Aggie string broken at Circle City Classic: Soups on, players need to grow up in a hurry

Courtesy of N.C. A&T Sports Information Department:

INDIANAPOLIS – The hope for the North Carolina A&T football team lies in the chow line.

At the 27th annual Circle City Classic played at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night, the Aggies slipped to 0-5 on the season with a 37-7 loss to Tennessee State. Saturday’s game marked the first time in four tries N.C. A&T was defeated in the Circle City Classic.

But even as the season reaches the halfway point, coach Lee sees a football team in a growing pains stage.

“When I call my sophomores to eat before the game, half the room moves,” said Lee. “When I call my freshmen, the other half of the room moves. Our future is coming. It is just a matter of being patient and staying the course.”

Tennessee State just happens to be one of those teams you do not want to face when you’re growing up in the field of battle. The Tigers possess an offensive line that averages 6-foot-4, 308-pounds in size. The big men upfront helped the Tigers rush for 379 yards. TSU running backs Dante’ Thomas and Preston Brown benefited from the holes opened by the Tigers O-Line.

Thomas rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, while Brown added 145 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.

“We got exposed today upfront with our young talent (on the defensive line),” said Lee.

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