WILDCATS RALLY TO DEFEAT AGGIES
Ferguson rushes for 111 yards, Bethune’s Council has 167 yards of total offense
Brian Holloway
October 27, 2007

GREENSBORO,  – Bethune-Cookman running back Justin Brannon scored on a 2-yard touchdown with 1:04 remaining in the game to lead the Wildcats to a 24-20 win over North Carolina A&T in MEAC football action Saturday.

The Wildcats earned their first conference win of the season (3-5, 1-4), while the Aggies (0-9, 0-6) remained winless on the season and ran their winless streak to 25 straight games. Saturday marked the fourth game this season in which the Aggies were defeated after holding a fourth-quarter lead.

“Our team played with a lot of character today,’’ said Bethune-Cookman football coach Alvin Wyatt. “They played with a chip on their shoulder in the fourth quarter. I’m glad we were able to come here and steal a victory. And I’m more proud of the way we did it.”

The Wildcats were in complete control of the game in the first half. They led 17-3 and had compiled 228 yards of total offense. In the second half the Aggies turned to their running attack, specials and defense to turn around their fortunes.

They started their rally, however, with defense. Aggies defensive lineman LaShawn McLean forced Bethune-Cookman quarterback Jimmie Russell to fumble. Aggies defensive end Joe Taylor scooped up the loose ball and ran 40 yards for an Aggies touchdown. After Michael Caldwell scored on a two-point conversion, the Aggies cut the Wildcats lead to 17-11.

Momentum kept coming for the Aggies. With 3:25 remaining in the third quarter, senior Chaz Truesdale blocked a Bethune-Cookman punt, giving the Aggies the ball at the Wildcats 34. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty gave the Aggies the ball at the 19. Four plays later, Eric Houston hit a 30-yard field goal to pull the Aggies to within three at 17-14.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Aggies used the threat of Michael Ferguson, who is 71 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing this season, to manufacture their next score. Quarterback Shelton Morgan handed the ball off to Ferguson on what seemed like a running play.

Ferguson turned and threw the ball back to Morgan and Morgan proceeded to throw a perfect pass to Caldwell for a 74-yard touchdown pass to give the Aggies 20 unanswered points and their first lead of the game at 20-17 with 13:12 remaining in the game.

The Aggies held that lead until a controversial call seemed to turn things around for the Wildcats at the 7:42 mark. Wildcats punt returner Corey Council muffed a Lee Woodson punt at the Wildcats 4. The ball rolled into the end zone where Council fell on the ball. Instead of safety, the play was ruled a touchback, giving the Wildcats the ball at the 20.

Bethune took advantage by going a 16-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by a fourth-down conversion and a pass interference call that kept the drive going.

“The last drive was a big drive for them,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Lee Fobbs. We then had the pass interference play when we pretty much had them stopped. It kept the drive going and we could never make the key stops.”

The Aggies got the ball back and advanced it to the Wildcats 46. But on 3-and-7, Caldwell just missed making a spectacular diving catch at the Wildcats 5 as the ball came loose when he hit the ground. On 4^th-and-7, Morgan’s pass to Walls fell incomplete, securing the win for the Wildcats.