The 102nd Aggie Eagle Basic goes down this Saturday in Durham, North Carolina. That is the primary time the HBCU soccer rivals have matched up in Durham since 2018. North Carolina Central College (NCCU) versus North Carolina A&T is one among, if not the most important rivalry in HBCU Sports activities, particularly in soccer. The 2024 version of the Basic is bound to be thrilling this yr with all the new faces for each faculties this season.
North Carolina Central is seeking to proceed its two-game win streak over the Aggies, however this yr they’ll should do it with a brand new quarterback within the command of the offense. Walker Harris is the brand new beginning quarterback for the NCCU Eagles and has the staff sitting at present at a 1-2 document. Harris was injured through the Eagles matchup in opposition to UNC and has been listed as day-to-day by NCCU HC Trei Oliver.
The Eagles’ two losses have come from an FCS-ranked Elon staff of the CAA Convention and the UNC Tar Heels of the ACC. NCCU soccer’s solely win got here in opposition to Alabama State within the Orange Blossom Basic, the staff picked within the preseason to win the SWAC in 2024.
The Aggies want to come into O’Kelly-Reddick Stadium and finish its present shedding streak to the Eagles. That is the primary matchup at O’Kelly-Reddick stadium in Durham, NC since 2018, the place the Aggies put up a dominating 45-0 win.
The Aggies and Eagles have each confronted ACC opponents of their 2024 nonconference schedule, with each faculties having promising takeaways from their matchups with big-time FBS faculties. North Carolina A&T took a visit to Wake Forest for its season opener and confirmed glimpses of what their offense might be. The Aggies confirmed as much as Winston-Salem with a stable run recreation and moved the road of scrimmage up entrance, creating holes for his or her proficient backfield of Kenji Christian and Wesley Graves. The North Carolina A&T protection additionally confirmed indicators of with the ability to cease the run recreation whereas making performs on the ball within the air as properly.
The Eagles took on a unique ACC opponent, the UNC Tar Heels, taking a visit to Chapel Hill, NC, and giving UNC all it may deal with for 3 quarters. The Eagles and their new beginning quarterback Walker Harris got here out early and proved they may transfer the ball by way of the air. Whereas additionally transferring the chains with the run recreation and scoring a landing on the bottom on the primary possession of the sport, enjoying the Tar Heels shut till the 6-minute mark within the 4th quarter. The Eagles had solely allowed 17 factors in a one-possession recreation with 3 minutes left within the third when UNC was in a position to determine the NCCU schemes on offense and began firing beneath all cylinders, scoring 28 factors within the fourth quarter.
Each faculties have proven indicators of enchancment that ought to make for an incredible HBCU soccer matchup on Saturday, Sept. 21 within the 102nd Aggie Eagle Basic at 7 pm.
