It took the North Carolina Central football team 59 minutes and change to keep their perfect MEAC record intact, but they got it done.
Senior quarterback Joshua Jones‘ 26-yard touchdown pass to Mehki Wall with 27 seconds left capped a wild fourth quarter as the Eagles stunned Norfolk State 29-28 Saturday afternoon.
North Carolina Central is 5-5 overall and 3-0 in MEAC play, setting up a first-place showdown with South Carolina State in Orangeburg, South Carolina next Saturday. The Bulldogs are also 3-0 in MEAC play after surviving a 35-28 battle at Howard Thursday night.
The Eagles trailed 28-17 after a Jalyn Daniels touchdown started the fourth quarter for Norfolk State (4-6, 0-3 MEAC), but quickly countered with a 7-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 7-yard quarterback keeper by Jones to make the score 28-23 with more than 11 minutes left in the game.
The score remained the same when Gino Addison fumbled and Norfolk State recovered with 1:27 to go in the game.
Spartan quarterback Deljay Bailey ran for 13 yards, but fumbled the ball right back to Central, setting up Jones’ connection with Wall.
North Carolina Central was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and Norfolk State took the ball down the field, but Marco Peery’s 37-yard field goal attempt with four seconds was off the mark.
Jones passed for 156 yards and three touchdowns along with his rushing touchdown. Addison still had a tremendous day in spite of the fumble, rushing for a game-high 174 yards on 18 carries.
