The 1980s ABC weekend show Wide World of Sports used to trumpet the “Thrill of the Victory and the Agony of Defeat” in its intro.
That description is apt for week 11 of the FCS, D2 and D3 college football season across the Old North State. Yes, we have wins and losses every week, but the impact of this particular series of games seems more pronounced as it came amid a high-stakes weekend with conference titles, playoff berths and regional bragging rights up for grabs.
As the dust settles, several of our teams likely feel like they are standing on a medals podium right now. Others, alas, likely feel like that poor ski jumper ABC showed week after week who wiped out on his way down the ramp, tumbling over the side.
Here are the highs and lows from the past weekend:
Wingate defense flexes in regular season finale: The Bulldogs shut out Newberry 38-0. It’s the third shutout of the season for the No. 1 team in our Fabulous 15, who will play the only team that beat them (Carson-Newman) in next Saturday’s SAC title game.
(It’s a shame we don’t get Mars Hill-Wingate this season. The hurricane-canceled contest could have been a whopper – Mars Hill won for the fourth time in a row Saturday, beating Anderson 31-16).
→ SAC RECAPS: Wingate blanks Wolves; LR bounces back; Mars Hill cruises
The bottom falls out for Johnson C. Smith: After starting the season 8-0, jumping into the national rankings and getting a shoutout on ESPN College GameDay, the Golden Bulls lost their last two outings. Livingstone knocked them off Saturday, 15-10.
Virginia State upset Virginia Union and stole JCSU’s spot in the CIAA title game. The latest loss likely keeps them out of the D2 playoff field
Elon continues its hex over William & Mary: The Tribe has been ranked nationally the past three times they have played the Phoenix. Elon has won all 3 games, including Saturday’s 40-36 come-from-behind triumph in Williamsburg. Matthew Downing threw four touchdown passes for the victors, including the 15-yard game-winner to Onuma Dieke with five seconds to play.
More nail-biting for our FCS teams: Gardner-Webb intercepted a pass in the final minute to preserve a 31-28 win over Eastern Illinois – the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ second win in a row. Richmond, meanwhile, kicked a field goal with one tick on the clock to beat Campbell 27-24.
GWU recorded 11 sacks. The Camels led the Spiders 24-17 in the fourth quarter and picked off a pass in Richmond territory with the score tied 24-24. But that drive came away empty and the Spiders marched the other way for the winning FG.
Blue Ridge Border Battle trophy heads back to Tennessee: Western Carolina let East Tennessee State slip away 24-21, and along with the special trophy, likely has lost its chance to make the FCS playoffs and win the SoCon. A 41-year playoff drought likely will continue.
Tornado dissipation in Rocky Mount: North Carolina Wesleyan ended Brevard’s D3 conference title hopes, getting two field goals from Braxtyn Green in the fourth quarter to slip past 30-24. The Battling Bishops won for the third game in a row to climb to 4-3 in the USA South.
UNC Pembroke underperforming: Well, by their recent offensive standards (We kid, we kid). The Braves “only” scored 58 points in a blowout win over Frostburg State on Senior Day. The Braves had scored 60+ in two other recent games and went for 79 last week against West Virginia Wesleyan. T
he only home loss for UNCP came in week one against Wingate (8-1). The Bulldogs held the Braves to 12 points, which is looking more and more impressive as the weeks go by.
Keep On Runnin’: Davidson’s journey featured Mason Sheron and Mari Adams rushing for 100+ this week to snap a two-game losing skid. The Wildcats beat Morehead State 31-14. Adams has already crossed into 1,000-yard territory. Sheron may get there over the final few weeks of the season. Davidson (6-4) secured its seventh straight winning season.
Overtime, our time: Winston-Salem State won its second OT contest of the season, needing two extra periods to fend off Fayetteville State 37-31. The Rams finish 7-3 and have an outside shot at making the D2 playoffs. It’s WSSU’s best season since their successful run through the CIAA in the mid-2010s.
How our Fabulous 15 Fared In Week 11
