The first bowl game of the season pitted SWAC champion Alcorn State against MEAC champion North Carolina A&T in the Air Force reserve Celebration Bowl, and if the first quarter of that game is any indication, we’re in for a heck of a bowl season.
It started when North Carolina A&T’s Khris Gardin took a punt 74 yards to the house to put the Aggies on the board first. It also gave Gardin the record for FCS punt returns in a season with four.
Bowl season is here! NCAT with a 74yd punt return by Khris Gardin! #CelebrationBowl pic.twitter.com/6a7tlA1gLe
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 19, 2015
Not to be outdone, Alcorn State’s Anthony Williams Jr. took back a punt of his own 84 yards just minutes later.
If you like punt returns for TDs, the Celebration Bowl is right for you. Make that 2 in 1st Qtr. https://t.co/HapSe7ebFq
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 19, 2015
A converted extra point would have tied the game but it didn’t go all that smoothly for the Braves.
Not sure what Alcorn State was trying on the PAT but it didn't work: #CelebrationBowl https://t.co/0CjzkmSUCu
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 19, 2015
Using his team’s momentum from the stopped PAT, Tarik Cohen came back with not one, but two long touchdowns to put North Carolina A&T up 21-6.
First was this dazzling run that he took 74 yards to the house.
NC A&T football right now: we only do highlights. #AggiePride pic.twitter.com/eNzu5GitfJ
— SportsChannel8 (@SportsChannel8) December 19, 2015
Just four minutes later, Cohen was at it again, this time bursting up the seam for an 83-yard score.
Cohen does it again Video – via @ESPN App https://t.co/26TTZk9UNa
— Matt S Duncan (@Matt_S_Duncan) December 19, 2015
In the first quarter alone, Cohen had 166 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries, as the Aggies held a 15 point lead in one of the more exciting quarters you’ll see in college football all season.
Bowl season is great.
