By Lucas Thomae, special guest writer for ncataggies.com
ORANGEBURG, SC – Before the season started, there was plenty of talk about the rivalries between North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and A&T and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). But something must be said about the border rivalry between South Carolina State University (SCSU) and A&T. The two long-time heated HBCU rivals butted heads again Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. They fought to a draw for 2 1/2 quarters before A&T turnovers and some big plays from SCSU helped the Bulldogs pull away with a 45-25 non-conference football win.
The win snapped A&T’s seven-game winning streak over the Bulldogs as the Aggies fell to 1-4 overall despite graduate quarterback Justin Fomby throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. But the Bulldogs got 367 yards passing and three touchdowns from Eric Phoenix to improve to 2-2.
A&T had a less-than-desirable start, fumbling once and punting twice in its first three drives. However, the A&T defense kept the Aggies in the game. Fifth-year cornerback Aaron Harris recovered a fumble from Phoenix during A&T’s first defensive stand. SCSU scored a touchdown on its next drive, a three-yard run from Deondra Duehart, but the Aggies recovered with a momentum-shifting play with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter when fifth-year senior Janaz Sumpter intercepted a Phoenix pass at the Aggies 38-yard line and returned two yards to the 40.
Freshman running back Cameren Dalrymple, who rushed for 93 yards on 11 carries, kept the Aggies rolling with a 14-yard carry on the following play. Then, a perfect deep ball from Fomby to redshirt freshman receiver Jayvonne Dillard turned into a 43-yard gain that put them on the SCSU 4. However, an early and high snap caused a fumble that the Aggies recovered, putting them in a 3rd-and-goal situation from the SCSU 26.
A subsequent delay of game penalty pushed them back another five yards. Dillard hauled in an 18-yard reception from Fomby to stop the bleeding, setting up a 30-yard field goal from Andrew Brown that gave A&T its first points of the game.
The Bulldogs matched the field goal with a 42-yarder from Kyle Gallegos before the Aggies responded as Fomby completed a 14-yard pass to Thomas Brown and a 26-yarder to junior Ger-Cari Caldwell at the back-left corner of the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 with 7:53 remaining in the first half.
The two teams went into the locker room tied at 10 before things got fun for A&T. After the A&T defense forced a three-and-out to open the second half, the offensive unit went 80 yards for a touchdown in just two plays. First, freshman running back Dalrymple found a hole at the line of scrimmage and ran through for a 51-yard gain. Then, Fomby found tight end Anthony Rucker in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown reception, giving the Aggies their first lead of the game at 17-10.
SCSU’s next scoring drive took much longer than A&T’s previous touchdown drive, as the Bulldogs went 90 yards in 11 plays. The drive culminated with a two-yard touchdown run by Kazarius Adams to tie the game at 17-17 with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs never relinquished their momentum from there.
Fomby threw an interception on the subsequent drive to put the Bulldogs on A&T’s 25, and Phoenix capitalized with his first touchdown pass of the day, a 33-yard completion to Deyandre Ruffin to give the Bulldogs the lead. Another turnover on the ensuing kickoff piled on to the Aggies’ problems.
Harris fumbled the ball on his kickoff return, and SCSU recovered the ball at the A&T 22. Karon Prunty saved the Aggies from disaster with his second interception as he gave the Aggies the ball at the A&T 15. However, A&T went three-and-out, setting up the Bulldogs in good field position at the A&T 46. Four plays later, Deondra Duehart scored up the middle for an 8-yard touchdown run to give SCSU 21 points in the third quarter and a 31-17 advantage.
Fomby marched the offense down the field to the 26-yard line on the next drive, but A&T opted to go for it on 4th-and-8 rather than kick a field goal. But Fomby’s pass to Dillard fell incomplete. SCSU took advantage by scoring again, this time on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Phoenix to Einaj Carter. A&T did score again as Fomby connected with Caldwell on a 9-yard TD reception, but the Bulldogs scored another touchdown for emphasis.
Dillard led all receivers with 75 receiving yards. The Aggies will play their third consecutive road game next weekend against Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) opponent Richmond. The game starts at 2 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloFootball. The game can be heard locally on WKEW 103.5fm and online at TobaccoRoadSportsRadio.com
