Football

Complete Game Notes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Howard will host the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Aggies (0-7 overall, 0-4 in the MEAC) are still looking for their first victory after dropping off a 27-0 home decision to Delaware State this past Saturday while  Howard (2-4 overall,  0-3 in the MEAC) dropped  a heartbreaking, 36-33 overtime loss to Morgan State University on the road this past Saturday.

THE COACHES: NC A&T is coached by Lee Fobbs (Grambling, ‘73), who is in his second season there.  Fobbs served as running backs coach at Texas A&M University before coming to NC A&T. Howard University is coached by Carey Bailey (Tennessee, '92), who is in his first season after serving as defensive line coach at the University of Minnesota.  Bailey has paid his dues after stints at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Lafayette and VMI as an assistant coach.

OVER THE YEARS

THE SERIES: The Bison have won two in a row, both by shutouts, but the Aggies still hold a 19-16-1 advantage in the series which dates back to 1971.

YEAR             HOWARD                  NC A&T
1971                3                                  13
1972                0                                  7
1973                43                                7
1974                13                                9
1975                14                                34
1976                21                                21
1977                10                                34
1978                16                                28
1979                0                                  29
1980                35                                14
1981                21                                17
1983                0                                  22
1984                7                                  23
1985                14                                40
1986                42                                10
1987                34                                21
1988                37                                8
1989                9                                  13
1990                12                                33
1991                9                                  26
1992                14                                16
1993                41                                35 (OT)
1994                20                                24
1995                20                                14
1996                38                                3
1997                21                                13
1998                6                                  17
1999                0                                  51
2000                17                                16
2001                30                                76       
2002                20                                16
2003                7                                  27
2004                13                                14 (OT)
2005                16                                0
2006                26                                0

KEY PLAYERS

NC A&T State University
Offensively, the Aggies are led by red-shirt freshman QB SHELTON MORGAN (41 of 94, 480 yards, 4 TDs, 5 interceptions), junior RBs MICHAEL FERGUSON (116 carries, 783 yards, 2 TDs) and DAVID ROBINSON (53 carries, 136 yards), senior WRs CURTIS WALLS (23 receptions, 257 yards, 1 TD) and MICHAEL CALDWELL (13 receptions, 226 yards, 1 TD) and junior WR CHAZ DAWSON (8 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD).

Defensively, NC A&T is led by sophomore LB ANDRE THORNTON (31 solos, 30 assists, 6.5 tackles for losses, 2 forced fumbles), junior DBs BRANDON CROLEY (26 solos, 14 assists, 1.5 tackles for losses) and MARQUES RUFFIN (21 solos, 18 assists, 4.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks), junior DB BRANDON COLBERT (12 solos, 21 assists, 5.5 tackles for losses, 0.5 sacks and a fumble recovery), junior DL TYRE GLASPER  (10 solos, 13 assists, 3.5 tackles for losses) and junior DB IHSAN SHAHEED (16 solos, 2 assists, 2.5 tackles for losses 3 interceptions).

AGGIE BARKS:  North Carolina A&T is one of the youngest teams in the country with only two senior starters in the starting lineups...despite their youth, the Aggies are the least penalized team in the MEAC...NC A&T is 3^rd in pass defense in the conference...Ferguson has been one of the most consistent players on offense for the Aggies...he is second in the conference averaging 111 yards rushing per game...he also ranks 10^th in the MEAC in total offense...Curtis Walls has been a factor for NC A&T as he ranks 5^th in the MEAC in receiving yards per game while David Robinson is 5^th in all-purpose yards and in kick returns...Robert Russell leads the MEAC in fumble recoveries.

Howard
Offensively, Howard is led by senior QB BRIAN JOHNSON (92 of 155, 1,075 yards, 13 TDs, 5 interceptions; 72 carries, 331 yards, 2 TDs), junior TBs TERRY PERRY (75 carries, 324 yards, 2 TDs) and KARLOS WHITTAKER (48 carries, 211 yards, 2 TDs), senior WRs JARAHN WILLIAMS (29 receptions, 306 yards, 8 TDs) and LARRY DUNCAN (17 receptions, 211 yards, 1 TD) and junior WR ARLANDUS HOOD (16 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD).

Defensively, the Bison are led by senior All-American DE RUDY HARDIE (21 solos, 12 assists, 13.5 tackles for losses, 4.0 sacks), senior S RANDELL MEANS (17 solos, 34 assists, 5.0 tackles for losses), red-shirt sophomore LB ROBERT PARKER (15 solos, 14 assists, 2 tackles for losses), senior LB ROBERT DOWDY (23 solos, 32 assists, 5.5 tackles for losses, a sack), junior LB ENDOR COOPER (26 solos, 27 assists, 5.0 tackles for losses), junior CB RICKEY JACKSON (14 solos, 13 assists, an interception), senior DE JARRETT BURGESS (6 solos, 15 assists, 2.5 tackles for losses) and junior DT JAMES CARTER (6 solos, 13 assists, 4.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks) and senior CB THOMAS CLAIBORN (14 solos, 5 assists, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups).

BISON HOOVES:  Howard is ranked high in several statistical categories in the MEAC: 1^st in time of possession; 1^st in pass efficiency; 2^nd in third down conversion;  3rd in total offense; 2^nd in Red Zone offense; and 2^nd in rushing defense...the Bison are 3^rd in passing offense (191.2), 3^rd in kick returns (24.4) and 3^rd in least penalized...Individually, Brian Johnson is 2^nd in total offense (234.3) and  in passing efficiency (194.4), 3^rd in passing offense (179.2) and 10^th in rushing...Jarahn Williams is 2^nd in receptions per game, tied for 3rd in scoring and 5^th in receiving yards per game...Rudy Hardie is 6^th in the nation in tackles for losses and tied for 5^th in sacks in the MEAC....Randell Means is 2^nd in the conference in tackles, Endor Cooper is 4^th and Robert Dowdy is 5^th...the Bison defense is allowing only 3.2 yards per rush and they are ranked 4^th in the country in time of possession...only one back has rushed for 100 yards against the Howard defense this season.

