2015 Celebration Bowl
2015 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inaugural Celebration Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Date | December 19, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | Nielsen ratings 1.89 ( viewers)[2] | | |||||||||||||||||
The 2015 Celebration Bowl (officially known as the 2015 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl) was a post-season American
The game kicked off at 12:00 PM (
22nd ranked North Carolina A&T won the game, beating Alcorn State by the score of 41–34, claiming the 2015 Black college football national championship before an announced crowd of 35,528.[3]
Teams
The participants for the Celebration Bowl game are based upon the final regular season standings which determine the MEAC football champion and the
North Carolina A&T
The North Carolina A&T Aggies entered the season ranked 2nd in both the Sheridan & BoxtoRow polls behind defending National champions Alcorn State. Along with the other four teams that earned a share of the previous years' conference title, the Aggies were favored to win the MEAC championship.[4]
NC A&T played its home opener and first game of the season against Division II Shaw Bears. The Aggies Held the Bears to 44 yards on the ground in 30 attempts in their 61–7 victory over Shaw.
The Aggies went into the season finale facing Arch Rival North Carolina Central with Championship and postseason implications. A&T lost to NCCU 16–21 after a failed two-point conversion attempt late in the 4th quarter left the Aggies needing a touchdown to win. On the final play of the game NCCU's Richard Mitchell sack finalized NCCU securing a second straight victory over A&T and preventing the Aggie sole ownership of the MEAC championship.[12] The loss to the Eagles, coupled with Bethune-Cookman's victory over rival Florida A&M at the Florida Classic, created a 3-way tie and put the conference in a tiebreaker scenario for postseason play. By virtue of the MEAC's Tiebreaker system, A&T was awarded the postseason berth over Bethune-Cookman due to the Sagarian ratings for both teams. North Carolina Central was eliminated as their 0 non-conference FCS division wins removed them from consideration.
Alcorn State
Alcorn State, the 2014 Black College Football National Champions, entered the season ranked #1 in both the Shaeridan and BoxtoRow preseason polls.[13] Alcorn was also selected to win the 2015 SWAC Eastern Division championship.
The Braves played their first game of the season on the road against #16
Pregame Buildup
Pregame media coverage of the game focused on the creation of the new bowl game, and the opportunity afforded by this game to the
Game summary
Scoring summary
Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Statistics
Statistics[14] | Alcorn | NCAT |
---|---|---|
First Downs | 19 | 18 |
Total offense, plays – yards | 71–260 | 65–543 |
Rushes-yards (net) | 32–104 | 42–366 |
Passing yards (net) | 156 | 177 |
Passes, Comp-Att-Int | 16 – 39 – 1 | 13 – 23 – 1 |
Time of Possession | 27:27 | 21:33 |
A&T's Running Back Tarik Cohen and Defensive Inside Linebacker Denzel Jones were named offensive and defensive most valuable players. Cohen rushed for 295 yards for 3 touchdowns while Jones had 7 tackles and 1 interception.[14]
A&T outgained Alcorn 543–260 in total yards, which was the most the Aggies have compiled in the five-year Broadway era and a season low for the Braves.[15]
Alcorn's leading receiver was Tollette George, who had 6 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. Charles Hughes was Alcorn's second leading receiver, catching 4 passes for 51 yards and 0 touchdowns. The Braves's leading rusher was Quarterback Lenorr. Footman, who ran for 62 yards on 12 carries.[14]
North Carolina A&T's leading receiver was Khris Gardin. Gardin who specializes in punt returns, caught 3 passes for 26 yards and 0 touchdowns. Denzel Keyes was the Aggies second leading receiver, catching 3 passes for 18 yards. Tarik Cohen led the team in rushing, rushing for 295 yards on 22 carries and 3 touchdowns.[14]
Related events
- Source: ESPN[16]
- Team Introduction Press Conference, December 10, 2015
- Goodie Hack @ Celebration Bowl, December 16, 2015
- Celebration Bowl Champions Dinner, December 17, 2015
- College Fair, Sponsored by the US Army, December 18, 2015
- Robotics Showcase and Invitational Day 1, Presented by Georgia Power & the US Army, December 18–19, 2015
- The 100 Black Men of Atlanta Celebration Bowl Welcome Event, December 18, 2015
- Celebration Bowl Fan Fest, December 19, 2015
- MEAC vs. SWAC Kickoff, December 19, 2015
- 5th Quarter Post-Game Battle of the Bands, December 19, 2015
References
- ^ "Alcorn vs NC A&T Scoring Summary" (PDF). ncataggies.com. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "SKEDBALL:Weekend Sports TV Ratings 12.19–20.2015". showbuzzdaily.com. Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ^ "5 observations from the Celebration Bowl". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "A&T Picked To Win MEAC, Cohen Named Preseason POTY". North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Department of Athletics. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cohen Runs for 2 Scores as North Carolina A&T Tops Shaw 61–7". ESPN. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Gardin's Punt Returns Help A&T Beat Hampton". North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Department of Athletics. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- ^ "NCAT vs Bethune-Cookman Fact Sheet" (PDF). North Carolina A&T Aggies. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ "A&T Seeks Greatness At Greatest Homecoming". North Carolina A&T Aggies. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ^ "Bizarre Finish Leaves A&T Undefeated In MEAC". North Carolina A&T Aggies. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "Aggies Go Back-To-Back, Back-To-Back". North Carolina A&T Aggies. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ "Carter accounts for 3 TDs; NC A&T beats Delaware State 27–6". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ "Aggies Share Title After Loss To NCCU". North Carolina A&T Aggies. NCAT Sports Information. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ "Alcorn State No. 1 In BoxToRow Preseason Poll". www.hbcusports.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Alcorn vs NC A&T Scoring Summary" (PDF). North Carolina A&T Aggies. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Aggies Win HBCU National Championship". North Carolina A&T Aggies. NC A&T Sports Information. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "Celebration Bowl Schedule". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.