Box Score
Aggies shutout by Hornets for second straight season

DOVER, Del., October 18, 2008 – Touchdowns have been hard to come by for the North Carolina A&T football team the last two weeks. Throw in 12 penalties for 102 yards and three turnovers against the defending MEAC Champion Delaware State Hornets on Saturday afternoon and it is easy to see why it was not a good for the Aggies.

Delaware State’s Chris Strother rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown and Kareem Jones added two more touchdowns to lead the Hornets to a 42-7 homecoming win. It was the Aggies sixth straight loss and their fifth straight loss to the Hornets.

The Aggies have scored 10 points and one touchdown in the last two weeks. Sophomore Nigel Tomlin had 64 yards and touchdown on six carries. But the Hornets held Michael Ferguson to just 17 yards rushing.  

“We just had a tough time executing today,’’ said head coach Lee Fobbs. “We were undisciplined with some of the things we wanted to do. I feel like the kids were trying. It looks as if we are an undisciplined team, but we are not. You’ve got to give credit to Delaware State, they have a tremendous team. A lot of our miscues were probably due to what they were doing to us.”

The Aggies first attempt at execution on Saturday didn’t go their way. Aggies kicker Eric Houston attempted an onside kick to start the game. The Aggies recovered. But it was ruled the ball didn’t go the mandatory 10 yards, giving the Hornets the ball at the N.C. A&T 39-yard line. It took the Hornets six plays to capitalize on the good field position as Jaashawn Jones scored on a 1-yard touchdown for a 7-0 Hornets lead.

Delaware State kept benefiting from good field position. Following an eight-yard punt from Aggies punter Lee Woodson, the Hornets took over at the Aggies 30 with six minutes into the first quarter. Four plays later Strother scored from 19 yards out for a 14-0 Hornets lead.

The N.C. A&T defense held Delaware State’s offense to minus-5 yards on its next two drives before being dealt another bad break. Ten seconds into the second quarter, a Ferguson fumble gave the Hornets the ball at the Aggies 26.

A pass interference penalty gave the Hornets the ball at the 11. Jones then had runs of seven and four yards to give the Hornets a 21-0 lead. It was the same lead the Hornets took into the locker room at the half.

“Their first three scores were on a short fields,’’ said Fobbs. “You just can’t give an offense like that a short climb. We gambled on the onside (kick), and we almost got it in attempt to start the ball game off fast. But almost doesn’t count.”

Although the Hornets operated inside Aggies territory in the first half, the Aggies defense did force three turnovers. But the Aggies running game managed minus-1 yard rushing, and couldn’t take advantage of the Hornet miscues.

The Hornets finally put together a lengthy drive when they scored on a 10-play, 70-yard drive on their first possession of the second half to take a comfortable 28-0 lead.

The Aggies return home next week to play Howard University at 1:30 p.m. It will be University Day at Aggie Stadium.

“Consistency on offense is what we need right now,’’ said Fobbs. “We’re just trying to find a way to ignite our club.”