ICYMI: Here are the top headlines and highlights to come out of Week 9 of the college football season across the Old North State:
Golden Bulls Stay Unbeaten
Johnson C. Smith beat Winston-Salem State at Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time since 1975. The D2 Bulls have never been 8-0 before, but that is the record they’ll take into next Saturday’s game against Fayetteville State with a CIAA title within reach. It wasn’t always pretty against the Rams, but the outcome was never really in doubt. Read more HERE.
Clock Strikes Midnight On Duke’s Upset Bid
Duke forced six turnovers during Saturday’s primetime ACC Network showdown against visiting SMU. But the Devils couldn’t turn all the takeaways into points and lost 28-27 in overtime. Duke (6-2) had what would have been the game-winning field goal blocked on the final play of the fourth quarter, then misfired on a 2-point conversion attempt in OT.
#WNCStrong: App State Wins Post-Helene Home Game
Just one month ago, Boone was underwater from the horror that was Hurricane Helene. On Saturday, the Mountaineers not only played football at Kidd-Brewer Stadium, they won an emotional 33-26 game over Georgia Southern. No joke, a rainbow appeared over the stadium shortly after the contest.
“Our community is behind us 100 percent, and we’re behind our community 100 percent,” coach Shawn Clark said. “It’s still going to be a long haul for our community, and we’re going to be there every step of the way. I’m just very proud of everyone involved in our program and hope today’s win gave everyone in western North Carolina and Watauga County something to be proud of.”
Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne Avoid Trap-Game Stumbles
We’ve said most of the season that the South Atlantic Conference Piedmont Division will run through either Wingate or Lenoir-Rhyne. The two teams dispatched of divisional foes to stay on top of the Piedmont standings, though both games proved tighter than expected (the Bulldogs beat Catawba 24-15, while the Bears edged Limestone 21-19).
Something will have to give this week, though, as Wingate travels to Lenoir-Rhyne in one of the most anticipated D2 match-ups of the season. We’re here for it!
Football’s ‘A Lot Of Fun’ Again For ECU
The Pirates set a new American Athletic scoring mark less than a week after dismissing coach Mike Houston, dispatching of Temple 56-34. Blake Harrell, elevated to interim head coach last Sunday, piloted East Carolina to its most impressive victory of the season.
“It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it, and I hope Pirate Nation enjoyed it,” Harrell said. “I thought they went and they played free and played for each other and kept at it play after play after play.”
Hampton Hits 1,000; Heels Trample Cavs
Like ECU, North Carolina has been an embattled program this season. The Tar Heels didn’t look like it Saturday, though, thumping Virginia 41-14. Omarion Hampton hit the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for the second year in a row and UNC improved to 3-1 in road games. Can this group (now 4-4) make a bowl game?
Happy Homecoming For Campbell, NC Central, UNC Pembroke
The Camels continued North Carolina A&T’s misery, while the Eagles moved closer to their goal of winning the MEAC by fending off Morgan State in FCS action. UNC Pembroke dismantled West Virginia State 62-17 in a Mountain East D2 contest.
Campbell’s Sincere Brown (150 receiving yards, 2 TDs), NCCU’s J’Mari Taylor (196 yards rushing, 1 TD) and the UNCP trio of Colin Johnson (309 passing yards, 4 TDs), Jo Hayes (139 receiving yards, 3 TDs) and Sincere Baines (124 rushing yards, 2 TDs) played like homecoming kings to lead their teams.
Upset Bids Slip Away For WCU, GWU
Western Carolina built a 24-7 lead at 14th-ranked Mercer, while Gardner-Webb took a 14-0 advantage at No. 6 Southeast Missouri. But neither Old North State squad could finish off their road upsets. WCU had the chance to assume the driver’s seat in the SoCon title chase with a victory Saturday. While the Catamounts aren’t out of contention, this definitely puts a wrench in their quest to claim the elusive trophy.
Brevard Pickin’ And Grinnin’ In Alabama
A pair of pick-sixes — a 60-yard return by James Woods and a 23-yard return by Chase Pfeiffer — powered the Tornados to their first-ever win at Huntingdon, one of the top teams in the USA South. Brevard (4-1 USA South) stayed within reach of the conference leader, Maryville (4-0) with the 25-21 triumph.
Another Streak Of Futility Ends
Shaw marched 80 yards in 13 plays late in the fourth quarter to score the winning touchdown against Fayetteville State. The 38-35 victory ended an 11-year losing streak to the Broncos, who will be left out of the CIAA title game for the first time in seven seasons. FSU missed what would have been the tying field goal with five seconds to go.
Commonwealth Conquerors
Mars Hill and North Carolina Wesleyan won road games in Virginia. The Lions picked off four UVA Wise passes en route to a 31-17 victory, while the Battling Bishops returned the opening kickoff back for a TD on the way to a 34-31 outcome agianst Southern Virginia.
Looking Ahead
We’ll unpack all these headlines and more throughout the next few days. We’ll also start getting you ready for Week 10 games. Here are some of the upcoming games to circle on your calendars:
- Happy Halloween: North Carolina Central travels to South Carolina State on Thursday
- Hickory Headliner: The aforementioned Wingate at Lenior-Rhyne game for SAC bragging rights
- D3 In-State Doubleheader: Methodist at Brevard, NC Wesleyan at Greensboro
- Triangle Triple Threat: UNC at Florida State, Duke at Miami, Stanford at NC State
