ATLANTA -- Grambling State seized the opportunity when North Carolina Centrals Quentin Atkinson celebrated too much in the Celebration Bowl.Grambling State blocked an extra-point kick set back 15 yards by Atkinsons excessive celebration with just over two minutes left, holding off North Carolina Central 10-9 on Saturday in the bowl that decides bragging rights for historically black colleges and universities.Joseph McWilliams surged in and swatted Brandon McLarens 35-yard try with 2:14 remaining to preserve the Tigers edge.Down 10-3, the Eagles had a chance to pull even after Atkinson shook loose and caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from scrambling Malcolm Bell. But Atkinson took off his helmet while reveling with the crowd, drawing a personal foul penalty.I kind of felt fault for that, Atkinson said. I do want to apologize to my team for that because that was a selfish act. Im not selfish, but it was the heat of the moment and I was excited to bring the team back with an outstanding play.Bell called Atkinsons mistake kind of a bonehead play but said the team also was hurt by other mistakes in the game.North Carolina Central coach Jerry Mack said the longer extra point still should have been made if not for a missed block on McWilliams.Martez Carters 32-yard touchdown run to open the second half gave Grambling State (11-1) its first lead. The Tigers earned the bowl bid by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.The Eagles (9-3) won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in Macks third year.Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Grambling State opened the third quarter with a run-first plan. Following five power runs by 240-pound running back Jestin Kelly, the 175-pound Carter looked extra-quick on his sharp cuts through the line on his touchdown run.Jestin Kelly, hes a ground-and-pound type guy, Carter said. He wore those guys down. Im just a home-run hitter, man. He wore them down and then they put me in. What else are you going to do? You take those blows from him and then try to take me.Carter had 109 yards rushing, two catches for 23 yards and a combined 71 yards on four punt and kickoff returns. He was named offensive MVP. Kelly added 65 yards rushing.The Tigers threw only one play-action pass for a short gain on the touchdown drive.Grambling States defense later set up more points. Arkez Cooper sacked Bell, forcing a fumble recovered by Malcolm Williams at the Eagles 25. The turnover set up a 26-yard field goal by Jonathan Wallace.McLarens 23-yard field goal provided the only points of the first half.THE TAKEAWAYGrambling State: The Tigers placed a cap on their continued strong progress made in three years under coach Broderick Fobbs, who won seven and nine games, respectively, in his first two years. Fobbs, who played for former coach Eddie Robinson, showed on the national stage the program has returned to prominence as a force among historically black colleges.North Carolina Central: Despite being a two-touchdown underdog, the Eagles played even with Grambling State, posting a shutout in the first half.QB NUMBERSBell completed 18 of 32 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He had several passes dropped, including a would-be touchdown catch by Atkinson in the first half. Devante Kincade completed 15 of 31 passes for 149 yards with an interception for Grambling State.HERE TO STAYBoth coaches praised the second-year Celebration Bowl as the more attractive alternative to a possible spot in the FCS playoffs.It exceeded all expectations, Fobbs said. This deal is here to stay.Added Mack: The way weve been treated ... I would rather come back to this game next year.UP NEXTGrambling State: The Tigers will return a good talent base, including Kincade, as they try to defend their SWAC championship. Theyll need to replace six starters on offense and 10 overall. Key losses from the defense include noseguard Blain Winston and leading tacklers Guy Stallworth and Cooper.North Carolina Central: The Eagles must replace nine senior starters, including six on offense, as they look to defend their MEAC championship. Freshman Naiil Ramadan was listed as the top backup to Bell at quarterback. The Eagles also lose four of their five starting offensive linemen, with only left tackle Nick Leverett returning. The Eagles have not released their 2017 schedule.---More AP college football:
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https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Eric Jamison scored 18 points and Gardner-Webb rolled past Toccoa Falls 103-53 on Tuesday.Jamison and Jamaal Robateau each made four 3-pointers with Robateau finishing with 15 points. Laquincy Rideau added 12 points and seven rebounds and Tyrell Nelson and David Efianayi scored 10 points each for the Runnin Bulldogs (2-3).Gardner-Webb shot 59.2 percent from the floor, including 11 of 24 from 3-point range, outrebounded Toccoa Falls 47-23, scored 19 points off 15 turnovers and dominated points in the paint, 58-6.ddddddddddddJovan Morris and Cameron Williams scored 14 points each for the Screaming Eagles, a National Christian College Athletic Association team which played the game as an exhibition.Gardner-Webb has now reached 100 points in games against Toccoa Falls for three straight seasons.The Runnin Bulldogs scored the games first eight points and led thereafter, leading 56-27 at halftime. ' ' '
