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Durham: NCCU shuts out Howard 34-0, stays unbeaten in MEAC

North Carolina Central won 34-0 at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Saturday. Joshua Jones accounted for three scores. NCCU is 4-5 (2-0 MEAC).

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Staff · Published

The downtown Durham skyline under an overcast sky

File photo: Discover Durham (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • North Carolina Central beat Howard 34-0 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap, schedule and 2026 cumulative statistics; Howard Athletics recap
  • The line score was Howard 0-0-0-0 and NCCU 0-13-7-14.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap; Howard Athletics recap
  • After the game, NCCU is 4-5 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC. Howard is 4-5 and 1-1.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap and schedule; Howard Athletics recap
  • Riley Daniels made field goals of 21 and 29 yards in the second quarter. Nelson Layne threw a 20-yard touchdown to Tyree Saunders before halftime.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap scoring summary
  • Joshua Jones threw an 88-yard touchdown to Mehki Wall in the third quarter, a 3-yard touchdown to Reginald Lancaster in the fourth, and ran 22 yards for another score. The recap lists Jones with 189 passing yards and three total touchdowns.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap scoring summary and game notes; NCCU Athletics 2026 cumulative statistics for Jones' 189 yards and Wall and Lancaster as the listed receivers
  • NCCU held Howard to 114 total yards, with two interceptions and three sacks. The official cumulative statistics list Howard at 70 rushing yards and 44 passing yards, 12 of 29 with two interceptions.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap; NCCU Athletics 2026 cumulative statistics; Howard Athletics recap for the 114-yard total and two interceptions
  • NCCU next plays at Norfolk State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon. The recap lists the game on ESPN+.Confirmed by NCCU Athletics recap and 2026 football schedule

What happened

North Carolina Central beat Howard 34-0 on Saturday at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.

The Eagles are 4-5 overall and 2-0 in the MEAC. Howard is 4-5 and 1-1. Those records are on NCCU's recap, its schedule, and Howard's recap.

How the scoring went

Riley Daniels made kicks of 21 and 29 yards in the second quarter. Nelson Layne then threw 20 yards to Tyree Saunders, 13-0 at the half.

Joshua Jones entered after the break and hit Mehki Wall on an 88-yard catch-and-run, 20-0. Jones later threw a 3-yard score to Reginald Lancaster and ran 22 yards himself, 34-0.

NCCU's write-up and the official season statistics both list Jones with 189 passing yards and three total touchdowns.

The defense

NCCU held Howard to 114 yards. Both campus write-ups use that figure. The Eagles recorded two interceptions and, per NCCU, three sacks. The official cumulative table lists Howard at 70 yards on the ground and 44 through the air, 12 of 29 with two interceptions.

Attendance on that table was 5,932.

What's next

NCCU plays at Norfolk State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon. That date is on the live schedule. The Eagles' recap lists ESPN+.

This site is not NCCU Athletics.

Photos

Text-only. No athletics or outlet photos are used here.

Why it matters

NCCU is Durham's FCS football program. Saturday's shutout kept the Eagles unbeaten in MEAC play.

Sources

  1. Eagles Shut Out Bison to Remain Undefeated in the MEAC (game recap: 34-0 at O'Kelly-Riddick; 4-5, 2-0 MEAC and 4-5, 1-1; Daniels 21 and 29; Layne to Saunders 20 yards; Jones to Wall 88 yards and Lancaster 3 yards; Jones 22-yard run, 189 passing yards, three total scores; Howard 114 yards, two interceptions, three sacks; Norfolk State Nov. 7, noon, ESPN+)

    Official sourcePublished by NCCU Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 8:24 PM

  2. 2026 Football Schedule (Howard W, 34-0; 4-5, 2-0 MEAC; at Norfolk State, Nov. 7, 12 p.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by NCCU Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 8:24 PM

  3. 2026 Football Cumulative Statistics (vs Howard W, 34-0; attendance 5,932; team 472-114; Howard 26-70 rushing, 12-29-2 passing for 44 yards; Jones 189; Wall,Mehki 88-yard score; Lancaster,Reginald 3-yard score)

    Official sourcePublished by NCCU Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 8:24 PM

  4. Football Falls on the Road at NCCU (Howard Athletics recap: 34-0 at O'Kelly-Riddick; 4-5, 1-1 MEAC and 4-5, 2-0; Saunders 20-yard catch from Layne; Howard 114 total yards and two interceptions)

    Official sourcePublished by Howard Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 8:24 PM

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