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Fabulous 14: North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne hold on to top spots; WCU, NCCU move up

Tar Heels, Bears remain unbeaten; Catamounts, Eagles hold 5-1 marks

Published

October 10, 2023

North Carolina (right) and Lenoir-Rhyne remain as the last unbeatens in the North Carolina college football landscape. Photos courtesy of UNC and LR athletics.

The cream is definitely rising to the top as the college football season reaches the halfway point.

The top four teams in this week’s Fabulous 14 rankings, especially, have been working magic in recent weeks and separating themselves for the rest of the pack. Has anyone from our state been playing better as of late than North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne, North Carolina Central and Western Carolina?

Lenoir-Rhyne and Western got pushed to the brink in road games Saturday but lived to tell the tale. Both trailed late in the fourth quarter. Both made huge turn-the-tide plays. Both won in walk-off fashion thanks to their field-goal kickers.

NC Central trailed 10-0 early at Elon but put together maybe its most impressive win since beating Jackson State in last year’s Celebration Bowl. North Carolina outgained Syracuse 644-221 in a game that never seemed in doubt. Stars shining brightly.

We’ll see what Duke is made of this week as the Devils try to bounce back from their first loss, facing an NC State team that has discovered some offensive pep.

A shout out to Fayetteville State, which has won four in a row since starting 0-2, as well as Wingate and Brevard, which have three-game winning streaks going. Fayetteville State and Brevard make their first appearances in the Fabulous 14 this season.

Here’s the complete list (scroll below graphic for more):

14. Brevard Tornados (3-3, 3-0 USA South) | D3

Saturday Result: Beat Southern Virginia 49-28

Next Game: Saturday at Methodist

The ‘Nados have been on a hot streak since starting 0-3, averaging 40 points a game against conference foes and jumping to the top of the USA South standings. Quarterback Ethan Beamish has 13 touchdown passes, among the state leaders across all divisions. The next two games look winnable, setting up possible league title implications over the final two weeks.

13. Fayetteville State Broncos (4-2, 4-0 CIAA) | D2

Saturday Result: Beat St. Augustine’s 7-0

Next Game: Saturday against Livingstone

It may not have been the prettiest game, but the Broncos extended their CIAA win streak to 11 in a row Saturday. Three of the four conference victories this season have come by a touchdown or less. Livingstone comes in riding a somewhat surprising two-game win streak. FSU is due for an offensive breakout.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-2, 0-2 ACC) | FBS

Saturday Result: Lost at Clemson 17-12

Next Game: Saturday at Virginia Tech

The Demon Deacons defense did its part Saturday, holding the Tigers in check much of the way. Wake needs to cut down on mistakes and take more advantage of trips inside the red zone. The Deacs have been there 23 times thus far, with only eight TDs to show for it.

11. Elon Phoenix (3-3, 3-0 CAA) | FCS

Saturday Result: Lost to NC Central 34-23

Next Game: Saturday at Villanova

Despite seeing an eight-game home winning streak come to an end, the Phoenix have everything to play for in front of them. Elon sits atop the conference standings heading into the home stretch of the season. Three of the last five games will be on the road, starting this week.

10. Wingate Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1 SAC) | D2

Saturday Result: Beat Catawba 31-13

Next Game: Saturday against Limestone

The Bulldogs lost their conference opener but are still lurking in the conference title chase. Their defense, currently ranked seventh in Division II in fewest yards surrendered, will face another test this week. Limestone rolled up more than 500 on a Lenoir-Rhyne stopping unit that ranked third in the nation.

9 Appalachian State Mountaineers (3-2, 1-0 SBC) | FBS

Saturday Result: Bye

Next Game: Tuesday, October 10 vs. Coastal Carolina

Another sell-out crowd is expected at the Rock as a familiar rival visits tonight. Grayson McCall is Coastal’s version of Sam Hartman, playing quarterback for the Chants for about eight years. App’s Nate Noel continues to rank among the national leaders in rushing yards (second at 130.2 per games).

