AGGIES SHOCKS GAMECOCKS FLOCK

Football coaches always stress that all three faucets of the game are needed to win; offense, defense and special teams and that was proven to be true in Head Coach Sam Washington’s first career victory as his 14th ranked North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Aggies outlasted the 6th ranked Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the 2018 Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday night. The ESPN nationally televised game was a FCS heavy weight bout with both teams exchanging blows throughout, until a strip sack by stud defensive end Darryl Johnson Jr saved the day and sealed the Aggies 20-17 victory.

Both teams came into Saturday’s match up with questions that needed to be answered. How would A&T’s offensive line perform after losing their anchor Brandon Parker to the draft, and Left Tackle Marcus Pettiford being the only returning starter? The Gamecocks also had questions coming into Saturday night as for starting Quarterback and Clemson transfer Zerrick Cooper was set to make his first collegiate start. Defense dominated the first three possessions as both JSU and the Aggies are forced to punt, however during the next possession the action starts to pick up.

After being aided by a Gamecock roughing the passer penalty , A&T’s QB Lamar Raynard hits a wide open receiver in Zachary Leslie for a 24 yard touchdown. “To score on national TV” is a dream come true” said Leslie. After tacking on the extra point the Aggies went up 7-0.The very next possession the A&T defense flexed their muscle again as Linebacker and University of South Carolina transfer Antoine Wilder intercepted a Zerrick Cooper slant pass at the A&T 46 yard line. Unfortunately, the Aggies could not capitalize on the field position and was forced to punt. The next possession the Aggies defense prevailed again as Justin Cates came up with a huge sack.

Special teams would be the biggest theme of this game and the blunders started early when in A&T’s following drive JSU’s Randy Robinson blocks a Noel Riez 39 yard field goal attempt. The next possession JSU tacked on 3points with a field goal after a strong goal line stand by the Aggies defense with four minutes left in the half. At the half the score Aggies 7 Gamecocks 3.

All throughout the first half both teams were defeating themselves with penalties as both teams combined for 163 yards on 16 penalties. Both Quarterbacks Raynard and Cooper had trouble getting into their rhythm in the first half. Raynard trying to play with his #1 weapon WR Elijah Bell out there but hobbled by injury. A&T could not establish the run game in the first half, or throughout the game with star Runningback Marquell Cartwright only rushing for 58 yards on 25 carriers.

After half time the action picked up dramatically, after a 3 and out by the Aggies JSU’s CJ Savage muffs a punt with it being recovered by the Aggies setting them up beautifully. Unfortunately Raynard and the Aggies would go 3 and out again resulting in CJ Savage dropping a punt return again, even though it was recovered by Jax State. During the next Aggies possession the Gamecocks defense stepped up as Christian Wafford picks off A&T’s Raynard for no gain. That interception immediately gave the Jacksonville State Gamecocks come right onto the field and goes on a 3 play 75 yard scoring drive, with Zerrick Cooper finding WR Daniel Bird for a 49 yard touchdown .Then the game gets lit, as on the ensuing kickoff senior Wideout Malik Wilson, with the help of 2 fantastic blocks, took the kick all the way back to the house for a 98 yard touchdown.

“JSU had just scored and I knew we needed an answer. Once I crossed the goal line I knew instantly we had got momentum back….shout out to the cover unit doing their assignments and giving me a lane to hit and be able to score” according to Malik Wilson

After the touchdown momentum shifted onto North Carolina A&T’s side until Zerrick Cooper and the Gamecocks answered right back with a 3 play 66 yard touchdown drive as Cooper found Josh Pearson for a 40 yard touchdown on the corner post route.

On the following kickoff JSU head coach John Grass decides to go for the onside kick, which was unsuccessful and aided the Aggies getting down the field for a 4 yard Elijah Bell touchdown reception, Raynard’s 2nd TD pass of the night.

The score is now 20-17. Jacksonville State responded immediately to the Aggies score with a Cooper pass to Pearson for 28 yards, but the Special Teams God blessed the NC A&T again as JSU Kicker Cade Stinnet missed a 51 yard field goal at the beginning of the 4th quarter. After multiple punts by both teams, the Gamecocks manage to put on a drive getting to A&T’s 24 yard line on 4th down. With the Gamecocks only down 3 they needed a 41 yard field goal to tie the game up. But the Special Teams God smiled on A&T again as A&T’s Kiuandric Richardson manages to get a hand on the ball, blocking the punt and saving the Aggies.

The game however is far from over as the Gamecocks get another opportunity to score aftert a Aggies 3 and out. With 2:14 left in regulation a hot Zerrick Cooper finds Josh Pearson again across the middle, all is looking lost for the Aggies until DB Amir McNeiil puts a hat on the ball and forces Pearson to fumble, resulting in a Aggie recovery.Despite the good fortune, the A&T offense could not stay on the field resulting in another 3 and out. With 1:26 left on the clock Jacksonville State still has a shot to win the game.

All things begin to look bleak for the Aggies as Cooper gets into a great rhythm on the final drive going 5/5 on passes. After a huge pass from Cooper to Pearson for a 17 yard gain the Gamecocks are on the Aggies 18 yard line. After Cooper spikes the ball to stop the clock there is 17 seconds left in regulation. Here we go. The Aggies backs are against the wall, facing a hot QB somebody on defense needs to make a play and that is what exactly Junior Defensive end Darryl Johnson Jr does as he beats two blockers on the right , getting to Zerrick Cooper and forcing a fumble, recovered by Dionte Wilder to seal the game.

Both teams played well despite it being week 0. Jacksonville State QB Zerrick Cooper was very impressive and poised in the second half as he ended the game completing 24 out of 38 passed 320 yards, 2 TD’s and just one interception. While reigning MEAC Offensive Player of The Year relatively struggled this game completing only 12/34 passes but still throwing 2 touchdowns.

The victory definitely was not pretty but the Aggies went on the road and got a W, and that’s all the matters.

While the whole Aggies defense was impressive Senior DB Timandre Abrams had a stellar game with multiple highlight worthy pass breakups. Antoine Wilder played tremendous in his A&T debut. The defensive line of the Aggies all played exceptionally well despite going against a bigger Jacksonville State o line but #40 Darryl Johnson Jr showed why he is the best defensive lineman in the conference.

Next week the Aggies (1-0) go on the road again to face the East Carolina Pirates in a hostile environment, but the Aggies are ready according to Timandre Abrams, “We have been in hostile environments before. We have learned how to bond together as a team and focus on getting our job done…as far as ECU I have no expectations out of them I just know we are focused on getting better as a team”