The first weekend of Division II football in North Carolina delivered plenty of storylines — from Catawba’s offensive explosion in Salisbury to Wingate’s gritty win over in-state rival UNC Pembroke, and Johnson C. Smith’s showcase victory on the national stage in Cambridge, Mass.
Chowan grabbed bragging rights in the northeast corner of the state, while Fayetteville State was stymied in a defensive battle at Benedict. Lenoir-Rhyne took an early top-20 hit against West Florida, and Shaw’s new era under Lamar Manigo opened with a rough home loss to Albany State. All told, it was a weekend of highs and lows that set the tone for a competitive 2025 season across the CIAA, SAC and Conference Carolinas.
🏟️ North Carolina D2 Scoreboard | Aug. 28–30
- Virginia State 35, Barton 7 (Thursday) – see Thursday recap HERE
- Charleston 39, Livingstone 10 (Thursday) – see Thursday recap HERE
- West Florida 48, Lenoir-Rhyne 21 (Friday)
- Albany State 51, Shaw 7
- Johnson C. Smith 45, Morehouse 9
- Benedict 10, Fayetteville State
- Chowan 28, Elizabeth City State 14
- Catawba 45, Ferrum 13
- Wingate 31, UNC Pembroke 20
- Winston-Salem State vs. Tuskegee – Red Tails Classic, Sunday, Aug. 31 at Montgomery, AL
🏈 Catawba 45, Ferrum 13
- Fast start: Catawba scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, taking a 35-3 halftime lead in Ferrum’s Division II debut.
- Offensive balance: The Indians piled up 495 total yards, splitting 293 on the ground and 202 through the air.
- Perfect night: QB Preston Brown went 11-for-11 passing for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns, tying his own program record for consecutive completions.
- Ground game surge: Transfer RB Kevin Lalin led the way with 132 yards in his Catawba debut, while Bennett Galloway added 2 TDs and Dee Mitchell broke off a 35-yard score.
- Explosive returns: WR Bo Pryor made both of his catches count for touchdowns (82 yards) in his long-awaited return from injury.
- Defensive grit: LB Evan Simons posted 9 tackles, 4 for loss, and a sack, while the defense forced 2 fumbles and allowed just 108 passing yards.
- Statement win: It was Catawba’s most points in a season opener since 2017, giving coach Tyler Haines his first home opener victory in his third season with the program.
🏈 No. 17 Wingate 30, UNC Pembroke 21
- Early control: Wingate scored the game’s first 10 points and held the lead for all four quarters to win its 13th straight season opener.
- QB efficiency: Elijah Holmes completed 17-of-27 passes for 222 yards and 2 TDs in his Bulldog debut.
- Workhorse back: Xavier Pugh carried it 30 times for 106 yards and a touchdown, grinding out tough yards to seal the win.
- Air support: WR Xavier Jackson caught 4 passes for 92 yards, while Carlos Estronza and Laron Warner hauled in TD receptions.
- Defensive push: LB Jaquan Edwards tallied 9 tackles and 2.5 TFLs, while DB Omar Ba had an interception to set up an early TD.
- Special teams weapon: K Caleb Bonesteel — MVP of last year’s SAC title game — drilled three field goals from 40+ yards (42, 40, 42), a rare feat at any level.
- UNCP rallies late: Braves QB Tre Robinson (162 pass yds, 2 total TDs) and WR Malik Brown (93 yds, TD) sparked a late surge, but a missed 26-yard FG in the final minutes sealed their fate.
🏈 Johnson C. Smith 45, Morehouse 9 (Essence HBCU Classic, Harvard)
- Making a statement on the road: JCSU opened the Essence HBCU Classic in Cambridge, Mass. with a dominant wire-to-wire performance.
- Durham delivers: QB Kelvin Durham was nearly flawless, completing 15-of-19 passes for 270 yards and 3 TDs, plus a rushing score.
- Deep threat: WR Brian Lane torched Morehouse with 6 catches for 163 yards, including a 72-yard bomb for a touchdown.
- Balanced attack: RB Kamarro Edmonds, Avante George and Bobby Smith all added rushing TDs as the Golden Bulls spread the wealth.
