A pair of college quarterbacks with Florida roots lit up the passing stat sheets in North Carolina FCS action this season.
Gardner-Webb’s Tyler Riddell and Western Carolina’s Cole Gonzales were the only two FCS signal callers to complete more than 200 passes and the only two to throw for more than 2,500 yards during the 2024 campaign.
As we close the books on 2024, we crown both standout QBs as North Carolina FCS “Stat Champions.”
Riddell edged Gonzales for most total passing yards for the season. The senior from Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS), finished with 2,573 yards on 216 completions. Gonzales, who hails from Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic HS), managed 2,543 yards on 205 completions – just 30 yards shy of his Runnin’ Bulldogs counterpart.
Gonzales, though, did his aerial damage in only eight games, with an unfortunate injury cutting his season short. His remarkable proficiency makes him the NC FCS Stat Champion for most passing yards per game (317.9). Riddell, who played in all 12 of Gardner-Webb’s games finished second in that category (214.4 ypg).
Riddell enjoyed his biggest passing day in a hard-fought 31-28 win over Eastern Illinois in week 11. He completed 26 of 34 throws for 337 yards and a touchdown.
Gonzales had the top single-game passing performance in the state, regardless of division, during Western Carolina’s 52-20 domination of Furman in week eight. He earned national attention and broke school and conference records on the way to a 620-yard passing showcase. He completed 35-of-55 throws and finished with five touchdowns.
Alas for Gardner-Webb and Western Carolina fans both quarterbacks will be wearing different jerseys in 2025. Both have entered the transfer portal. Gonzales announced this week that he will transfer to Oklahoma, joining the Sooners for year two in the SEC. In his three year career wearing Catamount purple, Gonzales recorded 6,682 passing yards and 51 passing touchdowns.
2024 FCS Stat Champions | Passing In North Carolina
Most Passing Yards | Season Leaders
| PLAYER (SCHOOL) | DIV | CLASS | POSITION | GAMES | ATT | COMP | INT | TD | YARDS |
| Tyler Ridell (Gardner-Webb) | FCS | Sr. | QB | 12 | 345 | 216 | 11 | 16 | 2,573 |
| Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) | FCS | Jr. | QB | 8 | 332 | 205 | 7 | 12 | 2,543 |
| Matthew Downing (Elon) | FCS | Sr. | QB | 11 | 233 | 144 | 4 | 16 | 2,049 |
| Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) | FCS | Jr. | QB | 10 | 227 | 139 | 6 | 18 | 1,882 |
| Chad Mascoe (Campbell) | FCS | So. | QB | 8 | 177 | 120 | 5 | 12 | 1,611 |
| Justin Fomby (North Carolina A&T) | FCS | Jr. | QB | 11 | 240 | 141 | 9 | 10 | 1,573 |
| Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) | FCS | R-Fr. | QB | 7 | 172 | 127 | 3 | 12 | 1,428 |
| Mike Chandler II (Campbell) | FCS | Sr. | QB | 12 | 161 | 86 | 6 | 12 | 1,118 |
| Luke Durkin (Davidson) | FCS | Sr. | QB | 8 | 65 | 40 | 0 | 7 | 560 |
| Andrew Frazier (Davidson) | FCS | So. | QB | 11 | 55 | 35 | 2 | 5 | 557 |
Most Passing Yards Per Game | Season Leaders
| Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) | Jr. | 8 | 332 | 205 | 2,543 | 317.9 |
| Tyler Ridell (Gardner-Webb) | Sr. | 12 | 345 | 216 | 2,573 | 214.4 |
| Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) | R-Fr. | 7 | 172 | 127 | 1,428 | 204.0 |
| Chad Mascoe (Campbell) | So. | 8 | 177 | 120 | 1,611 | 201.4 |
| Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) | Jr. | 10 | 227 | 139 | 1,882 | 188.2 |
| Matthew Downing (Elon) | Sr. | 11 | 233 | 144 | 2,049 | 186.3 |
| Justin Fomby (North Carolina A&T) | Jr. | 11 | 240 | 141 | 1,573 | 143.0 |
| Mike Chandler II (Campbell) | Sr. | 12 | 161 | 86 | 1,118 | 93.2 |
| Luke Durkin (Davidson) | Sr. | 8 | 65 | 40 | 560 | 70.0 |
| Andrew Frazier (Davidson) | So. | 11 | 55 | 35 | 557 | 50.6 |
Most Passing Touchdowns | Season Leaders
North Carolina Central southpaw Walker Harris, from Wake Forest (Heritage HS), won this FCS Stat Champions category. He the led the FCS ranks in most passing touchdowns with 18. Riddell and Elon’s Matthew Downing had 16 TDs apiece, tying for second place.
