‘We’re gonna show up when lights are on’: N.C. Central wins MEAC/SWAC Challenge

North Carolina Central kicked off its 2025 season in commanding fashion, delivering a 31-14 win over Southern on Saturday in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. 

Eagles head coach Trei Oliver is 2-0 in MEAC/SWAC Challenge competition after Saturday’s win and a 23-14 win over Alcorn State in 2021.

“We’re gonna show up when the lights are on,” Oliver said. “It’s an opportunity when you have a chance to play in venues like this and those big games. I relish that, and these young men — we talked about it — not everybody has an opportunity. So we prepare, and we prepare … and thank God we’ve been able to come out on top.”

On the opening drive, North Carolina Central running back Arthur Rodgers Jr. scored the first touchdown of the HBCU football season on a 1-yard rush to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Southern responded quickly with two explosive run plays. Quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy, who transferred from Jackson State, ran 69 yards for a touchdown, and running back Trey Holly, who transferred from LSU, added an 80-yard score that briefly put the Eagles on their heels and energized the Jaguars’ sideline with a 14-10 lead.

North Carolina Central running back Chris Mosley led the charge in guiding the offense, which found its rhythm after weathering Southern’s early bursts. Mosley responded with a 49-yard rushing touchdown before halftime that swung momentum back to the Eagles. In the second half, Central’s defense took control of the game, holding Southern scoreless.

Mosley, who finished the game with 15 carries for 174 yards and one touchdown, was named the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Most Valuable Player.

“Big emphasis going into this game was start fast, discipline, execute, and just be us. Be who we are,” Mosley said. “We know we come in this game, we have weapons, great O-line. … Coming into this game, that was the main focus in that running back room, just being electric, giving those guys energy, showing them we here. We came to play.”

North Carolina Central quarterback Walker Harris completed 19 of 24 pass attempts for 183 yards and one touchdown. 

“Walker has always done a really good job of managing the game,” Oliver said. “He has a strong arm. He can place the ball.”

Southern’s rushing attack finished the game with 250 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

Despite the final score, Oliver’s postgame message made it clear he wasn’t satisfied with the Eagles’ overall effort.

“I thought we played harder in the second half. But you can’t pick and choose,” Oliver said. “Playing one-half football is what kept us out of Atlanta last year. So I’m expecting us to play four quarters of really good football. That’s the way you’re gonna be able to make it to the championship game. 

“That right there tonight was above-average performance. That ain’t gonna get us there.”

Post-game takeaways

– North Carolina Central: After losing 1,000-yard rusher J’Mari Taylor, who transferred to Virginia, Central’s biggest question coming into the Week 0 matchup was who would fill the hole at running back. Mosley answered the call. The Eagles survived Southern’s explosive runs but have some work to do on defense to prepare for their matchup against New Hampshire on Aug. 30.

– Southern: Despite taking over starting quarterback duties for the Jaguars last season, Jalen Woods didn’t earn the start in Atlanta due to disciplinary reasons, according to a source within the program. In limited action, Woods completed 4 of 5 pass attempts and showed flashes of being the best passing quarterback for the Jaguars’ offense. Once he returns as the team’s starter and is paired with Holly’s running ability, Southern has the potential to have an explosive offense that matches its defense. The Jaguars’ next matchup will be against SWAC East rival Mississippi Valley State University on Aug. 30. 

Top performers

– Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy finished the game with 98 rushing yards on nine attempts for one touchdown. Southern running back Trey Holly finished with 10 attempts for 116 yards and a touchdown.

– North Carolina Central defensive lineman Thomas Johnson recorded a team-high seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

– Southern’s Human Jukebox marching band won over the crowd with its renditions of New Edition’s “If It Isn’t Love” and “Boots on the Ground” by 803Fresh.

Post-game quotes

— North Carolina Central’s Oliver: “ I thought our offense played really well. We had a turnover early that hurt us. … But time of possession was key. That’s what really kept us in the game and settled us down in the first half. … Coach [offensive coordinator Matt Leone] made great second-half adjustments. We won first down. We won first down defensively, got into third down, and then we did a really good job getting off the field on third down.”

— Southern head coach Terrence Graves: “I’m disappointed [with] the way that we played. … We got to go and fix some things and get back to the drawing board so we can get on pace to do what we need to do. Guys played hard in spots, but the things that we could not do, we did, so we wound up paying the price for it.”