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Just when it appeared that the A&T football program was slowly starting to build more consistency and finally learning how to win, the Aggies took a major step backwards last Saturday with an ugly 42-14 road loss at Campbell.
Seven days after showing true grit in a late comeback attempt against archrival North Carolina Central, the Aggies looked unprepared, outclassed and unmotivated all night against the Fighting Camels.
In what was the Coastal Athletic Association opener for both universities, Campbell dominated the line of scrimmage - racking up 574 yards of total offense and holding A&T to just 37 yards rushing.
Senior quarterback Kamden Sixkiller threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns, connecting on 23-of-25 passes with just one interception. Afterwards, he was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
It was yet another embarrassing defeat for an Aggie program that has experienced its fair share of futility in recent years. Since joining the CAA in 2023, A&T has compiled an overall record of 4-35 on the football field and a conference record of 2-23.
“We did not play anywhere close to our standard,” said A&T head coach Shawn Gibbs who saw his team fall to 0-4 on the season and 0-1 in CAA play. “It’s my responsibility to get our guys playing up to the standard and I’ve got to get us to understand somehow, some way how to play winning football. I haven’t done that.”
The good news is that A&T will finally return home this Saturday after spending the last three weeks on the road. The bad news is that they will host a Rhode Island team that is one of the top programs in the conference and is currently ranked 21st in the FCS coaches' poll.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. for what has been designated as A&T’s Sports Hall of Fame Game.
The Rams enter with a 2-2 record on the season and are coming off a surprise 56-24 loss at Stony Brook, which snapped their 11-game CAA winning streak. In that contest, Rhode Island allowed 519 yards of total offense and gave up a combined seven rushing touchdowns.
However, it is uncertain if A&T will be able to replicate Stony Brook’s success when facing what is sure to be a motivated Rhode Island squad.
A&T currently ranks dead last in the CAA in scoring offense, averaging just 13.3 points per game.
Adding injury to insult, A&T lost yet another starting quarterback last week against Campbell when redshirt junior Kevin White left midway through the second half with an apparent concussion. He was replaced by third string quarterback Champ Long, who completed 13-of-21 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
On Monday it was announced that White was still in the concussion protocol and, depending on his progress, Long could earn another start this Saturday against Rhode Island.
A&T previously had to shuffle its depth chart at quarterback three weeks ago when Braxton Thomas, who entered the season as the No. 1 starter, suffered a season-ending knee injury against Georgia State on the Aggie’s opening drive.
Defensively, the Aggies also rank at the very bottom of the 13-team CAA standings, allowing 445.5 yards per contest.
Although Saturday’s contest will mark just the 17th game in Gibb’s return to Aggieland, his seat already appears to be warming. He was brought in to rebuild a once -dominant football program, while finding a way to compete in a conference in which the majority of opponents have much greater resources.
So far that hasn’t happened, but to his credit, Gibbs continues to take personal responsibility for A&T’s struggles.
“Football at its core is a simple game,” said Gibbs. “It comes down to blocking and tackling, and we’ve got to do a better job at both. You know, 37 yards rushing and giving up five sacks – that’s not a good job of blocking. So, I have to get us playing better up front. Defensively, we had 30-plus missed tackles. That’s not a formula for winning football, so I have to make sure I’m getting them in position to make tackles and teaching them the proper fundamentals to execute to tackles.
”Overall, I’ve got to do a better job of getting us prepared and playing at the level that we’re capable of. But I still believe, and I’m never going to stop believing, that we’re close.”
