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Second half spells doom for Eagles

NCCU falls to Duke 49-14

Published: Sunday, September 27, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 14:09

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Jerry Rogers/Echo staff photographer

NCCU defense holds Duke Blue Devils to short gain in the first half.

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Jerry Rogers/Echo staff photograher

Jeffery Henderson takes a breather after his 83-yard interception return for a touchdown . The play came in the second quarter when things looked positive for the Eagles.

At halftime, with the score at 28-14, it appeared as if N.C. Central University had a fighting chance to make the impossible possible during the first official meeting between NCCU and Duke. But all would go bad from there as the Duke Blue Devils scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to win the Bull City Gridiron Classic 49-14.

"The turning point was when we came out and completed a 50-yard pass down the field on the opening drive, but had it called back it. That took us from having first down to having third and long," said head football coach Mose Rison.

"The atmosphere was electrifying, I was shocked how much our fans were really behind us," said junior quarterback Michael Johnson.

The crowd was at capacity with 26,390 packed into Wallace Wade Stadium despite a steady rain.

Johnson, a Durham native, was 5-15 for 82 yards, 55 of which came on one long reception to former high school teammate and freshman wide receiver Geovonie Irvine.

Four of his completions came in the first half and just one in the second half for a loss of one yard.

"There were a lot fans out there … the entire city of Durham," said Irvine.

The Blue Devils took advantage of the much smaller Eagles by running the ball for 233 yards. Hillside alumnus and Duke true freshman running back Desmond Scott rushed for 100-yards on 16 carries.

Duke finished the night with 487-yards of total offense, the most they have gained all season.

The Eagles secondary managed to keep the Blue Devils passing attack at bay, highlighted by the play of the game in the second quarter when a Sean Renfree pass was intercepted on the 17-yard line by junior safety Jeffery Henderson and taken back 83-yards for a touchdown.

"Before we came back on the field we were saying that we needed a big play, and once it happened I was really excited, and it pumped up the crowd," said Henderson.

There are no moral victories in a loss, but the Eagles can be proud that they showed a lot of heart in their first ever matchup versus an ACC opponent.

There are no moral victories in a loss but the Eagles can be proud that they showed a lot of heart in their first ever matchup versus an ACC opponent.  "I was very proud of my football team tonight we hung in there and showed a lot of heart," said Rison.

The Eagles are now 0-4 heading into next week's Oct. 3 game, a crucial one against long-time rival N.C. A&T State University.  Johnson also stated that the A&T game is very big for this ball club "it's the game everyone looks forward to and we must have the victory."

 "Coach Cutcliffe told me as I walked off the field we are way too good of a ball club to not have won so far this season," said Johnson.

 

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