Football | 4/2/2022 6:50:00 PM
EAST GREENSBORO – There will be a lot of discussion among North Carolina A&T football fans about who should be the Aggies starting quarterback in 2022.
No matter who calls the signals, that person will benefit significantly from an effective running game. During N.C. A&T's annual Blue & Gold Spring Football Game Saturday at Truist Stadium, the Aggies ran the ball 62 times for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman running back Charlie Dixon led the way with 131 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Redshirt freshman running back Wesley Graves aided by running for 46 yards on 10 carries. But the funny thing about a spring game that features the offense versus the defense, when one side of the football does well, there may be a concern for the other side of the ball.
"Running the ball is something we really focused on this spring, so I was proud of that," said N.C. A&T coach Sam Washington, who will enter his fifth season as the headman when the 2022 season arrives. "Defensively, we did have some gap control issues because of some of the younger guys. So those things I definitely think can be fixed and resolved."
Pass defense presented another issue for the Aggies in 2021. It did not present much of a problem on Saturday. The Aggies upgraded in the secondary during the offseason by adding Division I transfers Mario Love, Jr., out of N.C. State and Karon Prunty out of Kansas.
Washington said the Aggies are happy to have Prunty's presence and practice habits every day. His approach to the game is cherished, Washington concluded.
N.C. A&T's defense gave up one big play down the field, a 27-yard completion from freshman Eli Brickhandler to sophomore Sterling Berkhalter. The offense's big pass plays came short passes that turned into long runs.
"I thought the pass rush was good, and the pass defense was outstanding," said Washington. "They didn't mess with them boys out there today. We've got some guys back there that can play."
N.C. A&T's pass rush produced 12 sacks, with graduate defensive end Jermaine McDaniel and sophomore linebacker Malich Jacobs earning two apiece. Ten different Aggies recorded sacks on Saturday.
Jacobs led the defense with 12 tackles. Redshirt freshman linebacker Ty'Quan Kearney added five.
Meanwhile, the Aggies offense produced three touchdowns and three field goals.
N.C. A&T's first touchdown drive went 10 plays, 65 yards and ended with Dixon scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run. Dixon had six carries for 52 yards on the drive. Redshirt freshman Zach Yeager was the quarterback on the drive. He had a crucial 7-yard completion to Graves on a 3rd-and-5 during the drive.
Bricklander led the second touchdown drive, culminating in him completing a 15-yard strike to Berkhalter, who finished the day with 65 yards receiving and a touchdown on three receptions. Bricklander was 3-for-5 for 54 yards on the drive.
Redshirt freshman Alston Hooker led the final TD drive. He completed a 20-yard pass to freshman Bryant Wesson on a 3rd-and-13 before freshman Derrick Brinton ended the drive with a 37-yard run and an 11-yard touchdown run.
Sophomore Andrew Brown made field goals from 26, 52 and 27 yards. N.C. A&T's four quarterbacks – redshirt senior Jalen Fowler, Yeager, Bricklander and Hooker – combined to go 15-for-31 for 208 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
"I'm not satisfied, but I know we are headed in the right direction at quarterback," said Washington. "Before I give my total verdict, I want to watch the film. Just looking from where I was standing today, I thought the ball went where it was supposed to go. I thought they did a good job with their reads and progressions, but you don't really know until you get to that film and rewind it and rewind it."