Fabulous 15: Top six teams hold their ground

It was a fabulous weekend for the upper echelon of our Fabulous 15 statewide rankings.

Five of the top six teams were in action Saturday. All five of those squads won their games.

As you might expect, there won’t be any changes — for a change! — on the top of the Fab 15 mountain.

Johnson C. Smith will extend its reign as the No. 1 team in our Fabulous 15 for a third consecutive week. The Golden Bulls fended off a scrappy Shaw squad 21-14.

No. 2 North Carolina Central did not play. Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate picked up key South Atlantic Conference victories. Duke continued FSU’s misery and ended its own against Seminoles. Winston-Salem State battled past Livingstone.

It was a pleasing weekend for sure as the teams having the most special seasons in our state continue to strengthen their resumes.

The next few weeks will present some juicy matchups among Fabulous 15 heavyweights. No. 1 JCSU will call upon No. 6 WSSU this weekend in Winston-Salem. No. 3 Wingate is preparing for a trip to No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 2. It is put-up or shut-up time for sure.

Before we present this week’s version of the Fabulous 15, we’d like to again thank our presenting sponsor, The North Carolina Sports Network. Make sure to stay connected with the NCSN on Twitter/X and The David Glenn Show as the East Carolina Pirates search for a new head coach in the coming weeks.

Fabulous 15 | After Week 8

1. Johnson C. Smith (7-0) | D2

Next Game: Saturday at Winston-Salem State

The Golden Bulls ended a two-decade drought against Winston-Salem State last season in Charlotte. The challenge this week will be to win on the Rams’ home turf. JCSU has answered the bell every week thus far, winning pretty at times and ugly when the situation calls for it.

2. North Carolina Central (5-2) | FCS

Next Game: Saturday vs. Morgan State

We asked coach Trei Oliver before the season which he preferred, the Celebration Bowl or the FCS playoffs. His response was that he just wanted to make sure the Eagles were playing in the post-season, and that he would welcome either path. So far, so good. NCCU sits inside the national rankings this week.

3. Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1) | D2

Next Game: Next Game: Saturday vs. Limestone

The Bears’ defense, which held Newberry to 3 points and Barton to 0 points the past two weeks, will be challenged this week. Limestone quarterback Dustin Noller is one of the best in the league, though Lenoir-Rhyne signal caller Jalen Ferguson (1,822 passing yards, 9 passing TDs) is pretty good in his own right.

4. Wingate (5-1) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Catawba

Wingate went 10 quarters across three games — against UVA Wise, Barton and Limestone — without giving up any points. Limestone managed two touchdowns in the second half Saturday but that was after the Bulldogs had the game well-in-hand. Wingate’s defense ranks among the tops in the nation in fewest yards allowed, fewest first downs and fewest points. Catawba could be a tricky foe, playing everyone in the conference to the wire.

5. Duke (6-1) | FBS

Next Game: Saturday vs. SMU

NC State and Appalachian State came into the season with the highest expectations among our FBS contingent. Duke was something of an afterthought following Mike Elko’s exit to Texas A&M. But Manny Diaz has kept the defense-first, physicality culture in place, and the Devils have become the first (the only?) team in our state to earn bowl eligibility.

6. Winston-Salem State (6-2) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Johnson C. Smith

The Rams have talked since the spring about getting back to the top of the CIAA, a league they dominated through much of the 2010s. A win over Johnson C. Smith is a must this weekend to keep title-game appearance hopes alive. It’s been multiple decades since the Golden Bulls have won in Winston.

7. Western Carolina (4-3) | FCS

Next Game: Saturday at Mercer

The Catamounts unleashed 801 yards of offense and 52 points on rival Furman this past weekend. Let’s hope QB Cole Gonzales (620 passing yards, 5 TDs) and company saved enough for this Saturday’s game against the nationally ranked Bears. These are the moments WCU needs to capture to put its four-decades long conference title drought to bed.

8. Davidson (5-2) | FCS

Next Game: Saturday vs. Butler

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Davidson piled up a lot of rushing yardage on Saturday. Yep, it happened again, with the Wildcats rumbling for more than 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in a wild 70-48 triumph over Stetson. The ‘Cats did surrender more than 400 passing yards, and that is concerting. But if you can hog possession and average more than 7 yards per rush, maybe it’s not such a big deal after all.

9. Louisburg (6-2) | JUCO

Next Game: Sunday at Brevard JV

The Hurricanes enjoyed a stat-stuffer afternoon against Palmetto Collegiate: 8 sacks, 4 interceptions, 332 rushing yards, five rushing TDs, yet another victory. Louisburg is now ranked second in its NJCAA division as it looks to close out its season and help restock four-year programs with talented prospects for 2025.

10. NC State (4-4) | FBS

Next Game: Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Stanford

Sometimes the headlines write themselves: Hollywood Smothers California. Wolfpack running back Hollywood Smothers accounted for 112 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 24-23 win over the Cal Bears. NC State got back to .500 with the triumph. Is this the get-right moment for the Pack that seems to happen every year under Dave Doeren just when folks write them off?

11. Brevard (3-2) | D3

Next Game: Saturday at Huntingdon

The Tornados suffered their first conference loss of the season, done in by a safety, two interceptions and two fumbles returned for LaGrange touchdowns. The result leaves Brevard at 3-1 in the USA South standings, tied with Huntingdon and LaGrange and a half-game behind Maryville (3-0).

12. Livingstone (5-3) | D2

Next Game: Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Johnson C. Smith

Winston-Salem State proved too much for the Bears, who saw their three-game win streak snapped. Livingstone was never able to get is run game untracked (64 yards). Two interceptions didn’t help. Livingstone will take Saturday off and will look to finish the season strong with games at Shaw and at home against Johnson C. Smith.

13. Shaw (4-4) | D2

Next Game: Saturday at Fayetteville State

Shaw played about as well as could be expected in stretches against undefeated Johnson C. Smith, taking a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter and staying tied 7-7 into the second half. The Bears outgained the nationally ranked Bulls 355-325, including a 138-60 edge in rushing. Sbaw beat this week’s opponent, Fayetteville State, four years in a row between 2010-13 but hasn’t topped the Broncos since.

14. Fayetteville State (3-3) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Shaw

It’s strange not talking about the Broncos in the context of a CIAA championship quest. FSU has been to the title game six times in a row but already has two league losses this season. Coach Richard Hayes’ group can play serious spoiler the next three weeks, with rivalry games against Shaw (homecoming on Saturday), undefeated Johnson C. Smith and 6-2 Winston-Salem State on the docket.

15. Guilford (3-3) | D3

Next Game: Saturday at Shenandoah

The Quakers have spent much of the season in our Fabulous 15 but are in danger of dropping out after three straight defeats. One of the bright spots in Saturday’s loss to Washington & Lee was quarterback Caleb Robles, who threw for 244 yards and a pair of scores, while rushing for 67 more yards.