J’Mari Taylor being J’Mari Taylor, and the Eagles defense being the Eagles defense, helped North Carolina Central University football celebrate Senior Night on Friday in O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium with a 26-3 win over Howard.
With the win in front of a live ESPNU audience, the Eagles improved to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in MEAC play.
Howard opened the scoring in the closing seconds of the first quarter following a 36-yard field goal from Dylan West, putting the Bison up 3-0.
But the Eagles answered in the closing minutes of the half, going 71 yards in 11 plays, taking just 2:14 off the clock before quarterback Walker Harris hit Chris Mosley from 12 yards out. The PAT failed, leading N.C. Central with a 6-3 lead heading into the locker room.
The Eagles had 265 total yards at the half, while holding Howard to just 89.
Taylor kept his streak of games with at least one rushing touchdown alive; with 7:44 left in the third quarter, he took the handoff to the right and found the end zone 61 yards later.
After just two plays and 76 yards, the Eagles opened up a 13-3 lead.
Howard (4-7, 1-3 MEAC) had the ball twice more in the third quarter, going three-and-out both times. N.C. Central had possession as the third switched to the fourth, and Taylor again found the end zone with 13:33 left in the contest.
Capping a 5-play, 33-yard drive, Taylor scored from 18 yards out to give the Eagles a 20-3 lead.
Taylor scored yet again with 6:14 left to play, scampering 40 yards to put the Eagles up 26-3.
With that run, Taylor eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for theh campaign. He’s the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Greg Pruitt, Jr., in 2005, and Taylor has the sixth 1,000-yard rushing season in Eagles history.
As Taylor found his second-half legs, the Eagles defense did the same. Howard’s first drive of the second half lasted for just four plays, and each of the Bison’s next five drives were all three-and-out.
Howard managed just 113 yards of total offense for the game — and only 24 in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Eagles racked up 563 yards of total offense: a season high, and the second game this season in which they have gained more than 500 yards (530 vs. North Carolina A&T).
Hjhhhhhj The Eagles will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 23, when they head to Dover, Del., to take on Delaware State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN+.
