Howard (0-6, 0-4 MEAC) at North Carolina A&T (5-1, 3-0 MEAC)
Date: Oct. 24, 2015
Time: 1 p.m.
Facility: Aggie Stadium
Series: A&T leads 26-20-2
Radio: 1510 AM WEAL; flexzoneradio.com; ncataggies.com; Play-by-play – Donal Ware, Analyst – Al Swann
PROBABLE OFFENSIVE STARTERS:
|
Pos.
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Note
|
|
WR
|
Denzel Keyes
|
6-4
|
210
|
Jr.
|
They seem to throw him more and more jump balls at basketball season approaches
|
|
LT
|
Brandon Parker
|
6-7
|
280
|
R-So.
|
He had another stellar game on the left side of the Aggies O-Line
|
|
LG
|
Joshua Mattocks
|
6-3
|
308
|
R-So.
|
Mattocks brings some stability to the Aggies O-Line
|
|
C
|
Darriel Mack
|
6-2
|
293
|
R-So.
|
Mack is looking to start his fifth straight game and solidify himself as the starting center
|
|
RG
|
Wes Cole
|
6-6
|
335
|
Jr.
|
Cole returned to the starting lineup last week vs. B-CU
|
|
RT
|
Marcus Pettiford
|
6-3
|
271
|
Fr.
|
As the right side of the Aggies line gets stronger, the offense gets better
|
|
WR
|
Caleb Gabriel
|
5-9
|
165
|
R-So.
|
The Aggies speed man is looking to break a few long ones
|
|
WR
|
Khris Gardin
|
5-7
|
159
|
So.
|
He provides great field position for the offense as a punt returner
|
|
TE
|
Dequan Swann
|
6-1
|
230
|
R-Sr.
|
He provides the Aggies with a good pass-catching TE
|
|
QB
|
Lamar Raynard
|
6-4
|
174
|
R-Fr.
|
The Aggies use Raynard's ability to be a passing threat to throw teams off balance
|
|
RB
|
Tarik Cohen
|
5-6
|
173
|
Jr.
|
Cohen has also been the Aggies leading receiver the past two games
|
PROBABLE DEFENSIVE STARTERS:
|
Pos.
|
Player
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Cl.
|
Note
|
|
DE
|
Angelo Keyes
|
6-1
|
268
|
R-Jr.
|
His pass-rushing skills are getting sharper
|
|
DT
|
Michael Neal
|
5-11
|
260
|
Sr.
|
Neal helped the Aggies control the line of scrimmage against B-CU
|
|
NT
|
Marquis Ragland
|
6-3
|
271
|
R-Jr.
|
His impact doesn't show up in the tackling stats
|
|
DE
|
Malik Hampton-Priloeau
|
6-4
|
247
|
Jr.
|
He is pretty good at stopping the run and keeping outside containment
|
|
LB
|
Julius Reynolds
|
5-9
|
211
|
R-Fr.
|
He is making a somewhat silent bid for conference rookie honors
|
|
LB
|
Denzel Jones
|
5-9
|
244
|
R-Sr.
|
He is the only Aggie with double-figure tackles in a game this season
|
|
LB
|
Marcus Albert
|
5-10
|
200
|
R-So.
|
He posted six tackles against B-CU
|
|
ROV
|
Landis Shoffner
|
6-0
|
186
|
Sr.
|
He recovered a fumble against the Wildcats
|
|
FS
|
Zerius Lockhart
|
5-10
|
174
|
R-So.
|
Earned his second career INT last weekend
|
|
CB
|
Marquis Boyan
|
5-11
|
191
|
Sr.
|
He is sixth in the nation in fumbles recovered
|
|
CB
|
Tony McRae
|
5-9
|
178
|
Sr.
|
He is Mr. durable. McRae will be playing in his 41st straight game
|
The Game: N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway made it clear this week. Don't look at the record. The veteran head coach knows when you are sitting alone in first place in the conference after being predicted to win the conference, you are a major target on everyone's schedule. Add to that, Howard has played conference foes pretty tough this season. Before being blown out by S.C. State last week, the Bison lost to Morgan State by eight and to Norfolk State by three. The Bison have struggled offensively, posting just three offensive touchdowns over their first six games. The Aggies are looking for their fourth straight win over the Bison, which would tie a series record for longest winning streak.
News & Notes
- The Aggies special teams have been special. Over the past two seasons the Aggies have blocked four kicks, returned two kicks for touchdowns and one punt for touchdown. Meanwhile, the Aggies have not surrendered a kickoff return for touchdown in 16 straight games and no one has returned a punt on A&T during the Broadway era.
- Tarik Cohen moved closer to the Aggies all-time rushing record. He needs 387 yards to pass Mike Mayhew as the school's leading rusher. He joins Mayhew as the only two players in school history with more than 3,000 career rushing yards. He needs more than 1,500 yards to break the conference record.
- Freshman Steve Sawicki took over the punting duties during the North Carolina game and has excelled at the position. He has punted 25 times for 38.3 yards per punt. Eight of the punts have landed inside the 20, there have been six fair catches and three touchbacks.
- The Aggies looking to win their fifth straight homecoming. The most homecomings the Aggies have won in a row is six (1989-94). The Aggies are 17-16 in homecomings played at Aggie Stadium.
Coaches' Point of View
“They're a physical tough team upfront. They believe in eliminating the run game, and so they're going to try to impose their will. That program is definitely moving in the right direction. I'm just looking forward to going down there and being a part of the festivities. As a Howard guy, I remember us having a great rivalry with A&T when it was homecoming time. It was always a great environment and both teams usually rise to the occasion.”
Howard head coach Gary Harrell on playing A&T for homecoming
“It's hard to keep guys focused for homecoming. I mean they don't call it The Greatest Homecoming on Earth for nothing. It's a big week for them, and we want them to be a part of it. They're college kids, so they need to go out and enjoy themselves. But they also need to understand the importance of this game. Homecoming is for everybody coming back home. If it is anything like last year they're going to be people everywhere, so we need to go out and represent and play well this game.”
A&T Head Coach Rod Broadway on playing well for homecoming
