The Aggies (4-3, 3-1) suf¬fered a 35-28 overtime loss to the

Howard Bison (4-4, 2-2) Oct. 22 giving the Aggies their first

conference loss of the sea¬son.

The Aggies (4-3, 3-1) suf¬fered a 35-28 overtime loss to the Howard Bison (4-4, 2-2) Oct. 22 giving the Aggies their first conference loss of the sea¬son.

“The difference between be¬ing an average team and a good team is the ability to win close games,” said A&T coach Rod Broadway.

This overtime loss marks A&T’s first conference loss of the season and keeps A&T tied with the Norfolk State Spartans (6-2, 4-1) for No. 1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings.

The Aggies found them¬selves scoreless after a first half that included a goal line fumble and limited offensive production.

Two successful Parker Mu¬noz field goals and a Greg McGhee to receiver Willie Carter touchdown pass gave the Bison a 13-0 lead at half time.

The A&T defense began the second half by forcing a three-and-out on the Bison’s first drive.

Third-and-ten was unsuc¬cessful for the Bison as A&T linebacker Brandon Young swallowed Bison quarterback McGhee in the backfield for a sack.

After starting the next drive in Howard territory, a 20-yard pass from quarterback Kindle to fullback Devin Moore on second-and-eight placed the Aggies at the goal line.

A touchdown run on the next play by running back Mike Mayhew and a successful Jose Garcia-Camacho PAT made the score 13-7.

Near the end of the third quarter, an attempted punt by Howard’s Bryan Jackson was blocked and recovered by A&T linebacker D’vonte Grant at the Howard 20-yard line.

The Aggies wasted no time getting into the end zone, a 20-yard Kindle to receiver Wallace Miles touchdown connection on the first play and a suc¬cessful PAT gave the Aggies a 14-13 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Bison began the fourth quarter with a McGhee to receiver Brandon Drayton touch¬down drive and a successful two point conversion.

McGhee connected with Carter on the conversion, giv¬ing the Bison a 21-14 lead.

A&T’s Mayhew responded quickly on the next drive by ty¬ing the game 21-21 with an ex¬plosive 66-yard touchdown run on the second play.

The atmosphere in Greene Stadium intensified as freshman running back Aquanius Free¬man responded to the Mayhew touchdown by returning the following kickoff 82-yards for a touchdown, giving the Bison the 28-21 advantage.

The Aggies scored the final points in regulation on a drive set up by the short passing game of Kindle and consistent running by Mayhew; it was A&T’s receiver Ricky Lewis who found the end zone for the Aggies.

Lewis, redeeming himself from a previous goal line fum¬ble, scored on a 3-yard touch¬down run, once again tying the game 28-28.

As the time remaining in the fourth quarter expired, the teams prepared to clash in overtime.

Howard would begin over¬time with the initial posses¬sion.

The Bison converted a clutch first down on a third-and-eight when McGhee found receiver Brando Flanagan for a gain of 15-yards, placing the Bison at the A&T 8-yard line.

A few plays later, a tailback Terrance Leffall touchdown run and successful Munoz PAT gave the Bison a 35-28 lead, forcing the Aggies to score a touchdown to win or force an¬other overtime.

During A&T’s overtime pos¬session, an 11-yard connection from Kindle to Miles on third down and nine moved the ball to the Howard 3-yard line with a fresh set of downs.

A sequence of unsuccessful plays put the Aggies in a fourth and goal situation.

On fourth down, A&T’s Kindle dropped back and was unable to find an open receiv¬er, he attempted to score the touchdown by stepping up in the pocket and scrambling to¬wards the end zone. Howard defenders tackled Kindle a yard short of the end zone, sealing the Bison victory. For the Aggies, who mus¬tered 28 points in the second half, it turned out to be too little too late.

The Aggie offense produced 335 total yards and running back Mayhew once again sur¬passed the 100-yard mark.

Mayhew finished the game with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns from 25 carries. Though the Aggies loss the game, they overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit.

The Aggies defense, who had dominated against previ¬ous MEAC opponents, allowed 380 total yards to the Bison of¬fense.

The Aggies (4-3, 3-1) will go on to play their second con¬secutive road game against the Norfolk State Spartans (6-2, 4-1), who they are currently tied with for the number one ranking in the MEAC stand¬ings.

[email protected] and follow us on Twitter @ATRegister

 

• Kalyn Hoyle, Register Reporter