Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. -- In a highly anticipated matchup of two nationally-ranked teams clashing in the Cricket Celebration Bowl, North Carolina Central amassed 482 yards of total offense, including 276 powerful yards rushing, to defeat Jackson State, 41-34, in overtime, as the Eagles captured their fourth HBCU national championship in NCCU history in front of 49,670 fans inside a sold out Mercedes-Benz Stadium with millions more watching on ABC.
The two conference champions exchanged the lead seven times, and the game was sent to overtime when Jackson State scored a touchdown on the final play of regulation.
This was the first overtime game in the history of the Celebration Bowl.
The MEAC now holds a 6-1 record in the all-time match-up and has won the last five.
Jackson State (12-1) entered the contest ranked fifth in the AFCA Top 25 poll with the nation's top-rated defense, holding opponents to an average of 233.2 yards of total offense and 11.2 points scored. NCCU (10-2), ranked No. 21 in the nation, recorded more than twice as many total yards and scored more than three times the points typically surrendered by the Tigers. In fact, JSU had not allowed more than 24 points in a game all season.
NCCU junior quarterback Davius Richard, the Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP, completed 15-of-20 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, while adding 97 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including the game-winning 1-yard run in overtime. He also caught a 31-yard pass from senior receiver E.J. Hicks, who later connected on a pass to Richard for a two-point conversion.
Behind a dominant offensive front, junior running back Latrell Collier tallied a game-high 98 yards rushing with a touchdown, while sophomore J'Mari Taylor chipped in 38 ground yards and a score. Collier also caught five passes for 40 yards.
Hicks led the Eagles with 84 receiving yards on three catches, while sophomore receiver Quentin McCall also registered three receptions, including an acrobatic, toe-tapping grab in the end zone.
Defensively, the Eagles held JSU to just 68 rushing yards, while Tigers quarterback Shedeur Sanders passed for 349 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for another score.
NCCU junior safety Khalil Baker, the Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP, collected a team-best 10 tackles, while freshman cornerback Jason Chambers tallied nine takedowns and redshirt-freshman linebacker Max U'Ren posted seven stops. The Eagles also recorded sacks by linemen Deontrae Brown, Colby Warrior and Jessie Malit, and created a turnover with a forced fumble by JaJuan Hudson and a recovery by Manny Smith.
On special teams, junior kicker Adrian Olivo connected on a pair of field goals and three extra-point kicks, accounting for nine points. In a momentum-changing play near the beginning of the third quarter, tight end Kyle Morgan took a fake punt snap from center at the Eagles' own 33-yard line and raced 43 yards to set up a touchdown.
NCCU's 2022 HBCU national title will join the company of those won in 1954, 2005 and 2006. This year's 10-2 squad also becomes just the third team in NCCU history to reach double-figure triumphs. NCCU head coach Trei Oliver has been part of all three, as he was an assistant coach on the 2005 (10 wins) and 2006 (11 wins) teams.