Welcome back to another year of our North Carolina college football Stat Champions series, where we spotlight the top statistical performers across all divisions (FBS, FCS, D2, D3 and NJCAA).
If you’re a stats-and-boxscore nerd like us, Week 1 did not disappoint:
- Three NC quarterbacks ranked among the top five nationally in passing yards.
- Seven NC running backs topped 100 rushing yards, matched by seven receivers hitting 100 receiving yards.
- Gardner-Webb QB Nate Hampton and Wingate kicker Caleb Bonesteel picked up national accolades.
- And Gardner-Webb’s wild comeback at Western Carolina set the tone for explosive offense.
Let’s dive into the numbers.
🏈 Team Stat Champions
- High Score: Gardner-Webb, 52 points vs. Western Carolina (first team this season over 50; last year’s statewide high score was 79 by UNC Pembroke).
- Total Offense: Gardner-Webb, 627 yards (335 rush, 292 pass on 90 plays, 7.0 yards/play).
- Rushing Offense: Gardner-Webb, 335 yards in comeback win over WCU.
- Passing Offense: Appalachian State, 404 yards vs. Charlotte (33-of-50, 3 TDs).
- Longest Scoring Play: East Carolina’s Jayvontay Conner, 79-yard TD catch from Katin Houser.
- Special Teams Score: Duke’s Que’Sean Brown, 78-yard punt return TD vs. Elon.
- Longest Punt: Lenoir-Rhyne’s Stewart Simmons, 67 yards at West Florida.
𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐖#EDGE | #SkoDawgs pic.twitter.com/PciHV6pA5B — Gardner-Webb Football (@GWUFootball) September 2, 2025
👑 Individual Stat Champions
Passing Leaders
- Darian Mensah (Duke): 389 yards, 3 TDs vs. Elon (ranked 3rd nationally in FBS).
- AJ Swann (App State): 368 yards, 3 TDs vs. Charlotte (4th nationally).
- Katin Houser (ECU): 366 yards, 1 TD vs. NC State (5th nationally).
- CJ Bailey (NC State): 318 yards, 1 TD vs. ECU (tied for 10th nationally).
Rushing Leaders
- Patrick Boyd (WCU): 145 yards, 1 TD vs. Gardner-Webb.
- Nate Hampton (GWU QB): 140 yards, 4 rushing TDs in comeback win.
- Kevin Lalin (Catawba): 132 yards vs. Ferrum.
Receiving Leaders
- Brian Lane (Johnson C. Smith): 6 catches, 163 yards, 1 TD (72-yard grab).
- Jaden Barnes (App State): 6 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD.
- Wesley Grimes (NC State): 4 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD.
Defensive Leaders
- Tackles: Hayward McQueen Jr. (WCU), 15 stops (8 solo); Danny Felix (Shaw), 14 stops (11 solo)
- Tackles for Loss: Kenyon Garner (Livingstone) and Evan Simons (Catawba) — 4.0 each.
- Interceptions: Elijah Wilson (Johnson C. Smith), 2 picks vs. Morehouse.
Special Teams
- National Honor: Caleb Bonesteel (Wingate), 12 points (3 FGs from 40+, 3 PATs), D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Top Punter: Brady Braun (GWU), 54.0-yard average on two punts.
🚨 Closing Note
Each week, NC Football News will spotlight the state’s Stat Champions — the top performers in every category. We’ll also keep a running tab of the best single-game efforts all season long on our Stat Champions Hub page (that page coming after Week 2).
