Box Score
Ferguson rushes for 124 yards and two touchdowns

NORFOLK, September 13, 2008 --  North Carolina A&T and Norfolk State took turns putting one another in excellent scoring position Saturday afternoon. But it was Norfolk State who capitalized more on those opportunities than N.C. A&T.

N.C. A&T surrendered 17 points off of turnovers to lose its MEAC opener 27-21 at William “Dick” Price Stadium, spoiling an Aggies come-from-behind attempt.

N.C. A&T senior running back Michael Ferguson led the Aggies with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Teammate Giorgio Lowrance caught six passes for 15 yards receiving, both career highs. He is the first Aggie receiver to have 100 yards receiving since Curtis Walls had 115 yards receiving against Louisiana Lafayette on Sept. 23, 2006. 

The Spartans were led by DeAngelo Branche who finished with 181 yards on 30 carries.

“Putting the ball on the ground has been a problem for us all year long,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. “Coming into today’s ballgame we had only lost one, but the ball is still loose. Eventually it’s going to catch up with you. We have to protect the ball at all times. We have to become better at securing the ball because teams will begin to pull and grab at it because they expect you to give it up. ”

The Aggies came into Saturday’s game with seven fumbles, but were fortunate to lose only one of those fumbles. They were not as fortunate on Saturday. They put the ball on the ground four times, losing three of them. They also had a first-half interception. But in another twist of good fortune, the Spartans were just as willing to turn the ball over. The Spartans (2-1, 1-0) turned it over three times and had one of their punts blocked. 

But the Spartans owned the night when it came to making the opponent pay for its mistakes. The Spartans first 17 points came off of Aggie turnovers. An 11-play, 99-yard drive at the end of the first half helped the Spartans take a 24-7 halftime lead.

Norfolk State kick returner Dwight Fluker-Berry opened the second with a 64-yard kickoff return that led to a 33-yard field goal by Justin Castellat to give the Spartans a 27-7 lead. To help the Aggies get back into the game, Fobbs turned to junior quarterback Carlton Fears. Fears, a junior college transfer out of Georgia Military Academy, led the Aggies on an 8-play, 56-yard drive that was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lowrance to move the Aggies to within 13 at 27-14 with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The one turnover the Aggies (2-1, 0-1) did take advantage of came on the Spartans ensuing possession. Spartans quarterback Dennis Brown had the ball slip out of his hands as rain began to pour at Price Stadium. Senior defensive end Tyre Glasper recovered the ball at the Spartans 41-yard line. A 36-yard completion from Fears to Lowrance on a crossing pattern set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Ferguson to put the Aggies to within six with 1:36 to play in the third.

“I’ve known all along we have fighters on this team,’’ said Fobbs about the Aggies rally. “These kids want to win and come into every game believing they can win. We were much better with the football in the second half, but we need it to be that way for 60 minutes.”

Despite the Spartans efforts, the Aggies could not benefit from anymore Spartan errors, including the Spartans final mistake of the game. With 12:45 remaining in the game, N.C. A&T senior Marques Ruffin came off the corner and blocked Billy Rudd’s punt. It was scooped up by Ihsan Shaheed at the Spartans 40 and returned to the 37.

But the Aggies lost two yards on first down, gained three on second down and Fears was sacked for a 13-yard loss on third down, squandering the opportunity. It was representative of what happened throughout the game for the Aggies. They had five of their drives start in Spartans territory. N.C. A&T's average starting field position was its own 39.

“When your defense or special teams puts you in position to score, you need to come away with points,’’ said Fobbs. “There’s no denying, it was a well-played second half for us. But when you look at the missed tackles, the number of times we put the ball on the ground and the missed opportunities – those are the type of things that will hurt you in a ballgame like this.”

The Aggies will return to the Tidewater area next week when they face Hampton, Saturday at 6 p.m., from Armstrong Stadium.