FCS Recaps: WCU, Elon win on homecoming; GWU claims BBQ trophy

No Cole Gonzales, no problem for Western Carolina. The Catamounts’ offense kept humming on Saturday without their star quarterback, leading to a big home victory.

Elon also put up big numbers in a win over visiting Campbell. Gardner-Webb only needed 17 points to earn a barbecue feast. North Carolina A&T and Davidson suffered humbling defeats.

Here are recaps of Saturday’s FCS football action featuring teams from the Old North State:

Scoreboard

• William & Mary 45, North Carolina A&T 7
• Gardner-Webb 17, Charleston Southern 14
• Campbell 50, Elon 27
• Western Carolina 38, Chattanooga 34
• San Diego 40, Davidson 13
• South Carolina State 24, North Carolina Central 21 (Thursday) – Recap HERE

Backup QB Has Career Day For WCU

Taron Dickens stepped into the starting quarterback role with few problems Saturday in Cullowhee, throwing five touchdown passes against a nationally ranked opponent. Dickens, who was filling in for preseason conference offensive player of the year Cole Gonzales, finished with 431 passing yards — one of the top performances by a North Carolina collegiate quarterback this season.

Dickens completed throws to 13 different players — including an eight-yard pass to himself. De’Andre Tamarez recorded three touchdown catches. AJ Colombo and Isaiah Johnson had the other TD receptions.

West Carolina fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter before Christian Lowery got the Catamounts on the board with a 34-yard field goal. WCU took its first lead, 31-24, after Colombo’s 11-yard touchdown catch with 4:27 left in the third.

The Mocs tied the game two minutes later and went ahead with a field goal with 9:46 left. Less than three minutes later, Tamarez’s third TD catch gave the Catamounts the lead for good.

Chattanooga moved to the WCU 12 in the game’s final minute. But Ken Moore Jr. picked off a Luke Shomburg pass to seal the homecoming triumph. It was the Catamounts third interception of the day.

The result keeps Western Carolina (5-4, 4-1 SoCon) within reach of Mercer (5-1) in the conference standings. Chattanooga dropped to 5-4, 4-2. The Mocs came into the game ranked 18th and 25th in the major FCS national polls.

Elon By Air, By Land Overwhelms Campbell

Elon remained undefeated all-time (3-0) against their FCS neighbors from Buies Creek. The Phoenix built a 16-6 lead in the first quarter and kept the pressure on the rest of the way.

Everything seemed to click for Elon (3-6, 2-3 CAA), which has had its struggles despite coming into the season with playoff aspirations. Matthew Downing threw three touchdown passes. Rushawn Baker rushed for three scores. Chandler Brayboy set career receiving marks, including a 66-yard TD strike on Elon’s first offensive snap.

Campbell actually outgained the Phoenix, 479-464. Sincere Brown caught a 70-yard pass from Mike Chandler II in the first half and an 11-yard scoring strike in the second. Randall King added long-yardage TD receptions of 65 and 42 yards, but it wasn’t enough for the Camels (3-6, 1-4).

Elon won for the first time at home this season and picked up its third-straight homecoming triumph.

Gardner-Webb Holds On To BBQ Bowl Trophy

While it’s a given that North Carolina barbecue exceeds all others, Gardner-Webb still had to hang on for dear life to keep BBQ bragging rights in the state.

The Bulldogs held off Charleston Southern 17-14 to claim the inaugural Barbecue Bowl between the two Big South/OVC rivals.

Charleston Southern scored a touchdown with 26 seconds to go to pull within three points. The Buccaneers recovered the ensuing onsides kick and moved to the GWU 12. But a 30-yard field goal attempt by Reid Montgomery missed, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs held on for the satisfying triumph.

Taylor Shields caught what would be the winning touchdown for Gardner-Webb — a 14-yard pass from Tyler Ridell — with 5:56 left. Edawrd Saydee added a 44-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Jay Billingsley kicked a 25-yard field goal for the only points of the first half.

Gardner-Webb (3-6, 2-3) had played for a BBQ Bowl trophy for a couple of seasons with former Big South partner Campbell. When the Camels moved to the CAA, the Bulldogs opted to continue the special series with its neighbor south of the border, rebranding it the North/South Barbecue Bowl – “Clash of the Carolinas”.

In addition to claiming a trophy featuring a hefty hog, Gardner-Webb reportedly is set to enjoy a BBQ feast catered by the losing squad — North Carolina’s western style of course.

Wildcats Go West, Suffer 2nd Straight Defeat

San Diego used a 30-point second quarter to surge past Davidson on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats (5-4, 3-3 PFL) lost for the second week in a row and the third time in four tries.

Davidson’s points came on a 9-yard touchdown run by Sam Valor in the first quarter and a 32-yard rush by Luke Durkin in the second.

San Diego threw for 307 yards, getting three TD throws by Grant Sergent. Davidson’s Mari Adams was held to a season-low 21 yards on 10 carries. The ‘Cats finished with 228 rushing yards, led by Valor’s 77.

William & Mary overwhelms NC A&T

The Aggies fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and eventually trailed 35-0, suffering their eighth loss of the season in nine tries. Shimique Blizzard’s four-yard TD run in the third quarter put the Aggies on the scoreboard. William & Mary outgained A&T 489-246.

Malachi Imoh (2), Bronson Yoder and Darius Wilson combined for four rushing touchdowns for the Tribe.

NC A&T second-year head coach Vincent Brown was an assistant at William & Mary before taking over the Aggies program heading into 2023.

Top Performers

Taron Dickens (Western Carolina): Completed 34-of-48 passes for a career-high 431 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Catamounts defeat nationally ranked Chattanooga.

Chandler Brayboy (Elon): Recorded 309 all-purpose yards in a CAA win over Campbell — the most of any FCS player this season, according to Elon sports information. Brayboy notched a career-high for receiving yards (183), took a pair of kicks back for 113 more yards and had a 13-yard rush.

Rushawn Baker (Elon): Rushed for 154 yards and a pair of scores, becoming the second Phoenix back to hit 150+ on the ground this season.

Mike Chandler II (Campbell): Completed 22-of-39 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Camels stay competitive. He did not have an interception.

Randall King and Sincere Brown (Campbell): Caught seven passes and two touchdowns apiece, with King finishing with 145 yards in receptions and Brown 135. Both blew the top off the defense with long-yardage scores.

The Numbers Game

1,008 – Season rushing yards for Davidson’s Mari Adams after Saturday. Adams was held to a season low 21 yards, though, in a 40-13 loss. Adams crossed the 1,000-yard plateau in 2023 as well.

309 – All-purpose yards for Elon’s Chandler Brayboy, which included TD receptions of 66 and 36 yards.

222 – Total yards allowed by Gardner-Webb’s offense against Charleston Southern.

7 – Current losing streak for North Carolina A&T. The last win came Sept. 7 against Winston-Salem State

Looking Ahead:

Next Saturday, Western Carolina goes on the road to East Tennessee State. Davidson hosts Morehead State. Elon tangles with William & Mary in Williamsburg, while North Carolina A&T goes to Philly to face Villanova. Campbell welcomes Richmond, and Gardner-Webb entertains Eastern Illinois. North Carolina Central will be on a bye, getting ready for its final two MEAC games.