The 10th anniversary MEAC/SWAC Challenge marked the first meeting of Alabama A&M and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The Aggies defeated the Bulldogs with a final score of 47-13 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sunday. The game took place at the Bright House Stadium at the University of Central Florida.
The output and margin of victory from the Aggies were the second-largest in the 10-year history of this Challenge. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has won eight times.
A&T quarterback, Kwashaun Quick began the game with a 26 yard touchdown for the Aggies making the score 7-6 to put the Aggies in the lead. Quick rushed 94 yards and two touchdowns. In the second quarter, the Aggies scored 24 points alone with A&M scoring nothing. As Quick threw for 94 yards, A&T brought upon 38 points overall. Cody Jones kicked every field goal possible to receive extra points for the Aggies.
Running back Tarik Cohen had an 80 yard run touchdown at 10:09 and then another touchdown run at 0:31 for the Aggies in the second quarter. Cohen, the MVP of the game, finished with 161 rushing yards. “Quick took a lot of pressure off of me today,” Cohen said. “When they focused on them, it opened holes for me.”
In the first quarter, on Cesar Diaz Ramon’s second field goal, the Bulldogs closed to 7-6 with only 16 seconds remaining. Tony McRae took the ensuing kickoff and turned it into an unbelievable 95 yard touchdown to start off the Aggies 38 unanswered points.
The Aggies outrushed the Bulldogs 307-141 once, Marquell Cartwright, Aggies running back, added another touchdown run in the third-quarter.
Bryan Brower led Alabama A&M rushers with 60 yards on 17 carries. Alabama A&M scored its touchdown on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Wells to Jonathan Dorsey with about 12 minutes left, under first-year coach James Spady.
“I was pleased with the way Quick played today. There were some mistakes, but we’re a young team and we can help them play like an older team as we progress,” said Rod Broadway, Aggies head coach. “We have a lot of people who can make plays,” he said.
The N.C. A&T Aggies represented well this weekend. The Aggies will take on Coast Carolina next on September 6th, at 6pm in the Aggie Stadium.
- Alexis Wainwright Contributor