- Turnover party: JCSU’s defense forced 4 interceptions, with DB Elijah Wilson pulling down 2 of them.
- Atmosphere matters: Playing at historic Harvard Stadium gave the Golden Bulls’ showcase win a bigger stage, and they made the most of it. The Golden Bulls won the Red Tails Classic last season
- Momentum builder: The victory gives JCSU a strong start before hosting 2024 D2 runner-up Valdosta State next weekend.
It's a beautiful day for Week 1 of college football at Harvard Stadium. Today marks the first all-HBCU football matchup in the Bay State since 1971. Currently on the call for this one with @milesjohnsontv & @o_rayray on ESPN+ as @MorehouseFB takes on @JCSUFootball. pic.twitter.com/OfsQulyF5N
— Alex Vispoli (@Vispoli) August 30, 2025
🏈 Chowan 28, Elizabeth City State 14
- Second-half surge: After trailing 14-8 at halftime, Chowan shut out ECSU in the second half and scored 20 unanswered points to secure bragging rights in northeastern North Carolina.
- Balanced offense: The Hawks piled up 426 total yards (287 passing, 139 rushing) with both the ground game and air attack delivering key plays down the stretch.
- Maurice Smith’s versatility: The QB threw for 287 yards and a touchdown while also catching a 3-yard TD on a trick play from Jakobe Lane. His composure set the tone in the second half.
- Big-play receivers: Rodney Green’s 45-yard grab ignited the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, while Dominic Haney added 6 receptions for 58 yards.
- Ground finishers: Jamison Davis scored the first TD of the night, and RB Jalen Razor sealed the win with a 13-yard burst in the final minutes.
- Defensive answers: Isaiah Fulton’s third-quarter interception ended a promising ECSU drive, while Justin Taylor and Jaden Leonard combined for 11 tackles to keep the Vikings in check.
The Hawks take the season opener! Final score: Chowan 28, ECSU 14.🏈🔥
Make sure to tune in to next weeks game as the Hawks will host West Alabama here at Garrison Stadium at 1pm! pic.twitter.com/BH1R70spBP — Chowan Athletics (@cuhawks) August 31, 2025
🏈 Albany State 51, Shaw 7
- Tough start for new era: First-year head coach Lamar Manigo saw his Bears fall into a 17-0 hole in the first quarter and trail 31-7 at halftime. Any thoughts of another Albany State comeback — like last year’s wild 43-40 Shaw win — were shut down quickly.
- Run defense overwhelmed: Shaw allowed 311 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, led by ASU’s Tiant Wyche (137 yards, 2 TDs).
- Bright spot: WR Cobie Bates turned in a highlight play with an acrobatic 33-yard touchdown grab just before halftime, finishing with 65 receiving yards. He also added 27 rushing yards.
- QB struggles: The Bears’ quarterback duo of Justin Wheeler and Alexander Marsh combined to complete just 10-of-28 passes with two interceptions.
- Defensive leaders: LB Darry Felix racked up 14 tackles, while Isman Alston added 6 tackles, a sack and a TFL. Shaw forced two turnovers, including a red-zone fumble recovery.
- Special teams sting: Whatever momentum Shaw gained from Bates’ touchdown late in the second quarter was erased instantly when Albany State returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a backbreaking score.
🏈 Benedict 10, Fayetteville State 0
- Defensive slugfest: Fayetteville State actually outgained Benedict 282–254 in total offense but couldn’t capitalize, coming up empty in a 10-0 road loss.
- QB rotation: Graduate QB Joe Owens Jr. was efficient (11-of-15, 73 yards; 28 rush yards), while senior Demari Daniels threw for 102 yards but was sacked twice.
- Council leads the way: RB Bryce Council paced the FSU ground game with 68 rushing yards on nine carries, including a 28-yarder. He also caught two passes for 29 yards.
- Steady hands at WR: Unique Kelly led the receivers with six grabs for 39 yards, while Caden Davis and TyDarion Grier added 41 combined yards.
- Defensive leaders: LB Tajon Roach posted 11 tackles (2 TFL), while DBs Keyshawn Monk and Terrell Ford each broke up passes. DL Jamari Slade added a sack.
