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A&T’s football program has shown marked improvement over the past two weeks, but first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs is now eager for that growth to be reflected in the win column.
Last Saturday in their 34-38 loss at William & Mary, the Aggies squandered a double-digit lead late in the second half and saw their potential game-winning touchdown drive end at the Tribe’s 3-yard line.
Despite entering the contest as huge underdogs, A&T dominated the time of possession and had twice as many first downs as William & Mary before faltering late due to some costly big plays.
The Aggies appeared poised for their second conference win of the season but a series of crucial meltdowns on defense and special teams led to the Tribe scoring the final 17 points of the game.
“Obviously, that was a tough loss. I feel like we let one get away,“ said Gibbs who saw his team’s record fall to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association. “I take full responsibility for the way we finished the game. I feel like our players fought. They competed and they put us in position to win, but ultimately we didn’t close it out and that falls on me.”
His patience appeared to be wearing thin on Monday during his weekly press conference, when Gibbs gave just one-word answers to several questions from the media.
When asked why starting quarterback Kevin White Jr. took snaps under center during the Aggies’ final possession near the goal line after operating in the shotgun for the majority of the game, the normally effusive Gibbs was in no mood to elaborate.
“I don’t know,” he said bluntly.
After driving 72 yards down the field to William & Mary’s 9-yard line, White and the Aggies faced first down and goal with 5:18 left on the clock. But after three straight runs by Wesley Graves netted only six yards, White was sacked for a two-yard loss on fourth down to end the drive.
White threw for more than 200 yards for the third straight game, completing 20-of-28 attempts for 225 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against the Tribe.
His emergence at QB1 over the past three weeks has been a stabilizing force for the A&T offense which has averaged 28 points and 341.3 yards per contest during that span.
A&T will certainly need White’s calming presence behind center this weekend as it prepares for the cultural phenomenon known as the Greatest Homecoming on Earth. This year over 150,000 alumni and supporters are expected to be in Greensboro for a week of celebration, fellowship and, of course, football.
This Saturday, A&T will be hosting longtime HBCU rival and former MEAC conference foe South Carolina State at 1 p.m. at Truist Stadium in a contest that has been sold out since early August.
The Bulldogs enter this year’s matchup with a 3-3 overall record, having most recently routed Division II Savannah State last week, 49-6.
Led by second year head coach Chennis Berry – a former assistant at A&T more than a decade ago – the Bulldogs boast a bend-but-not break defense and an explosive passing attack on offense.
Last year A&T traveled down to Orangeburg to face SCSU, losing 45-24.
“I think Coach Berry and his staff have created an excellent culture down there,” said Gibbs. “They have a winning program and they play the game the right way.”
Graduate transfer quarterback Ryan Stubblefield leads the Bulldogs offense with 988 yards passing, nine total touchdowns and just one interception in six games.
His primary receiver is Jalen Johnson who currently ranks second in the MEAC in 377 receiving yards and one touchdown, while averaging 5.0 catches and 61.4 yards per game.
A&T will be looking for its first Homecoming win since a memorable come-from-behind victory against Campbell in 2022.
“This week, like every other week this year, will be a challenge for us,” said Gibbs. “But I think our guys have been getting, been practicing better – and after another great week of practice that we expect to have, we’ll be ready to go out and compete on Saturday.”
