North Carolina Central quarterback Davius Richard helped his team immensely in the short time he was on the field in the third annual HCBU Legacy Bowl.
Richard was named Offensive Most Valuable Player after keying Team Gaither's 10-6 win over Team Robinson in Saturday's all-star showcase game at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
The dual-threat QB looked poised and comfortable during the game’s opening drive. He threw two passes for 53 yards to lead the team to the red zone, where he capped off the possession with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. After getting tackled on the score, Richard was ruled out for the rest of the game.
The HBCU Legacy Bowl, which aired on NFL Network and was presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, featured the top draft-eligible prospects from HBCUs.
It was a defensive showcase after Richard’s score. Team Robinson’s Zareon Hayes (Alabama A&M) won the Defensive Most Valuable Player award thanks in part to recording four sacks. Hayes showcased his quickness and athleticism relentlessly to disrupt Team Gaither’s offense.
“Just my motor for real,” Hayes told NFL Network’s Sherree Burruss after he won the award. “I just kept my hands going, technique-wise and just get off the ball fast.”
Team Gaither kicker Jonathan Cardoza-Chicas (Delaware State) was also able to nail a 29-yarder in the first half to provide his team a 10-0 lead heading into halftime.
Team Robinson’s quarterback Jeremy Moussa (Florida A&M) eventually got the offense going in the fourth quarter. He took a hit while throwing a dart up the middle to wide receiver Lyndon Rash (Grambling State University), who snared the ball near the ground for a 28-yard touchdown to cut the score to 10-6.
However, Team Gaither rode its running game to manage the clock and secure a victory in the third chapter of the HBCU Legacy Bowl.