TALE OF THE TAPE

BISON NOTES

UNDER THE GUN
Martin Decembert and Brandon Bufford will be sure to get plenty of attention.  Decembert, a 6-1 junior from Miami, FL and Bufford, a 6-1, 180-pound sophomore from Detroit, MI will be the starting corners when the Bison line up against the Aggies. Decembert, who played quarterback and wide receiver last season and was moved over to cornerback from the safety position will be making his first start while Bufford, who played sparingly last season, have been forced into action due to injuries to starters Thomas Claiborn (shoulder) and Rickey Jackson (knee).

MOVING UP
When the season started, Terry Perry was listed  as third on the depth chart at tailback behind Frank Berchie and Karlos Whittaker.  A 5-8, 175-pound junior from Miami, FL, Perry spent most of his freshman year returning kicks (11 returns for 200 yards) while carrying the ball 28 times for 123 yards.  Last season, he was moved to a slot position where he caught 12 passes for 64 yards.  Some changes took place in personnel on offense and Perry was moved up on the charts and he quickly made the most of it.  He has rushed for 324 yards, with 287 coming in the last three games, including a career-best 117 last week against Morgan State.  He is second on the team in rushing behind Brian Johnson and his effectiveness has helped provide more balance to the Bison offensive attack which is third in the MEAC in total offense.

NICE RECOVERY
After sitting out the past year and a half recovering from a serious shoulder injury, Jarahn Williams was written off by many as probably never playing for the Bison again.  But the 5-10, 180-pound senior wide receiver from Miami, Fl never stopped working and believing in himself.  It has paid big dividends for him as Williams is having the best season of his career.  He leads the team in receiving (29 receptions), receiving yards (306), touchdowns (8) and scoring (48 points).  One of his four receptions has gone for a TD.  The single-season record for TD passes is 12 held by the late Jevonte Philpot.

HITTING STRIDE
There was a lot of concern over the play of All-American candidate Rudy Hardie when he got off to a slow start.  The 6-2, 270-pound senior from Hartford, CT, who ranked among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for losses, went the first three games with neither a sack nor a tackle for a loss.  Then suddenly in the Winston-Salem State game, a light bulb went off and Hardie became his old self again, wreaking havoc against opposing offenses.  A pre-season All-American and all-MEAC candidate, Hardie has 33 tackles including 13.5 for losses and 4 sacks in the past three games.  He now has 35 tackles for losses and 14 sacks in the past 17 games.

AMONG THE BEST
Howard University has long been recognized for its outstanding linebacker play, but there were questions on whether it would be able to maintain its tradition coming into the season.  After all, the Bison lost all but one of the starters and reserves due to graduation or off the field problems.  But due to the steady and consistent play of Robert Dowdy, the smooth transition of Endor Cooper from defensive line to the middle linebacker and the emergence of Robert Parker, III, Howard's tradition is alive and well, thank you.  Dowdy, a 6-2, 220-pound senior from Fayettevile, NC is one of the most intelligent players at the position in recent memory.  He currently ranks second on the team in tackles with 35 to go along with 5.5 tackles for losses and a sack.  Cooper, a 6-3, 245-pound junior from Woodbridge, VA, had an outstanding season last year after moving over to defensive end from the linebacker spot.  Then when the Bison needed someone to plug the middle, in came Cooper.  He leads the team in tackles with 53 and has 5 tackles for losses.  Parker is a 5-10, 200-pound red-shirt sophomore from Tampa, FL who was used sparingly last season a special teams' player.  But he had a fine spring and earned a starting spot.  He is fifth on the team in tackles with 29 and 2 for losses.

QUIETLY GETTING THE JOB DONE
Randell Means is considered a bit on the small size for a safety by most standards.  The 5-8, 175-pound senior safety from Detroit, MI, makes up for his lack of size with tenacity and intelligence.  That combination has made him one of the best safeties in the MEAC.  Means is third on the team in tackles with 51 and has 5 tackles for losses.

A SPECIALIST
While veteran return specialist Leonard Moore has established himself as one of the top performers at his position in the MEAC, Martin Decembert has had to wait his turn to showcase his speed.  With Moore averaging almost 27 yards per return, teams have begun to kick away from him, thus giving Decembert a chance to showcase his talent.  Against Morgan State, Decembert finally got that chance as he returned a kickoff a career-best 61 yards to set up the Bison's first TD of the game.  Decembert has also made his mark on special teams where he leads the team in tackles with 10.

ON THE AIR: Saturday's game is being broadcast live on WHUT TV, Channel 32...Howard Hall of Fame QB Jay "Sky" Walker is doing the color commentary and Lou Holder is doing the play by play.  It is being broadcast live on the worldwide web at www.howard-bison.com...Ty Miller is doing the play-by-play and Tony McGee and Ron Harris are handling color commentary...NC A&T will broadcast the game live over WNAA, 90.1 FM....Spencer Gwynn and Billy Covington will handle the play by play and analysis.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Aggies host Bethune-Cookman for their homecoming next Saturday in Aggie Stadium at 1:30 pm...Howard travels to Norfolk, VA to take on the upstart Spartans of Norfolk State next Saturday at 1 pm.  The game will be broadcast on ESPNU on tape delay.