DURHAM, N.C. — In the final home game of his college career, North Carolina Central University senior defensive end Darius Royster recorded his conference-high ninth sack of the season and tallied a stop for a loss for the 10th straight contest, but the host Eagles fell to South Carolina State University, 24-0, on Saturday inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
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Royster finished the day with 10 takedowns and now has 16 hits for a loss and three forced fumbles on the year. NCCU safety Deonta Fair collected a game-high 14 tackles, while linebacker Jerome Foster added 10 stops.
S.C. State (7-3, 5-2 MEAC) posted 250 yards of total offense, including 208 yards on the ground. Bulldogs running back LaBron Morris accounted for a career-high 135 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
NCCU (4-7, 3-4 MEAC) was held to 170 total yards, converted just 1-of-13 on third down, and did not move the ball into the red zone. Although NCCU committed just six penalties for 53 yards, they came at significant times that hurt the Eagles.
NCCU senior punter John Pecaro launched a 70-yard punt to equal the ninth-longest punt in school history.
NCCU closes out the season at rival North Carolina A&T on Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.