J’Mari Taylor ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns and caught a pass for another score as North Carolina Central overcame a long halftime thunderstorm to defeat Alabama State 31-24 in the Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
North Carolina Central (1-0) started the game strong by driving 75 yards on 11 plays after receiving the opening kickoff. Taylor scored on a one-yard run to put the Eagles ahead 7-0. Walker Harris was perfect on this drive, completing all five of his passes for 55 yards.
Harris continued his accuracy, connecting on his first seven passes. A 34-yard pass to Joaquin Davis set up a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line, where Taylor ran in for another touchdown, making it 14-0 less than two minutes into the second quarter.
Kole Jones intercepted a Jonah O’Brien pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown, giving North Carolina Central a 21-0 lead just 53 seconds later.
AJ Gates Jr. answered for Alabama State (0-1) with an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Hornets closed the gap to 21-14 by halftime when Andrew Body capped a 10-play, 96-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown run on second-and-18.
In the second half, Kamari Houze blocked a punt, which North Carolina Central recovered on the Hornets’ 25-yard line. Harris then connected with Taylor for a 14-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 31-17 with 8:40 left.
Alabama State’s Keane Lewis blocked a punt, and the Hornets recovered it at the Eagles’ 35-yard line. Body ran 39 yards for a touchdown on fourth-and-14, making it 31-24 with 3:33 remaining.
The Hornets had a chance to tie the game with 1:39 left, but D.J. Estes intercepted O’Brien at midfield to secure the win for North Carolina Central.
Harris ended the game with 119 passing yards, despite missing 9 of his last 11 throws.
