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HBCU GameTime: Time to grade performance

Saint Augustine College's Tyron Laughinghouse in action. / Photo courtesy of SAC Sports Info.
Saint Augustine College's Tyron Laughinghouse in action. / Photo courtesy of SAC Sports Info.

But that’s exactly where the Eagles and Bears are.

NCCU is coming off a surprising 40-10 victory over South Carolina State in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis last week. The Eagles took advantage of five South Carolina State turnovers. The Eagles entered the Boxtorow media poll for the first time ever this week at No. 10. Head coach Henry Frazier has called quarterback Jordan Reid “the man” since coming into the game against Duke after being beat out as the starter to begin the season by transfer Matt Goggans. In his last two games he has completed 30-of-49 passes for 334 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. Reid has been aided by a strong running game led by Andre Clarke (48-305-7) and Arthur Goforth (61-299-2).

The run defense for the Eagles is tops in the MEAC and they will need it, going up against the Bears, who are ranked third in rushing. While the Bears place more emphasis on running the football, they may try to exploit the Eagles pass defense which is giving up 223 yards per game.

Morgan State's Travis Davidson on the move. / Photo: Morgan State Sports Info

Morgan State’s Travis Davidson on the move. / Photo: Morgan State Sports Info

It’s homecoming in Baltimore and homecoming wins for the Bears over the last 30 years have been few and far between. Two-straight wins for the Bears have them feeling good. Plus MSU is coming off four-straight road games.

But the Bears have been down this road before, getting off to the fast start and fading late. A win against the Eagles, coupled with a lighter back stretch of games, could put the Bears at least in the upper echelon of the conference, somewhere they haven’t been in quite sometime.

The Bears running attack is led by Travis Davidson who is averaging 103 yards rushing per game, 5.2 yards per carry and seven touchdowns. The Bears have gone with two quarterbacks in Seth Higgins and Robert Council. Don’t be surprised if Council plays the entire game against the Eagles. He is completing 54 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions, while Higgins is completing just 38 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Defensively, MSU is giving up a bunch of yards (464) per game, but part of that is misleading, having played FBS opponents Buffalo and Akron in back-to-back weeks. What is not misleading is that even in the last two victories over North Carolina A&T and Savannah State, they have not been good against the run and they must improve quickly, going up against the 1-2 combination of Clarke and Goforth.

Saint Augustine’s (4-2, 2-1) vs. Winston-Salem State (6-0, 3-0)

Saint Augustine’s has given Winston-Salem State fits over the last couple of years.

In 2010 when the Rams were 6-0 the Falcons tripped them up 40-35 in a shootout in Winston-Salem. Another loss that year in the last game of the season to Shaw and the Rams finished 8-2 with no postseason. Last year was a down year for the Falcons yet they gave WSSU all it could handle before falling 35-28.

Where defense has been the staple of the program for 11th year head coach Michael Costa, it’s the offense that is making the most noise. Quarterback Teddy Bacote is completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,209 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. His leading receiver is Brian Richards who has caught 40 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns.

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