In the team’s return to O’Kelly-Riddick stadium for the first time since 2018, N.C. A&T gave up 66 points to their long-standing rivals, N.C. Central.
This is the ninth game that the Aggies have lost by at least 30 points to their opponent in the team’s two years under Head Coach Vincent Brown, marking the third straight year N.C. A&T has lost the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
The NCCU Eagles have triumphed by double digits in each of these past three matchups, highlighting a troubling trend for A&T in this fierce rivalry.
Along with eight touchdowns, the Aggies allowed an astounding 500 yards of total offense throughout this matchup, highlighting the urgent need for the team to reassess their game plan moving forward.
After the game, N.C. A&T head coach Vincent Brown was asked about his team’s performance in the game.
“This was not indicative of who we are, what we can be, and what we want to be,” Brown emphasized. “Way too many mistakes, way too many. It starts with me, and it trickles down to our staff, and we’ve got to get it fixed.”
The Aggies opened this game with Aaron Harris returning the opening kickoff 100 yards back for a touchdown. After this opening score from the Aggies’ special teams core, A&T could not stop the Eagles’ offensive attack.
N.C. A&T would then allow four consecutive touchdowns on four straight drives including an eight-play, 65 drive along with a blocked punt returned for a score from the Eagles
The opening kickoff was A&T’s only touchdown in the game until five minutes left in the third quarter, as backup quarterback Justin Fomby ran into the endzone from three yards out with the team down 46-12.
Fomby would take over as quarterback and N.C. A&T suffered a huge blow to their team with starting quarterback Kevin White leaving the game late in the first quarter. Coach Brown didn’t seem to be in a panic post-game when asked about the status of his starting quarterback.
“We won’t know until later tonight or tomorrow what the extent of his injuries are,” Brown expressed. “I don’t think it’s going to be anything significant but he’ll see the doctors tomorrow.”
The injury to White’s shoulder was apparent on his way out of the field, as he was wearing an arm sling and wearing ice.
With the loss of White, the Aggies would struggle through the air for the rest of the game as a total of three interceptions were thrown with two coming from Fomby.
White wasn’t the only quarterback to come out of the game as both Fomby and freshman quarterback Braxton Thomas would leave the game due to injuries. Fomby came back in to finish the game after Thomas was hit hard while sliding down to the ground by NCCU’s Kole Jones. Jones would be disqualified from the game.
As the Aggies reflect on a disastrous performance in the 102nd Aggie Eagle classic, head coach Vincent Brown and his team look not to repeat this performance for the third straight week as they face another old-school HBCU rival, the South Carolina State University Bulldogs.
