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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, October 27, 2021
No. 4 Aggies face No. 2 Hawks in Saturday’s game ALEXIS DAVIS ALEXIS BLACK
theSCORE Reporters
N.C. A&T may be playing in a new conference, but homecoming attendees can still expect the same sense of Aggie Pride to take over Truist Stadium. The Aggies are currently ranked No. 4 in conference play. They were off to a rough start in non-conference games, but playing their annual Aggie-Eagle Classic at home seemed to get their chemistry realigned to pull out their first season win. They have an overall record of 3-4 after a devastating 30-9 loss to Hampton last weekend. Their last win was at home at Truist Stadium against the North Alabama Lions. Although they did come out victorious, the Aggies had many careless turnovers that made the game closer than it should have been. However, in their fight to win, it became evident that N.C. A&T has future stars in its hands. Freshman wide receiver Bhayshul Tuten is beginning to make a name for himself in Aggieland. : Tuten had a star-studded 60-yard touchdown reception facilitated by Aggie quarterback Jalen Fowler
Photo by Kevin Dorsey
Karfa Kaba, a defensive lineman senior from Laurinburg, storms out the tunnel as the Aggies prepare for a strong fight on the field.
to secure their win over the Lions. Adding to N.C. A&T’s list of rising stars, redshirt freshman defensive back Herbert Booker is one to watch. Booker put a major roadblock in front of UNA during their last attempt at a game-winning drive. Both Tuten and Booker add to the longevity of Aggie football. During the game against Kennesaw
State, the Aggies were troubled by the Owl defense and did not get any points on the board, losing 14-0. N.C. A&T couldn’t seem to get their momentum started for their running game. They produced a season-low of 31 yards. The Aggies have not presented that low of a running game since the early 2000s. To make alumni proud in Truist
Stadium on Saturday, it will be crucial for the high-performing running-back trio (Tuten, Jah-Maine Martin, and Kashon Baker) to bring their A-game and to play hard until the last whistle. The Monmouth Hawks have a current record of 4-3 and are ranked No. 2 in the Big South Conference. The Hawks are having a good season and continue to show why they hold the top spot. Monmouth opened Big South play with a 41-14 win against Charleston-Southern University. Running back Juwon Farri ran for three touchdowns in the first half while quarterback Tony Muskett threw two more. At home, the Hawks were victorious against Gardner-Webb University 5417. Monmouth’s defense kept Gardner-Webb, who entered the game as the Big South’s leading scoring offense at 35.8 points per game, off the scoreboard until the first half’s final play. In their last matchup, they defeated Campbell University 34-17. Quarterback Tony Muskett threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns. Monmouth is on their thirteenth consecutive win in the Big South conference, so this homecoming matchup against the Aggies will be one worth watching.
Football players share how GHOE impacts their sport MELVIN HARRIS
theSCORE Editor mtharris3@aggies.ncat.edu
After a year of no homecoming activities, the Greatest Homecoming on Earth finally makes its return. Aggie Football is looking to perform in front of thousands of students, alumni and fans against Monmouth. The annual homecoming game is major to many Aggies worldwide. In addition, this game is taken seriously by the football players and coaching staff. The switch to the Big South conference has been an eye opener for the Aggie football team, currently the Aggies are 2-2 in conference play. After back-to-back losses to Kennesaw St. and Hampton a victory on homecoming can serve as a season shifter for the team. Fullback Kingsley Nwachukwu believes the game is important to the team because of the switch from the MEAC to the Big South. “Since joining the new confer-
ence, we really want to make a stand and show the nation what we got,” Nwachukwu said, “We are really the underdogs in this conference.” Some players missed out on their first homecoming game last year due to the pandemic shutting down their season. Not to mention, missing out on the last season of playing the MEAC. Although players missed the chance to play in their final GHOE game in the MEAC, Coach Sam Washington felt for the fans that missed out on the homecoming game experience in 2020. “I hate it for the fans; now that’s who I hate it for,” Washington told the Greensboro News and Record. “And the student body — they’re going to miss out on an experience that’s second to none.” According to Nwanchukwu, Head Coach Sam Washington always prepares the team for game day especially for Homecoming. The Fullback stated if he and his teammates can focus on their performance, everything else
should follow suit. “Coach Washington said the game is about us. If we play our game, nobody that we ever play can match with us. He makes us play at the top of our game. We worry about our opponent, but we worry about ourselves more,” Nwachukwu said. N.C. A&T Football videographer Jaree Abney spends a lot of time with the players and is familiar with their everyday work ethic. Abney believes the team has put in the work to play well against Monmouth. “They practice like they play. They give one hundred percent, the coaches are always yelling and keeping them organized. They don’t slack around, and [they] do what they got to do,” Abney said. The Aggies have had an up-anddown season thus far. Beating teams like Robert Morris, North Alabama and Central have all been highs, but suffering tough losses to Duke, Kennesaw State and Furman have kept them around .500 for the season. Although Coach Washington be-
came the head coach of the Aggies in 2018, he is undefeated when it comes to performing on homecoming games. Coach Washington was named MEAC Coach of the year in 2018, so he is no stranger to success. Sophomore linebacker Jacob Roberts told me that Coach Washington emphasized the importance of preparation for the homecoming game. “Coach Washington really put emphasis on having fun but also staying focused and not letting outside noise distract us from our goal,” Roberts said. “Preparation for our homecoming game is just the same as if it were any other game. We go into the game plan and expect to execute it.” The homecoming game is a very special game to Roberts because of the atmosphere on game day. “The homecoming game is so important for me and my teammates because it’s something we get to experience once a year, so we try to make the best of it when the time comes. Having people literally come from all
