NC A&T clinches MEAC crown, shuts out NC Central, 45-0

DURHAM, N.C. -- Lamar Raynard threw for two touchdowns and Marquell Cartwright ran for two more as North Carolina A&T shut out North Carolina Central Saturday afternoon to claim the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. With Florida A&M falling to Bethune-Cookman, 33-19, the Aggies (9-2, 6-1) earned their fourth title in the last five years and their third Air Force Celebration Bowl bid in four years. Raynard threw 4 yards to Elijah Bell in the first quarter and Cartwright dashed 35 yards for a score to give the Aggies a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Cartwright punched in from the 1 early in the third quarter and Raynard hit Bell from 24 yards out to make it 38-0. Raynard was 16 of 23 for 257 yards passing. Cartwright had 20 carries for 110 yards and Bell pulled in 10 passes for 122 yards.