Courtesy NCATAggies.com
A&T STATISTICAL LEADERS: QB Jalen Fowler (14-for-35, 176 yards); WR Jamison Warren (5 rec. 43 yards); LB Jacob Roberts (16 tackles, 8 unassisted, 0.5 TFLs); LB Joseph Stuckey (13 tackles, 8 unassisted); DL Kaba Karfa (9 tackles, 3 unassisted, 1 fumble recovery).
KSU STATISTICAL LEADERS: QB Xavier Shepard (13 rush att., 66 yards, 2 TDs; 6-for-13, 129 yards, 1 INT); RB Iaan Cousin (5 rush att., 51 yards); LB Evan Thompson (12 tackles, 6 unassisted, 3 TFLs, 1 QBH); DL Kerick Reese (4 tackles, 4 unassisted, 2 TFLs).
WHY A&T DIDN’T GET THE “W”: The Aggies never got the running game started. A week after three running backs combined for 186 yards, the Aggies posted a season-low 31 yards. It was the worst Aggies rushing performance since they rushed for 20 yards in a 42-20 loss at Norfolk State on Sept. 30, 2006. In addition, the lack of a running game made play-action ineffective, forcing the Aggies into a season-high 35 pass attempts.
WHY KSU GOT THE “W”: The Owls gave the ball away three times on Saturday with two fumbles and one interception. However, the Aggies could not capitalize on any of those turnovers. On the first KSU turnover, the Aggies got it 1st-and-10 at their 37-yard line and lost a yard in three plays. After another KSU fumble, the Aggies took over at the KSU 44, but Andrew Brown eventually missed a 36-yard field goal. Finally, a Daniel Henry interception gave the Aggies the ball at their own 47 but moved the ball only six yards in three plays.
CRUCIAL: Down 14-0 with 13 minutes remaining in the ballgame, the Aggies received the ball at their own 20. After 10 plays, the Aggies faced a 3rd-and 11 at the KSU 24. Fowler connected with Ron Hunt, who just missed getting the first down to extend the drive. Therefore, the Aggies faced a 4th-and-inches from the KSU 14. The Aggies rushed to the line to run a quarterback sneak. It appeared Bhayshul Tuten pushed Fowler over the marker for the first down. But after a measurement, it was determined Fowler was a few inches shy of the first down. Replay officials upheld the call, and the Owls took over with only 6:16 remaining in the game.
THE STORY: KENNESAW, Ga – The North Carolina A&T football team failed to score a point for the first time in seven years. Thirteenth-ranked Kennesaw State University held the Aggies to just 21 yards rushing in a 14-0 win over the Aggies at KSU’s homecoming at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The Aggies had gone 70 straight games without being shut out. The last time it happened, the Aggies were ironically in Atlanta, where they lost to S.C. State 13-0 at the old Georgia Dome.
A&T had their opportunities despite the Owls solid defensive play. The Aggies had an excellent opening drive. They converted 4 of 5 third downs, and Jalen Fowler (6-foot-4, 235, R-JR, QB, Spartanburg, S.C.) completed 4 of 7 passes for 58 yards, including a 32-yard completion to Zach Leslie (6-4, 210, GR, Lawndale, N.C.).
After moving the ball 67 yards over 16 plays, the Aggies called on the ordinarily reliable placekicker Andrew Brown (5-10, 167, FR, Lexington, N.C.) to give them a 3-0 lead. But with a swirling wind throughout the stadium, Brown, the reigning two-time Big South Conference special teams player of the week, missed to the right.
The Aggies defense gave the A&T another opportunity to score in the second quarter when defensive lineman Karfa Kaba (6-3, 265, R-SR, Laurinburg, N.C) recovered a fumble by KSU quarterback Xavier Shepherd at the KSU 44.
Aided by a KSU unsportsmanlike penalty, the Aggies moved the ball to the 19. But Brown missed from 36 yards.
Meanwhile, the Owls capitalized on fourth downs and good field position. The Owls converted all five of the fourth downs they attempted on Saturday night. That includes a 4th-and-2 from the Aggies 40 in the second quarter as Shepherd looked stopped at first on the quarterback keeper before he lounged forward for the first down.
Shepherd then completed a 34-yard pass to running back Irving Smith before running it in from three yards out to give KSU a 7-0 lead.
“No one has stopped them on 4th-and-1 all season,” said Washington about the Owls, who are fifth in the nation in fourth-down conversions. They are 100 percent, so that didn’t start with us tonight. It’s a part of their offense. It’s what the triple option does.”
KSU’s second score was scored thanks partly to good field position, which the Owls seemed to have throughout the second half. After a 37-yard punt from Mike Rivers (6-0, 170, JR, Wilmington, N.C.), the Owls took over at the Aggies 44. Another completion from Shepherd to Smith, this one for 29 yards, set up a 1-yard TD run by Shepherd to give the Owls a 14-0 lead.
The Aggies had one more chance to score. The Aggies went 11 plays in 66 yards, and it had the ball 4th-and-1 from the KSU 14. A&T rushed to the line to run a quarterback sneak. With teammate Bhayshul Tuten (5-9, 191, FR, Paulsboro, N.J.) pushing him from behind, it appeared Fowler had the yard he needed.
Instead, the play led to a measurement that showed the Aggies about four inches shy of a first down. Replay officials upheld the call, giving the Owls a 1st-and-10 with 6:16 remaining in the game.
“I thought we had it,” said Washington. “We wanted to challenge it, but the official said when didn’t have to. It was disappointing.’
The Owls secured three first downs on the drive to run out the clock.
The Aggies (3-3, 2-1 Big South) lost in Big South Conference play for the first time. The Owls improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big South.
QUOTABLE: “They were good tonight. I didn’t think they (KSU) were this good coming into the game. We thought they were a good defense, but not shutout good. I thought their movement up front was very good. But I thought a lot of the stuff that happened was on us. I thought they knocked us off the ball tonight. We allowed too much penetration, so it was more of what we did not do.”
A&T head coach Sam Washington on Kennesaw State’s defense on Saturday
GAME NOTES
The Aggies had 31 yards rushing. It was their worst rushing performance since they mustered only 20 yards at Norfolk State on Sept. 30, 2006.
The Aggies had gone 70 games without being shut out before Saturday’s 14-0 loss to Kennesaw State.
The Aggies were held to 207 yards of total offense on Saturday. It was their worst offensive output since posting 184 yards at Hampton on Sept. 18, 2010.
Kennesaw State came into the game averaging 288.4 rushing yards per game. They had 222 against the Aggies on Saturday.
The Aggies dropped to 0-3 on the road this season.
Linebacker Jacob Roberts has 28 tackles in his last two games.
