Box Score DURHAM, N.C. - Saint Augustine's University gave a valiant effort in a 23-20 double overtime loss to North Carolina Central University in its season football opener at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013.

The Division II Falcons were on the verge of beating their first Division I opponent in school history, but the Eagles scored a touchdown in the waning seconds to force overtime. A 19-yard field goal in the second overtime lifted the Eagles to victory after both teams scored touchdowns in the first extra session.

Despite the loss, the Falcons showed why they are expected to be CIAA contenders. They displayed as much talent and toughness or more than NCCU, a former CIAA member who is now in the Football Championship Subdivision. A.J. Gilford (So./Savannah, Ga.), threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. Most of his passes went to speedy wide receiver Jermaine Jones (R-Sr./Wilmington, N.C.), who caught 11 passes for 99 yards. Brian Richards (R-Sr./Waldorf, Md.) added six receptions for 80 yards.

The offensive line opened some nice holes for tailback Roderick Davenport (So./Orangeburg, S.C.), who rushed for 94 yards on 15 carries. Many of his runs were right up the gut of the defense.

Defensively, linebacker Chaz Robinson (Sr./Hampton, Va.) was all over the field, recording a game-high 19 tackles, which is two off the school record which current assistant coach and former CIAA defensive player of the year Kevin Jones still holds. Linebacker Elijah Evans (R-So./College Park, Ga.) made a splash with 13 tackles and a sack and defensive tackle Nigel Crawford-Kinney (R-Jr./Washington, D.C.) was a force in middle, making eight tackles including three for losses. Dominique Marsh (Jr./Norfolk, Va.) was in on some big hits, collecting seven tackles and grabbing an acrobatic interception.

Picked to lose 45-0 by one football website, the Falcons were in the contest from the beginning. The Eagles (1-1), an MEAC member, broke a scoreless game with a touchdown late in the third quarter, but the Falcons answered back on the following drive. Wide receiver Herman Reaves (R-Jr./Miami, Fla.) caught a 25-yard pass from Gilford and placekicker Michael Lima (R-Jr./Miami, Fla.) booted the extra point for a 7-6 St. Aug lead.

The Falcons began the fourth quarter with a 17-play, 80-yard drive which ate up nearly seven minutes. Richards capped the drive with a six-yard grab from Gilford for a 13-6 lead. A penalty negated the successful two-point conversion and the extra point attempt failed which turned out to be crucial.

Later in the quarter, the Eagles put together a drive in the last two minutes which ended with a touchdown on fourth-and-two with 25 seconds left. The extra point tied the score at 13-13 and sent the contest into overtime.

The Falcons wasted little time in the first overtime, scoring on a 25-yard pass from Gilford to Jones on the second play. The Eagles answered with a touchdown, and the contest went into a second overtime.

The Eagles got a key interception on the Falcons' possession which almost turned into a game-ending touchdown, but a hustling LeQuinton Williams (So./Cairo, GA) tackled the runner at the SAU two-yard line to momentarily save the game. But the Eagles, coming off a big loss against Duke, clinched the win on their possession with the short field goal.

The Falcons will look to bounce back at Wingate University in Wingate, N.C., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. Game time is 2 p.m.