Matt Johnson’s Journal:Unrelenting Ariel Assault Too Much for A&T at Tulsa(This is Aggie Football)

Unrelenting Ariel Assault Too Much for A&T at Tulsa
(Courtesy of Matt Johnson covering College Football for GreensboroSports.com)

There was very little to cheer about for those in Aggieland after their third contest of the season. Down 48-0 at the half, and giving up two blocked punts and an interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, North Carolina A&T (2-1) had an uphill battle all day long against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-1).

Tulsa had scored 52 on Virginia Tech previously in the Independence Bowl last season, and once again showed their big play ability on offense led by quarterback Dane Evans, who sliced through the N.C. A&T defense for 282 yards, three touchdowns, and completed 19-29 passes. Tulsa was stopped at the goal line on their first drive of the game after a Deion Jones sack forced a field goal, however Evans would lead the Hurricane to a 24-0 first quarter.

The Aggies’ first score of the game came down 58-0 in the third quarter, when former wide receiver now quarterback Isaiah Hicklin threw for a 75-yard touchdown pass off the fingertips of the defense to redshirt sophomore Malik Wilson. Hicklin came in to N.C. A&T as a quarterback, and was moved to wide receiver last year before moving to quarterback this week due to an injury to Kylil Carter.

Another bright spot on offense for the Aggies, was freshman wide receiver Elijah Bell, who had five receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. His 100-yard performance was the second straight for an N.C. A&T receiver.

The Aggies are on a bye week this week, but will face Hampton (1-2, 1-0) on Thursday, September 29th to open play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for N.C. A&T.

The Hampton Pirates opened conference play last Saturday against Howard in a 34-7 victory in the Nation’s Football Classic. For his 110 all-purpose yard performance, Hampton’s Yahkee Johnson was named the game’s most valuable player.

Johnson is no doubt on the scouting report for the Aggies. Johnson has totaled 230 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown, but the junior running back’s 7.4 yards per carry is what shows his big play ability while his 230 yards on the season is good for second in the MEAC.

The A&T defense is ranked the best defense in the conference through the first three games by yardage, in large part because of junior linebacker Jeremy Taylor. Taylor’s 24 total tackles ranks him 11th in the conference, and his solo tackles is good for second in the MEAC. Look for Taylor and the A&T defense to try to rebound and shut down Hampton’s top ranked rushing attack.

Matt Johnson is a broadcaster for Averett University Football and the Averett Sports Network. To view one of his broadcasts, go to www.averettcougars.com on Saturdays during Averett University home games for live coverage of Averett football or search for Averett athletics on YouTube for a previous broadcast.