By Judaea Ingram
Special To The Carolinian
DURHAM, N.C. — Plez Lawrence had heard about the Aggie-Eagle rivalry. On Saturday, he finally experienced it.
The North Carolina Central University running back, playing in his first Aggie-Eagle Classic, delivered a performance worthy of the rivalry. Lawrence rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns as NCCU defeated North Carolina A&T 30-22 in the 98th meeting between the two programs. But for Lawrence, his first experience with the rivalry was about more than his numbers.
“It’s amazing, over 1,000 people here, biggest rivalry I have been a part of and you can feel it,” Lawrence said. “You felt it the whole week. It was a great experience, just to experience this. I have never experienced this before.”
Lawrence's performance helped the Eagles extend their winning streak against the Aggies to five games, but the path to victory was far from easy.
NCCU jumped out to a 10-0 lead before A&T answered. Lawrence later broke loose for a 73-yard touchdown run, helping the Eagles take a 23-14 lead into halftime.
Then the weather arrived.
A 1-hour, 41-minute rain delay interrupted the game, adding another layer of adversity to an already physical rivalry. Both teams also dealt with injuries as the game continued.
A&T continued to push after play resumed, cutting NCCU's lead to eight points late in the fourth quarter. The Aggies eventually reached the Eagles' 5-yard line with seconds remaining, putting the outcome in doubt.
NCCU's defense responded with its biggest play of the afternoon. Defensive back Jakarri Martin II intercepted A&T quarterback Kevin White in the end zone to seal the victory.
For head coach Trei Oliver, the final defensive stand reflected the resilience his team showed throughout the afternoon. “The guys kept fighting,” Oliver said. “That was a heck of a ball game and you know you face a lot of adversity with the rain delay, had a couple of guys injured, banged up. They made a couple of plays and we had our backs against the wall and our guys continued to fight.”
That fight became especially important as A&T attempted to erase what had been a 16-point deficit. “We made a play when we had to and we won the game,” Oliver said.
The victory continued a recent run of success for NCCU in the rivalry. The Eagles have now won five consecutive meetings against A&T, giving Oliver an undefeated record against the Aggies since taking over as NCCU's head coach.
For NCCU's players, however, preparation for the game began well before Saturday. Quarterback Nelson Layne, who made his first start in the rivalry, said the team understood the importance of the matchup throughout the week.
“We prepared and knew what was at stake,” Layne said. “We know it is a rivalry, we know the intensity of the game, and we practiced that way.”
The Aggie-Eagle Classic is one of the most established rivalries in HBCU football. The annual matchup brings together two of North Carolina's largest HBCUs and creates an atmosphere that extends beyond the players on the field.
For students and alumni, the game is an opportunity to represent their schools. For the athletes, it is a chance to participate in a tradition that predates their college careers.
Lawrence was one of those athletes experiencing the tradition for the first time.
The Indiana State transfer quickly became one of the game's defining players. His 210 rushing yards marked NCCU's first 200-yard rushing performance since J'Mari Taylor ran for 206 yards against Howard in 2024.
But Lawrence's biggest takeaway from his first Aggie-Eagle Classic was not a statistic. It was the atmosphere.
“It’s amazing,” Lawrence said. “Biggest rivalry I have been a part of and you can feel it.”
The feeling was not limited to game day. Lawrence said the intensity surrounding the matchup was noticeable throughout the week, giving him a new perspective on what the rivalry means to NCCU.
For a player experiencing the game for the first time, Saturday offered an introduction to one of the defining traditions of North Carolina HBCU football. And for the Eagles, it ended with another victory.
The win gives NCCU five straight victories over A&T and another chapter in a rivalry that has produced nearly a century of competition.
Next season, the two programs are scheduled to meet in Charlotte as part of the Duke's Mayo Classic.
For Lawrence, Saturday's game provided his first taste of the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
Judging by his reaction, it will not be one he forgets.
“It was a great experience, just to experience this,” Lawrence said. “I have never experienced this before.”
