DURHAM – Quarterback Davius Richard accounted for seven touchdowns, and North Carolina Central avenged its only conference loss from 2022 in a big way Thursday night.
Richard threw five touchdown passes, including a couple covering 60 yards, and rushed for two more scores to help the Eagles throttle South Carolina State 62-28. NC Central, the No. 2 team in our Fabulous 14 statewide rankings, improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in MEAC play. South Carolina State edged Central 26-24 a year ago in Orangeburg, S.C.
Here are three things to know about Central’s big Thursday win:
1. The Eagles had been sluggish starters in recent games against Campbell, Elon and Morgan State. That was certainly not the case against SC State.
Richard completed his first touchdown pass, a 60-yard play to J’Mari Taylor, 3:07 into the game. A little more than three minutes later, Max U’Ren picked up a fumble and returned it 20 yards for another touchdown. The Eagles added 27 points in the second quarter, and the rout was on.
NC Central hit a season high in scoring and tied for the third-highest scoring mark in the state for 2023. The Eagles’ 7-1 record is the best for the program since moving up to Division I in 2007.
2. Richard set a season high in passing yards, finishing 18-of-27 for 352 yards. He was picked off once early in the contest but shook it off to complete passes to nine different teammates.
Taylor caught two of Richard’s touchdown throws and finished with 100 receiving yards. Devin Smith hauled in a 60-yard strike from Richard in the second quarter and finished with 103 receiving yards. Twan Flip Jr. and Chauncey Spikes had the other TD receptions.
Richard had five rushing attempts, scoring on runs of five yards and one yard away.
3. The Eagles scored in all phases. In addition to U’Ren’s defensive touchdown, Romeo Stancil recovered a fumble on a kickoff in the end zone, giving NC Central its final points.
Placekicker Adrian Olivo hit eight of his nine PAT attempts.
Quick Hits
* South Carolina State had won the past three meetings against NC Central, including a 24-0 shutout in 2019.
* NC Central’s previous high score against the Bulldogs came in a 48-35 win in 2014.
* The Eagles have now won nine in a row at home, including a 4-0 mark a year ago.
* Earlier this week, Richard learned he was one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given to college football’s premier scholar-athlete. The award recognizes combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Richard graduated magna cum laude last December with a 3.6 GPA in business administration.
* NC Central has three more MEAC games to go: at home against Norfolk State and Delaware State, and on the road to Howard in between.
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