NC A&T, Tuskegee play on in football playoffs

Tuskegee advanced out of the first round of the NCAA Div. II playoffs for the second straight year as they knocked off Super Region II 2nd-seed Newberry 35-33 Saturday. After its 42-21 loss to North Carolina Central Saturday for the MEAC crown, North Carolina A&T (9-2) was awarded a berth in the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) field.

The 7th-seeded Golden Tigers (9-2) advance to the second round where they will play at No. 6 North Greenville. UNG (8-4) defeated the region’s 3rd-seed Florida Tech, 27-13 Saturday. Tuskegee and North Greenville now have two common opponents. The Crusaders lost to both Newberry (29-28) and UNC-Pembroike (49-35). Tuskegee has now beaten both teams including a 21-16 win over UNCP on Oct. 1.

NC A&T will play on the road vs. the Richmond Spiders (8-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday in a first round FCS playoff game. Both teams lost their final regular season game as Richmond bowed to William & Mary Saturday, 34-13. Both teams will be without their starting quarterbacks and could be starting third stringers. Richmond starter and Colonial Athletic Association player of the year candidate Kyle Lauretta injured his knee in Saturday’s loss to William & Mary and is likely to miss the game. Third stringer Jake Clise finished the game against William & Mary.

A&T starter Lamar Raynard has missed the last two games and is reportedly undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle this week. The Aggies lost second-stringer Kylil Carter early in the season. Third stringer Oluwafemi Bamiro has started the last two games for the Aggies. The teams have one common opponent, MEAC member Norfolk State. UR shutout Norfolk State 34-0 on Sept. 10. A&T also shutout the Spartans 35-0 on Oct. 6.