Saturday delivered equal parts heartbreak and heroics across the FCS landscape in North Carolina. Gardner-Webb and Elon stood tall as the state’s only winners — and both did it in dramatic fashion.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs rode a ferocious defense to a convincing road win at Tennessee State, highlighted by Josiah Hayes’ three interceptions and a ground-control performance from Quasean Holmes. Elon needed late magic of its own, striking on a 96-yard lightning bolt from Landen Clark to Isaiah Fuhrmann just moments after Campbell fumbled at the Phoenix 5-yard line.
Everywhere else, though, it was a day of missed chances and season-altering setbacks. Western Carolina, once firmly in the playoff conversation, watched its postseason hopes fade into the Blue Ridge mist after surrendering 52 points to ETSU. North Carolina A&T was overwhelmed by Monmouth’s attack. Davidson struggled to keep pace at Marist. And North Carolina Central saw its MEAC title hopes take a fatal hit in Friday night’s narrow loss to South Carolina State.
Two teams found winning plays when it mattered. The rest were left holding tough questions as the regular season winds down.
📊 Live Scoreboard: North Carolina FCS College Football
| TOTAL | ||||||||
 | Davidson | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | Final | |
| Marist | 0 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 37 | ESPN+ | ||
| TOTAL | ||||||||
 | E Tennessee St | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 52 | Final | |
 | WCU | 0 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 35 | ESPN+ | |
| TOTAL | ||||||||
| Monmouth | 21 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 63 | Final | ||
 | NC A&T | 3 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 19 | FloFootball | |
| TOTAL | ||||||||
 | Gardner-Webb | 10 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 30 | Final | |
 | Tennessee St | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | ESPN+ | |
| TOTAL | ||||||||
 | Elon | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 | Final | |
 | Campbell | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 | FloFootball |
🐾 Gardner-Webb Sets the Tone Again: Defense, Discipline & Seven Wins
Gardner-Webb delivered the day’s most complete effort, beating Tennessee State 30-14 to secure its third seven-win season in the last four years.
- Josiah Harris grabbed three interceptions, leading a defense that forced four takeaways and held TSU to 54 rushing yards.
- Quasean Holmes ran for 135 yards and a score, and Carson Gresock added his conference-leading 13th rushing TD.
- Charlie Viorel hit three field goals as GWU built a 23-0 first-half lead and controlled the game throughout.
The Bulldogs have now held back-to-back opponents under 100 rushing yards and continue to look like one of the state’s steadiest FCS programs.
GWU’s four picks were its most since a 1992 nine-interception game, and Harris became the first Bulldog with a 3-INT effort since 2000.
🔥 Elon Snaps Losing Skid With 96-Yard Stunner
Elon halted a four-game skid in dramatic fashion, beating Campbell 31-24 on a 96-yard Landen Clark-to-Isaiah Fuhrmann touchdown with 1:07 left.
- Clark totaled 4 TDs (2 pass, 2 rush), throwing for 228 yards and rushing for 59.
- Fuhrmann continued his breakout season with a third 100-yard game and his fourth straight TD.
- Kahmari Brown set Elon’s single-season sack record (9.5).
- The Phoenix outgained Campbell 385–377 and forced two late turnovers, including a forced fumble and a last-second INT.
- The 96-yard strike tied the longest play in program history (1983).
Campbell erased a 17-3 deficit and led 24-17 in the fourth, but couldn’t close out its sixth one-score game of the season (now 1-5 in such games).
Western Carolina’s Playoff Hopes Collapse in 52-35 Loss
Another year, another gut punch in Cullowhee. Western Carolina — still chasing its first-ever SoCon title since joining the league in the 1970s and still seeking its first playoff berth since 1983 — watched its postseason hopes disappear in a 52-35 loss to ETSU.
- WCU was outscored 28-7 after halftime and twice came up empty in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
- ETSU piled up 638 yards, including 394 passing yards and 6 TDs from two quarterbacks.
- Taron Dickens threw for 426 yards, his sixth career 400-yard game (a school record), and added 48 rushing yards.
- Cam’Ron Dabney gave WCU a spark with a 43-yard scoop-and-score, part of a 21-10 first-half lead that the Cats couldn’t hold.
- Markel Townsend (TD), Michael Rossin (61-yard TD) and Jaylin Terzado (58-yard TD) highlighted WCU’s big-play offense.
Once again, the Catamounts had the quarterback and the firepower — but defensive breakdowns and missed chances turned another promising season into another November disappointment.
🟦 North Carolina A&T Overmatched Again in 63-19 Loss
No. 12 Monmouth handed the Aggies their third straight lopsided loss since beating Campbell last month.
- Monmouth QB Frankie Weaver shredded A&T for 428 yards and 6 TDs.
- The Hawks led 42-13 at halftime and added three more scores after the break.
- Andrew Brown hit four field goals for A&T, including makes from 55, 53 and 53 yards.
- It’s a frustrating slide for the Aggies, who earlier this season beat Hampton and Campbell, and played defending MEAC champ South Carolina State, William & Mary and Maine to one-score games.
A&T drops to 2-9 with the finale at Elon on deck next Saturday.
Davidson Fades After Halftime in 37-10 Loss at Marist
Davidson went into halftime tied 10-10 but couldn’t keep pace after the break, surrendering 20 unanswered third-quarter points in a 37-10 loss at Marist.
- The Wildcats were outgained 513-239, including 196 rushing yards allowed.
- Ivan Hoyt (8 catches, 88 yards) scored Davidson’s lone touchdown, all in the first half.
- Coulter Cleland threw for 193 yards (19 of 40) with a TD and an INT.
- Davidson managed just 46 rushing yards, 41 from Mason Sheron.
The Wildcats drop to 2-9 and finish the season next week at home against Dayton.
🦅 NCCU Rally Falls Short in 34-27 Loss to South Carolina State
North Carolina Central nearly handed South Carolina State its first MEAC loss, but a late touchdown run with 1:51 left sealed a 34-27 defeat Friday night in Durham.
- NCCU erased an early 17-3 deficit with 17 straight second-quarter points, including a 33-yard pick-six by Eric Adams and a 98-yard TD drive capped by a Chris Mosley TD rush.
- Mehki Wall (88 yards, TD) put the Eagles back up 27-20 in the third quarter.
- SCSU (8-3, 4-0 MEAC) tied it early in the fourth, then scored the game-winner on a 30-yard Josh Shaw run.
- Mosley posted his fifth 100-yard game (105 yards), and Adams recorded his fourth interception of the season.
The Eagles fall to 7-4 (2-2 MEAC) and finish the regular season next week at Morgan State.
