Post by AggieGroove on Nov 20, 2005 10:13:10 GMT -5
Here it is and the season is finally over... 
www.news-record.com//apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005511200313
CHARLOTTE -- The N.C. A&T Aggies gave playoff-hungry South Carolina State some trouble, some anxiety and entirely too many opportunities Saturday afternoon.
Leading and driving late in the third quarter, the Aggies absorbed a 43-27 defeat when penalties, turnovers and other errors caught up with them. Witnessed by 14,375 in Charlotte's Memorial Stadium, it may have been the final game for A&T coach George Small, only two years removed from a MEAC championship and conference Coach of the Year designation.
Afterward, athletics director Dee Todd said Saturday night she hadn't decided whether to retain Small, 16-19 in three seasons. Asked to describe her evaluation process, she said, "It's ongoing. I've got to get through the rest of the weekend first."
The Aggies (2-6 MEAC) lost their final five games and finished 3-8 overall for the second straight year. Small said he will spend today evaluating film with his assistants.
"We've still got to make corrections," he said. "There are some things I want to see. I know I will definitely be in (the office)."
By one measurement, total offense, Saturday's game was A&T's best performance in Small's tenure. The Aggies racked up 484 yards on the day by embarking on touchdown drives of 71, 73 and 80 yards in the first half alone. Tailback Brandon Sweeney ran for 197 yards and Brandon Trusty caught a school-record 14 passes.
But 13 penalties covering 108 yards in punishment were critical. They gave the Bulldogs four points outright; gave them a second chance at a kickoff return that became a 70-yard TD; and thwarted what might have been an important offensive surge.
Trusty maintained his team should have won it.
"Hands down," he said. "They didn't do anything to stop us. We killed ourselves."
The Bulldogs, ranked 16th nationally, gave themselves a chance at an NCAA playoff bid, but they probably wanted a more convincing victory than A&T allowed. Deshawn Baker ran for 211 yards and quarterback Cleveland McCoy threw for three scores and ran for a fourth.
The Aggies owned a 27-23 lead and had just advanced the ball for a first down to the Bulldog 18 when offensive tackle Terry Jones was flagged for a late hit. Once in possible field-goal range, the Aggies were driven out, and the drive ultimately ended on downs.
"That set us back, but we still had to feed off the momentum we had built," Sweeney said.
The Bulldogs took over and zapped downfield for the go-ahead touchdown, a 6-yard pass from McCoy to Rondriekas Darby, who spun his way between three defenders and lunged over the goal line with 13:15 left in the game.
A&T quarterback Marshall Glenn, who was otherwise brilliant on the day, made a poor pitchout on the next series and South Carolina State recovered on the 35. That quickly turned into a scoring drive, and the Aggies, who burned their last time out on defense late in the third quarter, couldn't make it back. Even on one of the best days for a generally struggling offense.
The sprint draw to Sweeney was a productive play, and Glenn recognized blitzes and found Trusty on intermediate routes just before the rush arrived.
"I can't tell you enough words to describe how great Marshall played," Trusty said.
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com
Why the Aggies lost: Three penalties contributed directly to 11 South Carolina State points, and a fourth killed a promising Aggie drive.
Worth repeating: "I wanted to knock those guys out of the playoffs." -- Brandon Trusty, A&T receiver, on the Bulldogs.
Beyond the stats: Defensive confusion compelled the Aggies to take their final time out with 2.4 seconds left in the third quarter.
Up next: A&T's season is over at 3-8; the Bulldogs await word from the NCAA selection committee on an at-large bid to the 16-team playoffs.
www.news-record.com//apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005511200313
CHARLOTTE -- The N.C. A&T Aggies gave playoff-hungry South Carolina State some trouble, some anxiety and entirely too many opportunities Saturday afternoon.
Leading and driving late in the third quarter, the Aggies absorbed a 43-27 defeat when penalties, turnovers and other errors caught up with them. Witnessed by 14,375 in Charlotte's Memorial Stadium, it may have been the final game for A&T coach George Small, only two years removed from a MEAC championship and conference Coach of the Year designation.
Afterward, athletics director Dee Todd said Saturday night she hadn't decided whether to retain Small, 16-19 in three seasons. Asked to describe her evaluation process, she said, "It's ongoing. I've got to get through the rest of the weekend first."
The Aggies (2-6 MEAC) lost their final five games and finished 3-8 overall for the second straight year. Small said he will spend today evaluating film with his assistants.
"We've still got to make corrections," he said. "There are some things I want to see. I know I will definitely be in (the office)."
By one measurement, total offense, Saturday's game was A&T's best performance in Small's tenure. The Aggies racked up 484 yards on the day by embarking on touchdown drives of 71, 73 and 80 yards in the first half alone. Tailback Brandon Sweeney ran for 197 yards and Brandon Trusty caught a school-record 14 passes.
But 13 penalties covering 108 yards in punishment were critical. They gave the Bulldogs four points outright; gave them a second chance at a kickoff return that became a 70-yard TD; and thwarted what might have been an important offensive surge.
Trusty maintained his team should have won it.
"Hands down," he said. "They didn't do anything to stop us. We killed ourselves."
The Bulldogs, ranked 16th nationally, gave themselves a chance at an NCAA playoff bid, but they probably wanted a more convincing victory than A&T allowed. Deshawn Baker ran for 211 yards and quarterback Cleveland McCoy threw for three scores and ran for a fourth.
The Aggies owned a 27-23 lead and had just advanced the ball for a first down to the Bulldog 18 when offensive tackle Terry Jones was flagged for a late hit. Once in possible field-goal range, the Aggies were driven out, and the drive ultimately ended on downs.
"That set us back, but we still had to feed off the momentum we had built," Sweeney said.
The Bulldogs took over and zapped downfield for the go-ahead touchdown, a 6-yard pass from McCoy to Rondriekas Darby, who spun his way between three defenders and lunged over the goal line with 13:15 left in the game.
A&T quarterback Marshall Glenn, who was otherwise brilliant on the day, made a poor pitchout on the next series and South Carolina State recovered on the 35. That quickly turned into a scoring drive, and the Aggies, who burned their last time out on defense late in the third quarter, couldn't make it back. Even on one of the best days for a generally struggling offense.
The sprint draw to Sweeney was a productive play, and Glenn recognized blitzes and found Trusty on intermediate routes just before the rush arrived.
"I can't tell you enough words to describe how great Marshall played," Trusty said.
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com
Why the Aggies lost: Three penalties contributed directly to 11 South Carolina State points, and a fourth killed a promising Aggie drive.
Worth repeating: "I wanted to knock those guys out of the playoffs." -- Brandon Trusty, A&T receiver, on the Bulldogs.
Beyond the stats: Defensive confusion compelled the Aggies to take their final time out with 2.4 seconds left in the third quarter.
Up next: A&T's season is over at 3-8; the Bulldogs await word from the NCAA selection committee on an at-large bid to the 16-team playoffs.
