Box Score
Hedgepeth records career-high 12 tackles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., November 1, 2008 --  North Carolina A&T interim head football coach George Ragsdale likes what he sees from his defense.

But he doesn’t like his defense so much that he wants to see it on the field constantly. Bethune-Cookman ran 22 more plays than the Aggies and kept the ball 10 more minutes in a 24-14 win over the Aggies at Municipal Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Aggies linebacker Jamison Hedgepeth led the Aggies defensively with 12 tackles with four of them coming behind the line of scrimmage. Jarrell Herring, Brandon Long and Anthony Moore had 10 tackles apiece. Bethune-Cookman quarterback McKinnsey Souverain led the Wildcats with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, and he threw for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 7-for-12 passing.

“We had too many series where we went three-and-out,’’ said Ragsdale. “They had some drives that they were able to sustain. We have to make up that difference. Overall, I was pleased with the way the guys played. We just need to control the football.”

N.C. A&T’s defense helped out its offense midway through the third quarter when Long stripped the ball away from Wildcats running back Joe Singleton. Long carried several Wildcats down to the Wildcats 3-yard line during part of his fumble return.

The Aggies took advantage of the opportunity. On 3^rd-and-goal from the Wildcats 2, Aggies quarterback Herb Miller found receiver Miles Wallace in the flats for a two-yard touchdown pass to move the Aggies to within three at 17-14.

After the score, the Aggies offense did not run more than six plays on any particular drive it had over the remainder of the game. The Aggies did advance the ball to their own 46-yard line to start the fourth quarter. But back-to-back sacks of Miller forced the Aggies to punt.

The wear and tear began to show on the Aggies defense. The Wildcats took over on their own 49-yard line and had runs of 21, 10 and eight, and concluded their 6-play, 51-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown by Souverain to give the Wildcats 24-14 lead with 8:24 to play. Aggies returner gave the Aggies hope with a kick-off return to the N.C. A&T 46.

But a 15-yard penalty on the Aggies bench led to another three-and-out. The Wildcats started their next drive at their own 5, and put together a 13-play, 6:57 drive to seal the win.

"On the defensive side of the ball I think our guys played lights out,’’ said Ragsdale. “We had a few problems with our offense. It seems like when we started moving the ball, something crazy would keep us from moving it. I thought that stifled us a little bit.”

N.C. A&T’s offense started out well. Eight-and-half minutes into the game, the Aggies drove the ball 70 yards in nine plays. They were aided by 22 and 13 yard runs from Michael Ferguson that led to a two-yard touchdown run by Nigel Tomlin to give the Aggies a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats answered with a long drive that included a 40-yard completion to Phillip Kirkland. But the Wildcats drive stalled at the Aggies 14. Wildcats kicker Matt McCutheon booted a 31-yard field goal with 13:37 remaining in the first half.

Another long Wildcats pass play to another Wildcats score. This time, Souverain dropped back three steps, found one-on-one coverage down the field and connected on a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Pope to give the Wildcats a 10-7 lead. It was the same lead the Wildcats took into the locker room.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,’’ said Ragsdale. “Our offense drove the ball down the field early. We just have to keep that going consistently. Our defense was up against it all night, but we’re in great shape. They fought all night. They never gave up and they got another turnover that got us another score.”

The Aggies (3-7, 1-5) will face Florida A&M next Saturday at 1:30 p.m., at Aggie Stadium.