- Special teams woes: Kicker John Hernandez-Vargas missed two field goals (41, 46) and punter Albert Fleming IV averaged just 28 yards per kick, hurting field position.
🏈 West Florida 48, Lenoir-Rhyne 21
- Early hole too deep: Lenoir-Rhyne trailed 31-0 midway through the second quarter after a fumble on the opening kickoff and a series of explosive plays by the Argonauts.
- Robinson’s debut: In his first career start, QB Khamoni Robinson threw for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24-of-35 passing — the first LR QB to top 300 yards in an opener since 2018.
- Big-play receivers: WR Zion Agnew (4 catches, 112 yards) and Songa Yates (4 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD) provided sparks even as the Bears tried to claw back.
- Limited rushing lanes: RB LJ Turner averaged 7.0 yards per carry and scored, but LR managed just 35 rushing yards from him in total.
- Defensive standouts: Team captain Tre’von Cooper recorded 10 tackles, while DB Desmond Greene had the Bears’ first interception of the season.
- Special teams note: Punter Stewart Simmons blasted a 67-yard punt in the third quarter, LR’s longest since 2022.
📊 Stat Stuffers (Week 1 D2 Leaders)
- Preston Brown (Catawba): 11/11, 202 yards, 3 TDs.
- Kevin Lalin (Catawba): 132 rushing yards in debut.
- Bo Pryor (Catawba): 2 catches, 82 yards, 2 TDs.
- Maurice Smith (Chowan): 22/33, 287 pass yards, 1 TD; 1 rec, 3-yard TD.
- Xavier Pugh (Wingate): 30 carries, 106 yards, TD.
- Elijah Holmes (Wingate): 222 passing yards, 2 TD.
- Caleb Bonesteel (Wingate): 3 FGs of 40+ yards.
- Malik Brown (UNCP): 93 yds, TD
- Kelvin Durham (JCSU): 270 passing yards, 4 total TDs.
- Brian Lane (JCSU): 6 catches, 163 yards, TD.
- Elijah Wilson (JCSU): 2 INTs.
- Khamoni Robinson (LR): 310 passing yards, 2 TDs.
- Zion Agnew (LR): 112 receiving yards.
- Songa Yates (LR): 91 receiving yards, 1 TD.
- Darry Felix (Shaw): 14 tackles.
- Tajon Roach (FSU): 11 tackles (2 TFL).
📝 Other Notables
- Ferrum’s first-ever Division II game ends with a 45-13 loss at Catawba.
- Wingate extends its season-opening win streak to 13 straight.
- JCSU’s showcase win at Harvard gave the CIAA a spotlight moment on a national HBCU stage.
🔮 Looking Ahead (Week 2)
- Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke (Sept. 6) – An early in-state clash that will tell us a lot about both programs. FSU looks to rebound from its shutout loss at Benedict, while UNCP will try to bounce back after falling late at nationally ranked Wingate.
- Winston-Salem State at Mars Hill (Sept. 6) – This CIAA vs. SAC matchup would have made a great NC D2 bowl game last season. Both teams have playoff aspirations this year
Catawba at Emory & Henry (Sept. 6) – First SAC road test for the Indians. - JCSU vs Valdosta State (Sept. 6) – Big step up in competition as the Golden Bulls host the Gulf South power.
- Chowan vs West Alabama (Sept. 6) – Former Gulf South conference partner will provide a stiff non-conference test at Garrison Stadium.
- ECSU at Hampton (Sept. 6) – A trip to an FCS foe before opening CIAA play at home vs. Johnson C. Smith on Sept. 13.
- Barton at West Virginia State (Sept. 6) – Bulldogs will play away from home until early October.
- Lenoir-Rhyne at Tusculum (Sept. 6) – Bears jumping into SAC play with another road trip
- Livingstone at Allen (Sept. 6) – Blue Bears clipped Allen 23-21 last September
- Wingate vs Bluefield State (Sept. 13) – Bulldogs get a bye week to reset before home opener.
- Shaw at Ferrum (Sept. 13) – Bears get an early-season break to make adjustments
