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The beginning ended up being the end.
North Carolina A&T concludes the 2018 HBCU football season where it began as the No. 1 team in both the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls following its victory over Alcorn State on Saturday in the Celebration Bowl. The Aggies received every first place vote.
This is Sam Washington’s first national championship as head coach at A&T in his first season. Washington was named BOXTOROW Coach of the Year last week. The Aggies also won the national championship in 2015 and 2017. Washington was the defensive coordinator on both of those teams.
“It’s important to our program to play in the postseason. It is cream on top when you win in the postseason and you win in a bowl game such as the Celebration Bowl,” said Washington. “It is a well deserved honor for this program and these young men. We fought through a lot of adversity this year.
“The rewards of winning that type of game extend to other honors like winning the BOXTOROW title again. BOXTOROW does an excellent job of highlighting black college football, so we’re proud to have this honor.”
Alcorn State finished second and SWAC runner up Southern finished third.
A&T set atop the polls the majority of the season with the exception of two weeks, after losses to Morgan State and Florida A&M. The Aggies never fell below No. 2 and regained the top spot for good in Week 10 with a win over Norfolk State, coupled by then No. 1 Florida A&M’s loss to Howard.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll and the media poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
BOXTOROW National Football Champions (Coaches) Year-by-Year
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2011 Norfolk State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
BOXTOROW National Football Champions (Media) Year-by-Year
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Winston-Salem State
2011 Winston-Salem State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
2008 Grambling
2007 Tuskegee
2018 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Final
(Records through December 15, 2018)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (20) | 10-2 | 200 | 1 |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 9-4 | 180 | 2 |
| 3 | Southern | 7-4 | 159 | 3 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 7-5 | 140 | 4 |
| 5 | Grambling | 6-5 | 115 | 5 |
| 6 | Hampton | 7-3 | 92 | 6 |
| 7 | Alabama A&M | 6-5 | 76 | 7 |
| 8 | Florida A&M | 6-5 | 73 | 8 |
| 9 | Jackson State | 5-5 | 43 | 9 |
| 10 | Prairie View A&M | 5-6 | 18 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: South Carolina State (5-6) 2, North Carolina Central (5-6) 1, Tennessee State (4-5) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2018 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Final
(Records through December 15, 2018)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (16) | 10-2 | 160 | 1 |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 9-4 | 143 | 2 |
| 3 | Southern | 7-4 | 122 | 3 |
| 4 | Bowie State | 10-3 | 115 | 4 |
| 5 | Grambling | 6-5 | 88 | 5 |
| 6 | Virginia Union | 8-2 | 81 | 6 |
| 7 | Bethune=Cookman | 7-5 | 66 | 7 |
| 8 | Hampton | 7-3 | 50 | 8 |
| 9 | Florida A&M | 6-5 | 26 | 9 |
| 10 | Langston | 9-2 | 18 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: Albany State (7-4) 8, Morehouse (7-3) 2, Miles
(5-6) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)