image via Doug Burt
31
Winner NCC
14
SUB
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCC | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| SU | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
It has been 251 days since the clock hit 0:00 in the 2024 Celebration Bowl and the 2025 season kicking off with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, pitting the Jaguars of Southern University against the Eagles of North Carolina Central University. Led by then first-year head coach Terrence Graves, last season Southern recorded an 8-5 overall record, including 7-1 in the SWAC, on the path to winning the SWAC West. North Carolina Central went 8-3, 4-1 in the MEAC, last season, finishing second to South Carolina State in the conference.
Powered by their running game, North Carolina Central was able not only rack up 231 yards but control the ball for 35:06 as the Eagles defeated the Jaguars 31-14.
Arthur Rodgers Jr., 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 13-play 80-yard drive that took 7:01off the clock
Southern emphatically responded on their next drive when Cameron McCoy took it 69 yards to the house to tie the contest 7 apiece.
N.C. Central reclaimed the lead when Kaleb Robison connected on a 24-yard field goal to put the Eagles up 10-7 with 3:24 left in the first half. Central’s lead was quickly overcome by the Jaguars in just three plays when Trey Holly exploded for an 80-yard scamper that put Southern up 14-10 with just 1:57 remaining in the second quarter.
This time it was Central’s turn to respond and respond they would with a big play of their own via a 49-yard scoring dash from Chris Mosley that pushed the Eagles back out in front 17-14 shortly before halftime.
A 7-yard punt on Southern’s first drive of the second half set the N.C. Central offense up on the Jags’ 34. Seven plays later the Eagles turned it into points when Walker Harris connected with Kyle Morgan from three yards out to put NCCU up 24-14.
Southern’s next offensive possession resulted in a quick three-and-out, giving possession right back to the Eagles on their own 45. NCCU needed only 6 plays to travel 55 yards, reaching pay dirt when Aleni Mageo scampered in from 6 yards out to extend the N.C. Central lead to 31-14 with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter.
For Southern, this 17-point deficit proved to be insurmountable, as only one of their final three possessions threatened to put points on the board and unfortunately for the Jaguar cause, ended in a fumble.
Southern starting quarterback Cameron McCoy completed 9 of his 14 passes for 71 yards. His NCCU counterpart, Walker Harris, was a bit more productive, connecting on 19 of 24 pass attempts for 183 yards and a touchdown.
Mosley led NCCU with 174 yards and a score on just 15 carries; Southern’s Trey Holly ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Up next for N.C. Central is hosting New Hampshire next Saturday. The Eagles defeated the Wildcats 45-27 in their previous and only meeting, September 17, 2022.
The Jaguars head to Itta Bena, MS to take on Mississippi Valley State on August 30. The two schools have not met since November 12, 2022, a 27-7 win for Southern
