Post by AggieGroove on Oct 2, 2005 14:21:09 GMT -5
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October 2, 2005
North Carolina A&T 16, TENNESSEE STATE 3
Defensive TD a highlight of Aggies' win
Circle City Classic features little offense, smallest crowd since 1986.
By David Woods
david.woods@indystar.com
That adage about not watching the scoreboard did not apply to Rickie Lewis.
The North Carolina A&T linebacker looked toward the RCA Dome's video screen above the scoreboard. He saw a Tennessee State player gaining on him.
Hey, thanks for the warning, Jumbotron.
"I had to swerve a little bit to get him off track. The rest was history," Lewis said.
In a Coca-Cola Circle City Classic dominated by defense, Lewis' 70-yard touchdown sprint with a fumble recovery all but secured the Aggies' 16-3 victory Saturday.
Attendance for the 22nd annual event was 42,310, the smallest since 1986. Organizers attributed the decline to high fuel prices and economic hardship resulting from two Gulf Coast hurricanes.
There were 7 minutes, 58 seconds left in the second quarter after Lewis' score, the longest fumble return in Classic history. But it gave the Aggies (2-3) a 16-0 lead they protected for 21/2 quarters.
A&T quarterback Rico Watkins, making his first start since November 2003, managed the game capably thereafter.
"I have strong confidence in our defense," Watkins said. "If we do have to punt it, I know our defense will step it up and get the ball back."
That's something the Aggies did repeatedly.
They intercepted four passes, recovered that fumble and blocked a punt. It mattered little that A&T's offense generated just 193 yards.
"If you play consistently, you have a chance," A&T coach George Small said. "That's what we've been preaching all season."
A&T scored its only offensive touchdown on its second possession. A seven-play, 78-yard drive featured Quante Speight's 57-yard run to the Tennessee State 9. Watkins swept 4 yards around right end untouched for the TD.
After a field goal expanded the Aggies' lead to 10-0, Tennessee State appeared ready to trim the lead.
But Andre Davis, making his first start at quarterback, mishandled the ball around the A&T 30. The ball bounced once, and Lewis grabbed it in full stride. Seventy yards later, it was 16-0.
"It's a devastating play, yes. It's a play that hurt us, yes," Tennessee State coach James Webster said. "But you can't break this football team's back."
Webster defended his decision to start Davis but said he switched to Richard Hartman in the second half because the Tigers needed three scores. Hartman passed for 404 yards in the previous two games.
The first collegiate field goal by freshman Eric Benson allowed the Tigers to close within 16-3 on their first possession of the second half. But Hartman had two passes intercepted, just as Davis did in the first half. Davis was picked off twice by A&T safety Theron Thomas.
The Tigers (1-4) have had 12 passes intercepted this season.
"We have quarterbacks who need to have a better concept of what's going on," Webster said. "There's no awareness."
Tennessee State had the Classic's defensive MVP in linebacker Wesley Holmes, whose 12 tackles included three for loss and two sacks.
The offensive MVP was Speight, who had his third 100-yard game. He finished with 111 yards on 18 carries.
A&T and Tennessee State combined for the fewest points (19) in Classic history. The previous low was 20 when Florida A&M tied Jackson State 10-10 in 1988
October 2, 2005
North Carolina A&T 16, TENNESSEE STATE 3
Defensive TD a highlight of Aggies' win
Circle City Classic features little offense, smallest crowd since 1986.
By David Woods
david.woods@indystar.com
That adage about not watching the scoreboard did not apply to Rickie Lewis.
The North Carolina A&T linebacker looked toward the RCA Dome's video screen above the scoreboard. He saw a Tennessee State player gaining on him.
Hey, thanks for the warning, Jumbotron.
"I had to swerve a little bit to get him off track. The rest was history," Lewis said.
In a Coca-Cola Circle City Classic dominated by defense, Lewis' 70-yard touchdown sprint with a fumble recovery all but secured the Aggies' 16-3 victory Saturday.
Attendance for the 22nd annual event was 42,310, the smallest since 1986. Organizers attributed the decline to high fuel prices and economic hardship resulting from two Gulf Coast hurricanes.
There were 7 minutes, 58 seconds left in the second quarter after Lewis' score, the longest fumble return in Classic history. But it gave the Aggies (2-3) a 16-0 lead they protected for 21/2 quarters.
A&T quarterback Rico Watkins, making his first start since November 2003, managed the game capably thereafter.
"I have strong confidence in our defense," Watkins said. "If we do have to punt it, I know our defense will step it up and get the ball back."
That's something the Aggies did repeatedly.
They intercepted four passes, recovered that fumble and blocked a punt. It mattered little that A&T's offense generated just 193 yards.
"If you play consistently, you have a chance," A&T coach George Small said. "That's what we've been preaching all season."
A&T scored its only offensive touchdown on its second possession. A seven-play, 78-yard drive featured Quante Speight's 57-yard run to the Tennessee State 9. Watkins swept 4 yards around right end untouched for the TD.
After a field goal expanded the Aggies' lead to 10-0, Tennessee State appeared ready to trim the lead.
But Andre Davis, making his first start at quarterback, mishandled the ball around the A&T 30. The ball bounced once, and Lewis grabbed it in full stride. Seventy yards later, it was 16-0.
"It's a devastating play, yes. It's a play that hurt us, yes," Tennessee State coach James Webster said. "But you can't break this football team's back."
Webster defended his decision to start Davis but said he switched to Richard Hartman in the second half because the Tigers needed three scores. Hartman passed for 404 yards in the previous two games.
The first collegiate field goal by freshman Eric Benson allowed the Tigers to close within 16-3 on their first possession of the second half. But Hartman had two passes intercepted, just as Davis did in the first half. Davis was picked off twice by A&T safety Theron Thomas.
The Tigers (1-4) have had 12 passes intercepted this season.
"We have quarterbacks who need to have a better concept of what's going on," Webster said. "There's no awareness."
Tennessee State had the Classic's defensive MVP in linebacker Wesley Holmes, whose 12 tackles included three for loss and two sacks.
The offensive MVP was Speight, who had his third 100-yard game. He finished with 111 yards on 18 carries.
A&T and Tennessee State combined for the fewest points (19) in Classic history. The previous low was 20 when Florida A&M tied Jackson State 10-10 in 1988
