Darius Cole (No. 32) runs past JCSU player after recording his third interception this season.
The Falcons committed turnovers and also threw four interceptions in a loss to Jonson C, Smith University. Two of the picks were in the end zone, killing potential scoring drives.
The Falcons had a chance to strike first in the first quarter when Denzel Watkins (Sr./Troutman, NC) blocked a punt. Cameron Lloyd (R-Fr./Tarboro, NC) ran 26 yards to the Smith two-yard line which put the Falcons in great field position. Five plays later, a lob pass in the corner of the end zone was picked off by the Golden Bulls.
Down 10-0 in the second quarter, the Falcons missed another opportunity to close the gap before halftime. Chris Roberts (Jr./Albany, GA) forced a fumble on a sack deep in Golden Bulls’ territory which Tray King (So./Kershaw, SC) recovered. King rambled 14 yards to the Golden Bulls’ one-yard line.
With 14 seconds left before halftime, the Golden Bulls (3-1 Southern Division, 3-3 CIAA, 4-5 overall) intercepted another pass in the end zone to prevent a Falcons’ score. Smith finally put the Falcons on the scoreboard with his field goal in the third quarter, but the Falcons would not score again.
Neither team generated much offense in the defensive affair. The Golden Bulls gained 213 offensive yards while the Falcons accumulated 131 yards. Tailback Roderick Davenport II (Sr./Orangeburg, SC) provided much of the Falcons’ offense with 88 yards on 28 carries. He is now 22 yards away from becoming the school’s career rushing leader with one game left in the season.
The defense did its best to keep the Falcons (0-4 Southern Division, 0-6 CIAA, 0-9 overall) in the game. Led by linebackers Durell Newby (R-Jr./Graham, NC) and Terry Warren (So./Franklin, VA), the Falcons held the Golden Bulls to 26 rushing yards, forced two turnovers and registered four sacks including two by Roberts.
Newby and Warren each finished with eight tackles for the Falcons. Lineman Darius Goodman (R-So./Richmond, VA) and Roberts each forced a fumble and Darius Cole (Fr./Pittsboro, NC) intercepted a pass.
For the Golden Bulls, Jordan Lane completed 15-of-23 pass attempts for 179 yards and one interception in addition to being sacked four times. His main target was Fred Scott, who caught seven passes for 86 yards. Tromecio Summers rushed 10 times for 48 yards.
Defensively, Austin Jacques led the Golden Bulls with 10 tackles and one interception. NCAA interceptions leader Carlo Thomas picked off two passes.
Before the contest, twelve football seniors were honored with their families. They were offensive lineman Donell Andrews (Baltimore, MD), fullback Reece Bradley (Fredericksburg, VA), Davenport, quarterback A.J. Gilford (Savannah, GA), defensive back Justin Jones (Fort Valley, GA), tight end Steven Mason (Hampton, VA), defensive lineman Malcolm Newby (Graham, NC), wide receiver Jamal Parker (Hampton, VA), offensive lineman John Perkins (Fayetteville, NC), running back Antonio M. Thomas (Lynchburg, VA), Turkvant and Watkins.
Matthew Mangram, who lost his life in a car accident last year, was also honored during the Senior Day ceremony. He would have been a senior this season.
Legendary Head Coach George Williams and the Falcons’ men’s track and field team were honored at halftime. The Falcons captured their third straight NCAA Division II outdoor championship in May 2015.
Next Saturday, Nov. 7, the Falcons will visit crosstown rival Shaw University in the final game of the regular season. The contest is set for Durham County Stadium in Durham, N.C., at 1 p.m.
— Office of Sports Information
