The Tigers return eight starters on offense and six on defense, meaning they should be powerful again in 2018 despite the loss of Kincade. Grambling opens next season with their first game ever against in-state Louisiana-Lafayette.
NC A&T: With Raynard and Cartwright returning, the Aggies should put up points again in 2018 despite heavy losses on the offensive line and the defense will retain plenty of experience. N.C. A&T opens next season at East Carolina in its first meeting.
Copyright 2017 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. KincadeĀ
1 QB
|
D. Kincade | 19/36 | 225 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. KincadeĀ
1 QB
|
D. Kincade | 16 | 93 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. CarterĀ
4 RB
|
M. Carter | 6 | 12 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. BrooksĀ
6 WR
|
L. Brooks | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. CarterĀ
4 RB
|
M. Carter | 0 | 3 | 47 | 1 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. DavisĀ
82 WR
|
D. Davis | 0 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. RossĀ
81 WR
|
K. Ross | 0 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. JonesĀ
83 TE
|
J. Jones | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Q. GuiceĀ
13 WR
|
Q. Guice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. BrooksĀ
6 WR
|
L. Brooks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. ChristmasĀ
5 LB
|
D. Christmas | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HoguesĀ
47 LB
|
D. Hogues | 5-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. CargoĀ
21 DB
|
P. Cargo | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. DixonĀ
30 DB
|
D. Dixon | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PounceyĀ
48 DB
|
J. Pouncey | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. WilliamsĀ
41 LB
|
M. Williams | 4-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HatterĀ
46 LB
|
D. Hatter | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. MeanderĀ
24 DB
|
M. Meander | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ShyĀ
11 DB
|
D. Shy | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. JohnsonĀ
95 DL
|
C. Johnson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. CarterĀ
34 LB
|
J. Carter | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. VarnerĀ
44 DL
|
B. Varner | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. BanksĀ
55 DL
|
L. Banks | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. EdwardsĀ
49 DB
|
S. Edwards | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. WellsĀ
90 DL
|
C. Wells | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. RockwellĀ
14 DB
|
T. Rockwell | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. JohnsonĀ
43 DB
|
D. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. GrantĀ
35 DB
|
C. Grant | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. OrozcoĀ
99 K
|
M. Orozco | 0/0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. CarterĀ
4 RB
|
M. Carter | 3 | 22.0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. FusilierĀ
38 RB
|
D. Fusilier | 1 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. CarterĀ 4 RB
|
M. Carter | 1 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
L. RaynardĀ
7 QB
|
L. Raynard | 23/43 | 225 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. CarterĀ
10 QB
|
K. Carter | 1/1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. CartwrightĀ
22 RB
|
M. Cartwright | 20 | 110 | 1 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. RaynardĀ
7 QB
|
L. Raynard | 8 | 17 | 1 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
E. BellĀ
13 WR
|
E. Bell | 0 | 10 | 95 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. CartwrightĀ
22 RB
|
M. Cartwright | 0 | 3 | 54 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. GardinĀ
8 WR
|
K. Gardin | 0 | 4 | 42 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. WilsonĀ
88 WR
|
M. Wilson | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 15 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. TaylorĀ
48 LB
|
J. Taylor | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. RichardsonĀ
52 LB
|
K. Richardson | 4-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McCain IIIĀ
29 DB
|
M. McCain III | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. JonesĀ
34 LB
|
D. Jones | 3-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PatrickĀ
45 LB
|
J. Patrick | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McKnightĀ
95 DL
|
J. McKnight | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. BlueĀ
96 DE
|
S. Blue | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. JohnsonĀ
40 DE
|
D. Johnson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. EcholsĀ
93 DE
|
T. Echols | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. WillisĀ
32 DB
|
M. Willis | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. AlbertĀ
4 LB
|
M. Albert | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. AbramĀ
14 DB
|
T. Abram | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. MeltonĀ
91 DE
|
K. Melton | 1-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. McCoyĀ
5 DB
|
T. McCoy | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. DardenĀ
2 DB
|
J. Darden | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. WilliamsĀ
92 DL
|
J. Williams | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. KendrickĀ
98 DE
|
K. Kendrick | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
G. NestorĀ
83 P
|
G. Nestor | 3 | 41.0 | 2 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. WilsonĀ
88 WR
|
M. Wilson | 1 | 23.0 | 23 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. GardinĀ 8 WR
|
K. Gardin | 3 | 6.0 | 18 | 0 |