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Alcorn St., NC A&T square off for HBCU national championship
Celebration Bowl: Alcorn State (9-3, 6-1) vs. North Carolina A&T (9-2, 6-1), Dec. 15, Noon Eastern (ABC)
Line: North Carolina A&T by 7 ½.
Series Record: Tied 1-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
North Carolina A&T is playing for its seventh Historically Black Colleges and Universities national title and third in four years. Alcorn State is looking for its sixth national title and first since 2014.
KEY MATCHUP
Alcorn State QB Noah Johnson vs. North Carolina A&T defense. Johnson is the SWAC offensive player of the year after throwing for 2,079 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 960 yards and nine TDs. The Aggies are second in the Football Championship Subdivision in total defense and have been one of the top units in the nation over the past seven years.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alcorn State: DB Javen Morrison leads Alcorn in interceptions for the third consecutive year. He has 10 on his career with four this season, including one in the SWAC championship game.
North Carolina A&T: RB Marquell Cartwright is a 1,000-yard rusher who has provided consistency to an offense run by injury-plagued QB Lamar Raynard.
FACTS & FIGURES
North Carolina A&T is ranked No. 1 in the HBCU poll and Alcorn State is No. 2. ... Alcorn's defense is first in the FCS in sacks per game (4.25) and tackles for a loss per game (9.3). ... Braves RB De'Shawn Waller has rushed for at least 100 yards in six of the last seven games, including a game-high 177 and three touchdowns in the SWAC championship game. ... Raynard is 34-2 as the Aggies' starting quarterback. ... The Aggies have held 54 opponents under 100 yards rushing 54 times since Sam Washington became head coach in 2011.
