NC Central got the kind of rivalry victory that can reveal plenty about a football team — not just how it plays when things are going well, but how it responds when adversity hits.
The Eagles held off North Carolina A&T in the Aggie-Eagle Classic on Saturday, overcoming a lengthy weather delay and a second-half push from their rival to secure the win.
Other WRAL Top Stories
“It was a heck of a game,” NC Central head coach Trei Oliver said. “I’m sure our fans got their money’s worth.”
NC Central jumped out to an early lead and took a 23-14 advantage into halftime before a rain delay interrupted the game. Oliver said the Eagles came out of the delay ready to play, but inconsistent stretches allowed A&T to make the game competitive.
Still, the Eagles made the plays they needed late, including a goal-line stand to preserve the victory.
“Our guys showed a lot of character,” Oliver said. “We faced a lot of adversity … and our guys kept fighting.”
There are areas NC Central wants to clean up. Oliver pointed to inconsistent play on third down, missed opportunities offensively and the need for better tackling defensively. He also emphasized the importance of building chemistry with a roster that includes roughly 40 new players.
The Eagles now turn their attention to Gardner-Webb, where they will face the Runnin’ Bulldogs in their home opener. Oliver knows his team will face a physical opponent, particularly at the running back and quarterback positions.
“They're a very confident group,” Oliver said. “And it being their home opener, they're gonna be ready to play. So we have to exceed their energy, and we have to come out ready to play.”
Gardner-Webb quarterback Cole Pennington has caught Oliver’s attention, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ physical running game will also challenge the Eagles’ defense.
For NC Central, the key this week is turning the lessons from a rivalry win into continued improvement.
“We got to get better, and we will,” Oliver said. “I think we'll be much improved in the next couple of weeks.”