Campbell throws two touchdown passes

Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C.,  November 4, 2006 – Florida A&M accomplished a feat it hasn’t been able to accomplish all season. The Rattlers ran the ball effectively, and it resulted in a 45-12 win over North Carolina A&T at Aggie Stadium on Saturday.

The run game helped the Rattlers control the football as they held for nearly 10 more minutes than the Aggies. Demitric Henry led the way with 103 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Florida A&M quarterback Albert Chester took care of the air attack by going 21-for-25 for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Mykel Benson caught all three of Chester’s touchdown passes.

“We didn’t do a good job of tackling their offensive personnel,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “They were able to advance the ball in the run game. I know (Florida A&M coach Rubin Carter) told me this week they haven’t been able to run the ball on a consistent basis all year, They did it today.”

The Aggies had some success offensively as well. Sophomore running back Michael Ferguson had 79 yards on 15 carries, and Wayne Campbell threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns, but the Aggies ran into trouble when they advanced the ball deep into Florida A&M territory.

Before the Aggies offense could get going, the Rattlers jumped to an early lead. When Chester found Benson open in the corner of the end zone with 9:06 remaining in the first half, the Rattlers had a 21-0 lead. Two minutes later the Aggies were able to advance the ball to the Rattlers 32-yard line thanks to a 19-yard run by Ferguson.

On 4^th-and-10 from the Rattlers 32 on the same drive, Campbell connected with Ferguson for a 20-yard completion, but the Aggies were called for an illegal man down field which stalled the drive.

“It’s been up and down rollercoaster year with our kicking, offense and defense,’’ said Fobbs. “We’ll get one working one week and another phase of the game will break down on us. We need to start mending things together. You would like for that to happen before this year is over, but with as many kids as we have coming back, I’m sure it will happen.

The Aggies were able to get on the board in the first half thanks to a leaping catch by Michael Caldwell. But the Aggies missed the extra point and went into the half down 24-6. Florida A&M returner Joe Lawson put a damper in an Aggies comeback bid with an 82-yard kickoff return to the Aggies 11 to start the half. Two players later Chester ran in for a 3-yard touchdown.

The Aggies answered, however. Campbell threw a fade pattern to junior Andre Garth in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass. It was third time this season the two have connected on a score as Garth finished with a season-high 71 yards receiving on six catches.

 A 13-play, 60-yard Florida A&M drive followed. Although the Rattlers didn’t score on the drive as Wesley Taylor missed a 39-yard field goal, they held the ball for 7:26. With their already 19-point lead, it helped put the Aggies away.

 “I told them I was proud of them, especially throughout the first half,” said Fobbs. They showed more fight tonight.  We went into halftime and made adjustments, and they came out and got the big long return. They knock one in very quickly, and we finding ourselves clawing and scratching again.”