8. NC State Wolfpack (4-2, 1-1 ACC) | FBS

Saturday Result: Beat Marshall 48-41

Next Game: Saturday at No. 5 Duke

Linebacker Payton Wilson continues to leave his mark as one of the best to ever play the position in Red and White. Wilson has led the Pack in tackles every game this year and leads the ACC overall. “I want to make every single play on that field,” Wilson was quoted as saying on Twitter/X this week. “If there are 75 snaps, I want to make 75 plays.” The Pack will need him in a big way Saturday against nationally ranked Duke.

7. Barton (5-1, 3-1 SAC) | D2

Saturday Result: Beat Newberry 34-17

Next Game: Saturday at No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne

One of the surprise teams in the South Atlantic Conference knocked off the defending league champs in convincing fashion Saturday. Next, they’ll get their shot at the current league leaders.. Two of the state’s best D2 running backs will face off against each other, Barton’s Jordan Terrell and LR’s Dwayne McGee.

6. Mars Hill Lions (4-1, 3-1 SAC) | D2

Saturday Result: Beat Erskine 38-3

Next Game: at Emory & Henry

The Lions play in the Mountain Division, apart from Piedmont Division foes like Lenoir-Rhyne, Barton and Wingate. A return trip to the SAC title game will come down to winning on the road. Mars Hill plays its next two on opposing turf. Landon Honeycutt is the Lions’ version of Payton Wilson, averaging about eight tackles per game and flying all over the field.

5. Duke Blue Devils 4-1, 1-0 ACC) | FBS

Saturday Result: Bye

Next Game: Saturday vs. No. 8 NC State

The Devils seem to have avoided the worst-case scenario with Riley Leonard’s injury. What at first was feared to be season-ending as a national audience watched it happen has now been deemed “day-to-day” That is great news for a Duke team that already has the defense capable of getting them to the ACC title game.

4. Western Carolina (5-1, 3-0 SoCon) | FCS

Saturday Result: Won at Chattanooga, 52-50

Next Game: Oct. 21 vs. Furman

The thrills continue for the Catamounts, who haven’t been ranked in the top 10 since the 1993 season. If Furman wins this weekend, would ESPN College GameDay consider going to Cullowhee on Oct. 21 for what would be a match-up of Top 10 teams? We’d love it.

3. North Carolina Central (5-1, 0-0 MEAC) | FCS

Saturday Result: Won at Elon, 34-23

Next Game: Thursday, Oct. 19 at Morgan State

NCCU was named the FedEx Ground FCS Team of the Week after its impressive triumph at Elon. If you’re tempted to doubt the legitimacy of this squad, Saturday’s victory should answer your concerns. Elon had won eight in a row at home and had just beaten a Top-5 William & Mary squad. After a bye, the Eagles launch into MEAC play, looking to win five in a row and earn a return trip to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl.

2. Lenoir-Rhyne (6-0, 4-0 SAC) | D2

Saturday Result: Won in OT at Limestone, 31-28

Next Game: Saturday against Barton

Special teams have been special for the Bears, who blocked their fifth kick of the season late in the fourth quarter and returned it for a momentum-changing touchdown. Lenoir-Rhyne then booted the game-winning field goal in overtime to remain unblemished on the season, one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the Old North State.

1. North Carolina (5-0, 2-0 ACC) | FBS

Saturday Result: Beat Syracuse 40-7

Next Game: Saturday against Miami

The Tar Heels began a three-game home stand in dominating fashion to stay on top of our Fabulous 14. Quarterback Drake Maye accounted for 497 total yards. And the Heels defense, much maligned coming into the season, stood tall in holding the Orange to only 221 total yards. Are we ready to believe in UNC now as an ACC title contender? The Heels are certainly making their case.

Knocking on the door

Johnson C. Smith (4-2) drops out for now after a loss to Shaw. But the Golden Bulls still have a chance to engineer something special coming down the stretch of CIAA play … Davidson (3-2) has won three in a row since dropping games to VMI and Barton … Campbell, Catawba and UNC Pembroke sit at 3-3 and stand ready to jump back into the Fabulous 14 if any of the aforementioned favorites should stumble.

Final notes

Remember, we take into account every team in the state when assembling this unique ranking each week … a team must have a .500 record or better to qualify for the Fabulous 14 … As long as schools have the W-L record, we will include at least one team from each of the major divisions of play: FBS, FCS, D2 and D3/NAIA/JUCO.