The North Carolina D2 college football season came to an unceremonious end on Saturday. Our last two teams standing, Wingate and Johnson C. Smith, both lost their D2 playoff openers.
Wingate dropped a 25-24 decision to visiting Benedict, giving up a “jailbreak”-type 86-yard touchdown on the final snap. Johnson C. Smith fell behind Frostburg State early and never could catch back up in a 21-7 defeat.
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Frostburg State 21, Johnson C. Smith 7
KJ Smothers rushed for three touchdowns, including a 41-yarder late in the first quarter, to lead the visiting Bobcats past the Golden Bulls. Both teams were making their first-ever appearance in the D2 playoffs.
Johnson C. Smith’s season ends at 10-2, still the most wins in school history and a year in which the program won its CIAA title since 1969. Frostburg State (10-2) advances to play California (PA), a 27-24 winner over JCSU’s conference mate Virginia Union.
| TOTAL | ||||||||
 | Frostburg St | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | Final | |
 | JCSU | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ESPN+ |
Other Super Region 1 Games: Saturday, Nov. 22
California (PA) 27, Virginia Union 24
Kutztown 52, Bentley 0
Assumption 23, Indiana (PA) 20
Benedict 25, Wingate 24
It seems inexplicable that Wingate didn’t win Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs led 24-0 early in the third quarter and seemingly in complete control after an Omar Ba pick-six touchdown. But the Bulldogs offense bogged down, and Benedict clawed back, including a 95-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown.
The final play of the game was a jaw-dropper and an ESPN top play. Wingate punted deep to the Tigers with 19 seconds left. On fourth down from Benedict’s own 14, quarterback Jackson Jensen threw a short pass to the left sideline to Charles Simmons. Simmons faked a lateral, juked a defender and then threw back all the way across the field to Malik Mullins, who sprinted to the end zone for the game-winner.
Benedict outscored Wingate 18-0 in the final 10:05 and will advance to play fellow SIAC partner Albany State for the third time this season.
| TOTAL | ||||||||
| Benedict | 0 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 25 | Final | ||
 | Wingate | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 | ESPN+ |
Other Super Region 2 Games: Saturday, Nov. 22
Albany State 35, Valdosta State 30
West Florida 43, North Greenville 19
Newberry 45, Kentucky State 24
This is how Benedict walked off Wingate on the last play. Unreal ending to Bulldogs' season https://t.co/MQVR53lAmL — NC Football News (@NCFootballNews) November 22, 2025
⭐ D2 Playoff Fast Facts
Frostburg State came in with one of the top passing defensive units in the nation. JCSU quarterback Kelvin Durham threw for 219 yards but was picked off twice. Freshman running back Bobby Smith managed just 42 yards on 14 carries. Deandre Proctor stayed busy, making 14 catches for 136 yards and one TD.
Frostburg defensive lineman Christian Taylor proved problematic, forcing a fumble and recording 4.0 tackles-for-loss.
Despite the loss, Johnson C. Smith enjoyed an unprecedented season, winning 10 games for the first time in program history and earning its first CIAA championship since 1969. Durham was voted the CIAA Quarterback of the Year, while Jamari Mason was named the league’s Lineman of the Year and Bobby Smith earned CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. Maurice Flowers was a deserving recipient of the conference’s Coach of the Year award.
Wingate made its sixth D2 playoff appearance in the past eight seasons. The Bulldogs beat Benedict in the 2022 post-season, but the Tigers turned the tables this time. Getting out of round one has been a problem for Wingate the past two seasons.
Quarterback Elijah Holmes directed a potent Wingate offense this season, but the Bulldogs had multiple self-inflicted wounds on Saturday. Holmes threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone in the second half. Wingate also lost two fumbles, missed a field goal and had another FG blocked, which Isaiah Isidore returned 95 yards for a touchdown.
Wingate’s 1,000-yard running back Xavier Pugh did not play Saturday. Jayshawn Appling finished with 111 yards in his stead, including a 42-yard burst. Wide receiver Jaylen Himes was poised to be the game’s offensive MVP. He caught four passes for 138 yards, including TD receptions of 25 and 34 yards in the first half.
NC Football News Game Previews:
About the 2025 Division II Football Playoffs
The 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship will be played on December 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. This year marks a structural shift for Division II, as the playoff field expands from 28 to 32 teams and introduces automatic bids for all conference champions — 16 automatic qualifiers and 16 at-large selections.
Teams are divided into four eight-team super regions, with higher seeds hosting through the regional rounds. Winners advance to the national semifinals, with the championship game once again staged in Texas.
Defending champion: Ferris State, which defeated Valdosta State 49-14 in the 2024 title game.
