Durham Reporter

North Carolina Central Univeristy (NCCU) football fans got their money’s worth at the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 as the Eagles and previously undefeated Jackson State swapped the lead seven times before NCCU prevailed 41-34 in overtime.

Nearly 50,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and millions more watching on television, saw the Eagles (10-2 and ranked 21st in the nation among Historically Black Colleges and Universities) lose their lead on a last-second play that forced overtime. The Eagles then scored on their first offensive chance while the defense held off Jackson State (12-1, ranked fifth).  

“Congratulations to @NCCU football on their #CelebrationBowl victory! #EaglePride #celebrationbowl2022,” U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) tweeted after the Eagles won their fourth HBCU national title. 

NCCU’s Davius Richard scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak in overtime to put the Eagles ahead for the last time. Jackson State’s overtime possession ended after a goal-line stand by the Eagles preserved the win. 

The Tigers, coached by NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, had two chances to score from the 1-yard line in that do-or-die possession. On third and goal, tight end Hayden Hagler dropped a pass. On fourth down Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of the coach, threw an incompletion. 

Deion Sanders announced earlier that he is moving to Colorado next season, but he was committed to coaching the Tigers through their bowl game as he tried to take the team through its first undefeated season.

The win by N.C. Central gives the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference a 6-1 edge over teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the Celebration Bowl, which is considered to be the national championship game for HBCUs. 

NCCU took a late lead after Latrell Collier's 7-yard scoring run with 4:31 left in the game. The Eagles' two-point conversion gave the team a 34-27 advantage.

The Tigers answered on a 15-play drive that included a 10-yard, fourth-down pass from Sanders to T.J. Martin. 

NCCU’s Richard racked up 177 yards and one touchdown through the air, and 97 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He showed some versatility on a 3-yard drive for the game's first touchdown, a 21-yard run, a 30-yard catch on a trick play, and a 5-yard scoring run that gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead.

His counterpart Sanders showed he also possesses dual-threat skills. Sanders, who will follow his father to Colorado next season, completed 13 of 14 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and he had four carries for 34 yards with another score in the first half, as the Tigers fought back to take 21-17 lead at the break. 

Early in the second half, a fake punt helped the Eagles reclaim the lead. Tight end Kyle Morgan took the snap on the fake punt and ran 43 yards to the Jackson State 24. Richard finished the drive with a 12-yard pass to Quentin McCall. A missed extra point had NCCU up 23-21. The Eagles tacked on three more with an Adrian Olivo field goal for a 26-21 advantage.

Sanders led his team on a 45-yard touchdown drive to go back in front 27-26, a lead that disappeared with the next Eagles’ possession where Collier scored. 

No lead was safe in regulation as Sanders answered with a 19-yard-pass to Travis Hunter on the last play of the fourth quarter. The Tigers opted for a kick to tie and force the extra session.