Harris’ most prolific touchdown game came in week five against Norfolk State. He threw four TD strikes, including a 63-yarder to Markell Quick in the opening minutes. Harris also had a pair of three-touchdown games, coming against North Carolina A&T and Virginia-Lynchburg.
Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) Jr. QB 10 18 Matthew Downing (Elon) Sr. QB 11 16 Tyler Ridell (Gardner-Webb) Sr. QB 12 16 Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) R-Fr. QB 7 12 Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) Jr. QB 8 12 Chad Mascoe (Campbell) So. QB 8 12 Mike Chandler II (Campbell) Sr. QB 12 12 Justin Fomby (North Carolina A&T) Jr. QB 11 10 Luke Durkin (Davidson) Sr. QB 8 7 Andrew Frazier (Davidson) So. QB 11 5
Most Passing Yards | Single-Game Leaders
Western Carolina dominated this category, recording the top four single-game performances and five of the top six. Gonzales’ 620-yard performance against Furman obliterated the previous single-game WCU passing record, previously held by David Rivers (474 yards in 2000). It also edited the Southern Conference standard, previously held by Samford’s Liam Welch (582 yards in 2021).
While Gonzales had the number one performance of the season, teammate Taron Dickens added the next two. The redshirt freshman, taking the reins after Gonzales’ injury, threw for 431 yards against Chattanooga in week 10 and 408 yards at Samford in week 13. Gonzales also had a 395-yard passing game (at Southern Conference champion Mercer) and a 340-yard day (at Montana), marking Western Carolina as the top passing team in the state.
Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) FCS 35 55 620 5 0 62 Week 8 at Furman W, 52-20 Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) FCS 34 48 431 5 1 44 Week 10 Chattanooga W, 38-34 Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) FCS 36 46 408 3 1 48 Week 13 at Samford W, 47-42 Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) FCS 25 47 395 2 0 49 Week 9 at Mercer L, 34-44 Mike Chandler II (Campbell) FCS 22 39 355 4 0 70 Week 10 at Elon L, 27-50 Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) FCS 25 47 340 2 1 61 Week 4 at Montana L, 35-46 Tyler Ridell (Gardner-Webb) FCS 23 37 340 1 2 42 Week 3 at Charlotte L, 26-27 Tyler Riddell (Gardner-Webb) FCS 26 34 337 1 0 65 Week 11 Eastern Illinois W, 31-28 Chad Mascoe (Campbell) FCS 18 26 323 3 0 57 Week 5 Delaware State W, 44-41 Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) FCS 20 35 321 1 1 43 Week 12 Howard W, 26-3 Chad Mascoe (Campbell) FCS 30 39 320 4 1 35 Week 8 at William & Mary L, 28-35 Matthew Downing (Elon) FCS 18 35 315 4 1 45 Week 11 at William & Mary W, 40-36 Chad Mascoe (Campbell) FCS 18 29 306 2 2 45 Week 2 Western Carolina W, 24-16 Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) FCS 19 25 245 4 0 63 Week 5 vs. Norfolk State W, 37-10
Most Passing Touchdowns | Single-Game Leaders (4+)
Gonzales and Dickens each had one five-touchdown game. Harris, Downing and Campbell’s Mike Chandler II and Chad Mascoe Jr. each tallied games with four touchdowns apiece.
Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) FCS 35 55 620 5 0 62 Week 8 at Furman W, 52-20 Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) FCS 34 48 431 5 1 44 Week 10 Chattanooga W, 38-34 Chad Mascoe (Campbell) FCS 30 39 320 4 1 35 Week 8 at William & Mary L, 28-35 Matthew Downing (Elon) FCS 18 35 315 4 1 45 Week 11 at William & Mary W, 40-36 Mike Chandler II (Campbell) FCS 22 39 355 4 0 70 Week 10 at Elon L, 27-50 Walker Harris (North Carolina Central) FCS 19 25 245 4 0 63 Week 5 vs. Norfolk State W, 37-10
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