Date: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Truist Stadium, East Greensboro, N.C.
Radio: Donal Ware (pxp); Al Swann (analyst); Billy Covington (halftime show)
Radio Stations: WKEW 1400 AM; 96.3 FM; Sirus XM Radio 384/online 974
TV/Stream: Spencer Turking (pxp); Allen Jones (analyst)
Platform: ESPN+
NORTH CAROLINA A&T AGGIES (2-3, 1-0 Big South): The Aggies return home after missing a week of competition. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chris Barnette, who took head coach Sam Washington's place at Monday's press conference as Washington dealt with a family matter, said the Aggies used the bye week to work some of the Aggies young players into the mix. Those young players could see some action on Saturday as the Aggies step away from conference play to face Division II/SIAC opponent Edward Waters.
A&T comes into the game on a two-game winning streak. Indeed, the running game has contributed to that success. Sophomore back Bhayshul Tuten is looking for his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game, which would tie the school record for consecutive 100-yard games by an Aggie. But as impressive as Tuten and the run blocking from the Aggies have been, the Aggies defense has been magnificent. The unit forced five turnovers last week against Bryant, including four interceptions. A&T's previous two opponents combined have rushed for a total of 46 yards. Plus, the Aggies got healthier on the defensive side of the ball with the return of defensive end Jermaine McDaniel, Jr., and cornerback Amir McNeill.
EDWARD WATERS TIGERS (1-5, 1-4 SIAC): The Tigers have transitioned from being an NAIA school to an NCAA Division II institution. After mainly playing a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) schedule in 2021 without the games counting toward the conference standings, the Tigers are in their first full season of competing for a SIAC championship. EWU is coming off a 55-7 home loss to Albany State last week. Albany State held the Tigers to 94 total yards, with EWU's only score coming on a 70-yard interception return by Ahmaud Jordan. The Tigers lost their first four games of the season before beating Morehouse 49-20. EWU has the fourth-best rushing attack in the SIAC, compiling 165.8 yards per game. They have a three-man rushing attack led by Tyler King, who has rushed for 315 yards and four touchdowns on 59 carries. De'Shuan Hugee averages 6.8 yards per carry on 40 attempts with three touchdowns. Spencer Carter averages 7.7 yards per carry, has one touchdown and has carried the ball 28 times. Widmyer Garcon leads the team in tackles with 32 tackles, 5.5 for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
A&T HEAD COACH SAM WASHINGTON: Washington is in his fifth season overall and his fourth season on the sideline after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Aggies to cancel the 2020 season. Washington is 26-14 (.650) as A&T's head coach. Washington won coach of the year honors in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2018. He won 19 games over his first two seasons in AggieLand, the most of any A&T coach in his first two years on the job for the Aggies. Washington served as the Aggies defensive coordinator from 2011-17 before becoming head coach. He designed one of the best defenses in the nation during his time as the DC.
EDWARD WATERS HEAD COACH TORIANO MORGAN: Morgan became the head coach at Edward Waters on April 15, 2021. EWU officials placed him in charge of helping EWU transition from NAIA to an NCAA Division II institution. In EWU's first season as an NCAA independent, he led the Tigers to a 4-7 record with mainly a SIAC schedule. He came to EWU after serving as Virginia State's offensive coordinator for two seasons. He is 5-12 as the head coach of EWU.
THE QUARTERBACKS: A&T took a week off to get healthier at quarterback. Graduate Jalen Fowler made the start two weeks ago and played well, leading the Aggies on all four of their scoring drives. He was 11-for-17 for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Zachary Yeager, recovering from an injury at the time, played sparingly two Saturdays ago. Meanwhile, the third QB in the mix, Eli Brickhandler, is still recovering from a knee injury sustained on Sept. 24 against S.C. State.
The primary signal caller for Edward Waters is David Johnson. He has thrown for 650 yards on 51-for-85 (.600) passing with four touchdowns and four interceptions. Johnson has also scored twice on the ground. However, he threw it only 11 times for 33 yards against Albany State. In those 11 throws, he was intercepted twice.
NEWS AND NOTES
- The Aggies had their best third-down defensive performance of the season two weeks ago against Bryant.
- Before the Bryant game, opponents converted 60.4 percent (32-for-53) of their third downs against the Aggies. But Bryant was just 3-for-11 (.273) on third down against the Aggies.
- Former A&T running back Tarik Cohen had five straight 100-yard rushing performances for the Aggies from Oct. 3, 2015-Oct. 31, 2015. If Bhayshul Tuten runs for 100 yards against EWU, he will tie Cohen's record.
- The Aggies are 12-32-6 against SIAC competition. Many of those games occurred when A&T was a CIAA school from 1924-1970. Some of their opponents at the time were former SIAC schools Florida A&M, S.C. State and Alabama State.
- The Aggies were 4-23-3 against FAMU during the Rattlers' time in the SIAC.
- The last time the Aggies faced a SIAC school, they lost to Lane College 12-4 at what was then called Aggie Stadium on Nov. 11, 1995.
- EWU is the oldest HBCU in the state of Florida. It was established in 1866 to educate freed slaves and their children.
