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By Hollywood standards, the script for A&T’s 2024 football season might be getting somewhat stale and predictable.
Week after week, viewers have watched a familiar plot line develop as the Aggies initially come out with a great energy and promise - only to quickly succumb to untimely turnovers and breakdowns on defense, leading to an inevitably second half collapse.
Now with just four more episodes remaining in what could be described as a tragicomedy, A&T head coach Vincent Brown is ready for a brand-new story arc.
“The third quarter has been our Achilles heel,” said Brown, whose team fell to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the Coastal Athletic Association after a 21-7 loss at Campbell last week. “Every game this season, with the exception of the Central game, we’ve been within two scores. Some games 10 points, some games seven points – but (during) the third quarter our inability to score and our inability to keep the opponent from scoring has been the difference maker.”
Against the Fighting Camels, A&T found themselves trailing 14-0 at halftime after giving up a 64-yard touchdown reception to Sincere Brown on just the third play of the game and a 7-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Mike Chandler II at the end of the first quarter.
A&T finally got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter when Justin Fomby connected with Ger-Cary Caldwell for a nine-yard touchdown pass, completing a 12 play, 95-yard scoring drive.
However, just four plays later, Campbell’s Sincere Brown was left wide open down the sideline for a 53-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead once again.
The Aggies still had several opportunities to respond afterwards, but each of their last two drives would end with back-breaking interceptions deep in Campbell territory.
Fomby, starting in his third consecutive game in place of the injured Kevin White Jr., finished with 185 yards on 20-of-40 attempts for one touchdown and the two picks.
Part of the Aggies’ problem on offense was their inability to control the line of scrimmage. Despite Campbell entering the contest with the worst run defense in the CAA, the Aggies were only able to amass 92 total yards on the ground.
The Aggies were also flagged for 10 penalties, converted just 4-of-14 attempts on third down, and saw previously rock-solid kicker Andrew Brow miss two makeable field goals from 49 and 40 yards.
“Obviously Saturday we didn’t get the results we wanted but I felt like our kids competed to the very end,” said Brown. “Ultimately the things that we talk about all the time – eliminating the things that cause you to lose games – were the things that took us down.”
This Saturday the Aggies will again be huge underdogs as they host No. 24 ranked William & Mary at Truist Stadium at 1 p.m.
The game will be a reunion for Brown and longtime friend and mentor Mike London, who is now is his sixth season as head coach of the Tribe.
Before becoming A&T’s head coach, Brown spent four years as London's defensive coordinator at William & Mary, helping the Tribe win the CAA title in 2022. He also coached under London at Howard (2017-18), Virginia (2010-13) and Richmond (2008-09).
William & Mary (5-3 overall, 2-2 CAA) will be looking to use the Aggies as a springboard for a late playoff push, after dropping two out of their last three games against CAA opponents.
The Tribe has committed 10 turnovers during that span, including a sloppy performance last week in a 35-13 road loss to Stony Brook, in which they threw four interceptions.
When they are not self-destructing on offense, William & Mary actually boasts on the best rushing attacks in FCS football, ranking first in the CAA with 257.4 yards per game and 24 rushing touchdowns.
Coach Brown knows the challenge this week will be great, but his long-term focus remains the same.
“For us, it has always been about process over outcome,“ said Brown. “Making sure we are building our processes and doing the things we need to do in the classroom and on the field to produce the desired results that we want.”
