North Carolina’s College Football Saturday Shakes Up Title Races, Shatters Records

The old guard knocked off the upstart in one game, while the challenger defeated the reigning champ in another.

A backup QB shined when given his moment. A team defended BBQ bragging rights for our state, while another broke the state’s “high score” for the season.

These highlights and more made Week 10 of college football in North Carolina one of the most memorable of the season. ICYMI, recapping the top headlines among our non-FBS schools:

FCS

Western Carolina upsets nationally ranked Chattanooga with backup QB: Taron Dickens threw 5 TD passes and finished with 431 yards passing in the 38-34 win. Catamounts remain in the SoCon title race and boost their FCS playoff resume. De’Andre Tamarez caught three of Dickens’ TD throws including the game-winner in the fourth quarter.

Gardner-Webb retains BBQ bragging rights: It goes without saying that North Carolina barbecue is the best in the world. Anything else is fake news. The Runnin’ Bulldogs won the newly minted Clash of the Carolinas “BBQ Bowl” against South Carolina rival Charleston Southern, 17-14. GWU had to hold on at the end. Charleston Southern recovered an onsides kick in the final minute and moved to the Bulldogs’ 12. But a game-tying field goal missed in the waning seconds, keeping the BBQ trophy in the Old Pork State.

Complete performance lifts Elon past Campbell 50-27: Rushawn Baker rushed for 154 and 3 TDs. Matthew Downing threw for 251 and three more TDs. Chandler Brayboy hauled in eight passes for 183 yards (a new career high) and two touchdowns, finishing with an FCS best 309 all-purpose yards after a couple of breakaway kick returns. The Phoenix even got a “Pick-Two”, catching a blocked PAT in midair and returning it for two points.

Division II

Fayetteville State derails Johnson C. Smith’s golden season: The Broncos, winners of the North Carolina-based CIAA Southern division the past six seasons, defeated the upstart Golden Bulls 27-0. FSU did to Smith (which had been undefeated) what Smith has been doing to teams all season — attacking the Bulls on defense (a red zone INT, a 53-yard pick six) and scoring with an opportunistic offense.

All is not lost for Johnson C. Smith at 8-1. Beat Livingstone this week and JCSU should make the CIAA title game, which is most likely going to be a rematch against Virginia Union, a 91-0 winner (!!) over Bluefield State on Saturday. Yikes.

Wingate wins defensive battle with Lenoir-Rhyne: The Bulldogs held the Bears to minus rushing yardage in the first half, while building a 14-0 lead behind touchdowns from O’Brien Barnett (rushing) and Evan McRay (receiving, from Brooks Bentley). That was all the points they would need, holding on 14-10. Lenoir-Rhyne punted nine times, including three in the final quarter. Wingate has now won three in a row over the Bears and controls its destiny in the race to make the South Atlantic title game.

Mars Hill takes sting out of Emory & Henry: Maybe overlooked by Wingate vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, the Lions knocked the Wasps out of the conference lead with a 31-23 win that included two pick-six plays and a solid performance by QB JR Martin.

UNC Pembroke shatters school scoring records: The Braves scored 56 in the first half and beat West Virginia Wesleyan 79-20 on American Indian Heritage Day — 11 touchdowns (including two defense scores) and a safety. Colin Johnson threw four TD passes. Sincere Baines (166 yards) and JaQuan Kelly (116) rushed for three scores between. No North Carolina college team has scored more than UNCP this season. Davidson had held the previous high score of 70.

Division III

Brevard, North Carolina Wesleyan win in-state D3 rival games: Zackary Orr returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and the Tornados rolled past Methodist 44-21. Braxtyn Green kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter to lift the Battling Bishops over Greensboro 23-21.

JUCO

Louisburg Hurricanes earn eighth win: Our state’s lone junior college program beat Nassau College 23-6 to move to 8-2 on the season. The ‘Canes are ranked No. 2 nationally in the NJCAA’s Division III.

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