NCAT puts early scare in Wake Forest for season opener

The North Carolina A&T Aggies started strong in their season opener against Wake Forest, but a dominant second half by the Demon Deacons led to a 45-13 defeat. Despite the loss, NCAT showed resilience early on, keeping pace with their ACC opponent before Wake Forest pulled away in the second half.

Early Momentum:

After falling behind 7-0 on a quick Wake Forest scoring drive, the Aggies answered with an impressive response. Running back Kenji Christian capped off an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. The drive showcased North Carolina A&T’s ability to grind out yards and control the clock.

In the second quarter, NCAT took its first lead of the game with a long, methodical drive that spanned over eight minutes. Kicker Andrew Brown nailed a 38-yard field goal to put NC A&T ahead 10-7, rewarding the Aggies for their persistence and discipline on offense.

Wake Forest Responds:

However, the lead was short-lived. Wake answered back with a quick touchdown drive of their own, with Hank Bachmeier finding Donavon Greene for a score, putting the Demon Deacons back in front 14-10. Later in the quarter Wake Forest extended their advantage with a field goal, leaving the Aggies trailing 17-10 at the break.

Second Half Struggles:

The Aggies were unable to regain their early momentum in the second half. Special teams proved costly when Wake Forest’s Taylor Morin returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown, widening the deficit to 24-10. This play shifted the momentum decisively in favor of the Demon Deacons, and the Aggies struggled to recover.

Despite an impressive 51-yard field goal by Brown in the fourth quarter, which brought the score to 38-13, North Carolina A&T couldn’t keep pace with the Demon Deacons’ high-powered offense and special teams. Wake Forest added another touchdown late in the fourth to seal the game at 45-13.

Though the result wasn’t in their favor, North Carolina A&T showed fight, especially in the first half, against a talented ACC team. The Aggies will look to build on these positives as they prepare for the rest of the season.

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