FCS Rewind: Huge weekend for WCU, Davidson, Elon, Gardner-Webb

We came into the season touting our FCS division as one of the strengths of the football landscape in our state.

After a rough-and-tumble first two months, the FCS contingent certainly lived up to its collective billing in week 8. Here are highlights from a week that rewrote record books, brought weekly awards to multiple teams and got the attention of the national media:

Cole And The Gang: WCU Offense Shatters Records

It’s noteworthy enough that Western Carolina rolled to a decisive 52-20 win over rival Furman to improve to 3-0 in the Southern Conference. But the Catamounts did so in record-breaking, did-you-see-that fashion.

Junior quarterback Cole Gonzales threw for 620 yards (!) and five touchdowns in the triumph, shattering school and conference passing marks. It was no surprise that Gonzales earned SoCon offensive player of the week honors. He also was named the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week, a first in his career.

David Rivers had been the Western Carolina record-holder after a 474-yard passing effort in 2000 against Wofford. Samford’s Liam Welch had been the SoCon standard-bearer after a 582-yard passing day against VMI in 1991.

WCU sports information noted that Gonzales dished out the seventh-most passing yards in a single game by an FCS quarterback.

As a team, WCU amassed 652 passing yards and 801 total yards, also school records. Offensive coordinator Rylan Wells was recognized by Our Coaching Network as the latest National Offensive Coordinator of the Week.

Some other notes from Saturday’s offensive onslaught:

* Gonzales finished 35-of-55, averaging 17.7 yards per completion and 11.3 yards per attempt.

* 11 different players caught passes, including three who eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark — Isaiah Johnson (117 yards), Zion Booker (103) and Jai Boyd (102).

* Backup quarterback Taron Dickens made the most of his one throw, completing a 32-yard TD strike to Malik Knight for the final exclamation point with 1:54 left.

Elon’s Brayboy Could Go All The Way – Twice

Elon wide receiver Chandler Brayboy caught four passes for 55 yards in the 30-14 win at Albany, giving him more than 2,000 receiving yards for his career. But it was Brayboy’s kick-return prowess that earned him national headlines.

Albany scored two touchdowns in Saturday’s game. Both times, Brayboy returned the ensuing kickoff back for touchdowns. The first covered 94 yards. The second, 93 yards.

Brayboy gave the Old North State another player on this week’s Stats Perform FCS national team. He was named the National Special Teams Player of the Week as well as the CAA’s Specialist of the Week. Teammate TJ Thomas Jr. earned CAA Rookie of the Week after his 138-yard, one-touchdown rushing performance.

Brayboy now has 2,049 career receiving yards, sixth on the school’s all-time list.

Elon (2-5) shook off a four-game losing streak with Saturday’s victory over a team that had been in the FCS quarterfinals a year ago. “It was really good medicine for our program,” coach Tony Trisciani said Monday.

Run Davidson, Run

Dayton may have corraled Davidson’s potent rushing attack a couple of weeks ago. But Stetson certainly couldn’t on Saturday. The Wildcats galloped for 411 rushing yards in a 70-48 victory that sounded more like a basketball final score.

Mari Adams earned Pioneer Football League offensive player of the week honors after his 135-yard, 3-touchdown effort. He averaged 10.4 yards per attempt and had a 54-yard touchdown jaunt.

Davidson’s final point tally was the most by a North Carolina collegiate team this season (North Carolina Central had been the high scorer with 68 points). The Wildcats also put up their second 400+ yard rushing day of 2024. The seven rushing touchdowns as a team is the most by a school from the Old North State this season.

Not to be overlooked, Davidson added 256 passing yards to the ledger on Saturday. Quarterbacks Luke Durkin (146 yards, 2 TDs) and Andrew Frazier (108 yards) were a combined 12-of-14 with no interceptions.

Big South/OVC Champs Get Back To Winning Ways

Gardner-Webb also has fashioned itself as bullies in the run game at points this season. The Bulldogs went for 306 as a team to beat Lindenwood 42-35.

Quasean Holmes rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown. Edward Saydee added 119 more and a score. As a team, the ‘Dogs picked up 5.8 yards per carry.

Tyler Ridell was a model of efficiency in the passing game. He completed 16-of-21 passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns. He was sacked just once and did not turn the ball over.

Jordan Bly caught two of Ridell’s TD throws. Anthony Lowe and Taylor Shields had the other two.

Camels Hold Their Own Against Tribe

Campbell has yet to win a conference game this season, but Saturday’s 35-28 loss at William & Mary showed that the program is on the cusp of a breakthrough. The Camels were tied with the 15th-ranked Tribe 21-21 heading into the final period.

Chad Mascoe threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns. VJ Wilkins hauled in two scoring throws.

Defensively Jalen Brooks had the most tackles of any North Carolina collegiate player this season. He finished with nine solo hits, 19 total tackles, three tackles-for-loss and a sack. The previous single-game best had been 17 tackles by Darius Heath of St. Andrews.

Homecoming Humbling For A&T

The lone FCS team with its head down this week resides in Greensboro. North Carolina A&T scored two quick touchdowns on homecoming against Hampton but got outscored 59-3 the rest of the way. Ouch.

HBCU GameDay’s Steven Gaither reported that it was an uncomfortable Monday press conference for A&T head coach Vincent Brown, whose team fell to 1-6, 0-3 in the CAA. The Aggies went 1-10 last season in Brown’s debut.

Gaither wrote: “Addressing the elephant in the room—whether he is the right fit for the job—Brown didn’t shy away. ‘Absolutely, I do,‘ he responded confidently when asked if he believes he is the right person to lead the program. Perhaps more importantly, he got a resounding ‘me too’ from North Carolina A&T AD Earl Hilton.

Bye Week For North Carolina Central

The Eagles rested on this wild weekend for the rest of the FCS. North Carolina Central will put a four-game win streak on the line Saturday against Morgan State as MEAC play reaches the stretch run.