By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staff Writer
A 32-yard touchdown reception by Howard’s Willie Carter cut the lead to 24-19, but the Aggies took their next carry 45 yards to the end zone to up the score 30-19. (Courtesy Photo/HU)
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(October 25, 2009) - The North Carolina A&T Aggies shocked the crowd and even themselves in a 30-19 win over the Howard University Bison on Oct. 24 at Hughes Stadium.
A&T hadn’t won in D.C. in 11 years and had lost the last two times they were invited to Howard’s homecoming. Despite the poor history, the Aggies got their revenge.
Playing in front of a full house at Hughes Stadium, Howard jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over the sluggish A&T, who were coming off a bye week. Howard running back Andre Williams scored the first touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run.
Howard spent the rest of the half trading big hits and defensive stands with the Aggies before the A&T running game got going. Freshman running back Dontavious Payne sparked the second quarter with a 40-yard run that would set up A&T’s first touchdown. After two field goals by the Bisons gave them the 13-7 lead going into the half, the Aggies took over from there.
Muffed punts and three-and-outs sabotaged Howard in the second half as heavy rains cleared out the energetic crowd. As the rain became troublesome for Howard, A&T’s running game shifted into high gear and pushed the Aggies to a 24-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. Payne rushed for 126 yards on 21 carries and finished the game with two touchdowns. But it was his backup, Mike Mayhew, who would put the game away.
A 32-yard touchdown reception by Howard’s Willie Carter cut the lead to 24-19, but Mayhew took his next carry 45 yards to the end zone to up the score 30-19 and break the Aggies’ 11-year losing streak at Hughes Stadium.
“It was just about execution.” A&T offensive coordinator Chennis Berry said. “We had some things in the first half and the kids didn’t execute. We had some things that we knew that was there and we just came back to those same things, stayed with the course and [we were] able to put 30 points on the board”.
Howard senior quarterback Floyd Haigler struggled mightily in his last homecoming game. Haigler finished the game 14-for-34 for 191 yards and two interceptions. A&T pressured Haigler all afternoon and his two interceptions crippled Howard in the second half.
The Bison have lost three straight and dropped to 2-5 this season and last place in the MEAC, while the Aggies improved their record to 5-3 and fourth place in the conference.