Eagles Rally to Edge Norfolk State 29-28
North Carolina Central scored a 26-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left to beat Norfolk State and keep its MEAC title hopes alive.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
North Carolina Central overcame a 28-17 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Norfolk State 29-28. Jones threw a 26-yard touchdown to Wall with 27 seconds remaining to give the Eagles the win.
Why it matters
The victory keeps North Carolina Central in contention for a MEAC championship and a possible Celebration Bowl appearance. It also marks a late-game turnaround in a conference race where every result carries weight.
Gino Addison rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries, and Marco Peery missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left that would have changed the outcome. North Carolina Central's comeback came from a seven-play, 75-yard drive finished by a 7-yard Jones keeper.
The players
North Carolina Central Eagles
The North Carolina Central football program, a historically Black university team competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) under head coach Chennis Berry, who took over in 2024.
Norfolk State Spartans
The Norfolk State University football program, a member of the MEAC whose head coach Michael Vick led the team in this loss.
The details
North Carolina Central trailed 28-17 entering the fourth quarter before scoring on a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 7-yard keeper from Jones. Norfolk State fumbled late, and Deljay Bailey's fumble gave North Carolina Central the ball back before Jones connected with Wall for the decisive 26-yard touchdown.
Timeline
Norfolk State lost to Delaware State in the Battle Of The Legends last week.
North Carolina Central defeated Norfolk State on November 7, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The win positions North Carolina Central in the running for a MEAC championship and a Celebration Bowl appearance late in the season. A close conference game against Norfolk State carries weight in a league where tiebreakers and head-to-head results often decide the title.
North Carolina Central's win puts the Eagles in a stronger position for the remaining MEAC standings and tiebreaker scenarios. Fans following the conference race can track how this result affects the path to the Celebration Bowl.
The takeaway
Late-game execution decided this contest, with a fourth-quarter drive and a 27-second touchdown outweighing a 28-17 deficit. For conference races, a single late result can reshape the title picture.
What happens next
North Carolina Central will face South Carolina State next, a matchup the Eagles have not won since Chennis Berry took over in 2024.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage on Wisevoter.
