College Football

Campbell fends off NCCU rally, wins final non-conference game 38-31

Camels improve to 5-1, matching the program’s best-ever start in football

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4 hours ago

Campbell running back JJ Cowan has daylight on a rushing play against North Carolina Central.

Campbell running back JJ Cowan enjoys daylight against North Carolina Central in an FCS football game played Oct. 3, 2026 in Durham. Photo courtesy Campbell athletics.

FINAL: Campbell 38, North Carolina Central 31

Fourth-quarter leads had a habit of getting away from Campbell in 2025. So far this season, the Camels have flipped that script.

Campbell shut out North Carolina Central in the fourth quarter Saturday night, stopping the Eagles on downs on each of their final three possessions to preserve a 38-31 victory at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.

Jyron Waiters caught the go-ahead touchdown pass from Kamden Sixkiller with 7:28 remaining, and the Campbell defense made it stand.

The No. 18/24 Camels improved to 5-1, matching the best six-game start in program history, and head into their bye week a perfect 5-0 against FCS opponents. North Carolina Central fell to 2-4, already matching its loss total from all of last season.

🔑 How It Happened

Nelson Layne was the story early: The North Carolina Central quarterback scored touchdowns on runs of 16 and 3 yards in the first seven minutes, and the Eagles jumped to a quick 14-7 lead. Lane’s first TD was set up by a Cameron Williams interception on the second play of the game. Lane scampered to the end zone on the next snap.

Camels get offense untracked: Campbell took off from there, scoring on five of its first six possessions and building a 31-14 lead by 10:22 in the second quarter. A pair of running backs with North Carolina high school connections – De’von Thomas (Rolesville) and JJ Cowan (Triton) – combined for three rushing scores. Thomas found the end zone on a 32-yard run and later on a four-yard rush. Cowan’s scoring play covered three yards. Alex Crabb also added a 41-yard field goal.

Eagles storm all the way back: Cobey Thompkins, who spelled Lane for a stretch, threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Stitt to make the game 31-21 at the break. Riley Daniels drilled a 47-yard field goal and Zion Dobson broke away for a 62-yard touchdown run as NCCU drew even 31-31 with 6:31 to play in the third quarter.

Campbell defense holds its ground: NCCU advanced into Camels territory each of its next three possessions. Each time, they came away empty-handed. Kalen Villanueva stopped a Lane rush on fourth-and-one just short of the first-down marker. Kaleb Simpkins provided a quarterback hurry on fourth-and-10, forcing an incomplete pass. Lane threw incomplete on fourth-and-five at the Campbell 35 with 36 seconds left.

Jyron Waiters hauls in the game-winner: Campbell quarterback Kamden Sixkiller had 13 touchdown passes coming into Saturday but was held by the Eagles without a scoring throw through three quarters. Sixkiller finally ended the TD drought with 7:28 left, finding Jyron Waiters over the middle for a nine-yard score. A 25-yard pass play to JJ Cowan kept the drive alive after a penalty pushed the Camels back.

📊 Numbers That Matter

5-1: Campbell’s record after six games, the best record among FCS teams in our state and matching the best start in Camels football history.
262: Rushing yards for Campbell, a season high for the ground game (6.6 yards per rush)
139: Rushing yards on 14 carries for Campbell running back JJ Cowan – his fourth 100-yard rushing performance as a Camel. He averaged 9.9 yards per attempt.
89: Rushing yards on 10 carries for Campbell’s De’von Thomas, his season and collegiate high. Thomas scored twice.
488: Total offensive yards for Campbell, a season low against FCS opponents this season.
84: Receiving yards on 10 catches for North Carolina Central playmaker Chance Peterson.
80: Rushing yards for NCCU’s Zion Dobson, who scored on a 62-yard jaunt.
12: Tackles for Campbell’s Charles Battaglia, who made eight solo stops, earned two tackles-for-loss and had one sack.
2.5: Tackles-for-loss for North Carolina Central’s Zarion Walters, who finished with eight total stops and a sack.
129: Penalty yards for Campbell on 11 infractions.

⏭️ What’s Next

Campbell will have a bye this week, then will return to Barker-Lane Stadium for a homecoming game against Towson on Oct. 17. The Camels (2-0 in CAA games) should continue to enjoy being an FCS Top 25 team after jumping into the rankings last week – No. 18 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 24 in the coaches poll.

North Carolina Central will play its final non-conference game on Saturday, Oct. 10 when William & Mary comes to O’Kelly-Riddick. After a bye week, the Eagles begin a five-game journey through their MEAC schedule, beginning with a Friday night game (Oct. 23) at Delaware State.