NC Central claims conference title, beats NC A&T 42-21

DURHAM, N.C. -- Malcolm Bell accounted for 315 total yards as North Carolina Central beat North Carolina A&T 42-21 to claim its third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship on Saturday. North Carolina Central faces the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 at the Georgia Dome. This is the third straight year that NC Central and NC A&T met to decide the conference champion. Bell threw for 184 yards and one score and rushed 16 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns for North Carolina Central (9-2, 8-0). Both teams entered the contest undefeated in conference play, but the Eagles jumped to a 28-7 third quarter lead and coasted to the conference title. Dorrel McClain ran for 109 yards, scoring three times, for the Eagles. Elijah Bell led the Aggies (9-2, 7-1), rushing for 104 yards.