WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest used a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort to defeat North Carolina 28-12 on Saturday night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, improving to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

The Demon Deacons rushed for 223 yards on 39 carries while holding the Tar Heels to just 56 yards on the ground. Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford contributed both through the air and on the ground, throwing for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 52 yards and another score.

Carlos Hernandez proved to be the game's most dynamic player, accounting for 181 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on a single carry, caught six passes for 100 yards and another score, and added 30 yards on kick and punt returns. His 70-yard touchdown reception from Ashford in the third quarter extended Wake Forest's lead to 21-9 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Demond Claiborne anchored the Wake Forest ground game with 98 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He scored from 12 yards out late in the second quarter to give the Demon Deacons a 14-3 halftime advantage.

North Carolina relied almost exclusively on kicker Rece Verhoff for its scoring. The Tar Heels made four field goals but never reached the end zone, settling for kicks of 40, 57, 42, and 47 yards. Verhoff also had two attempts blocked, including a 39-yarder in the second quarter and a 45-yarder at the end of the third quarter.

The Tar Heels managed just 257 total yards compared to Wake Forest's 414. North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez completed 21 of 36 passes for 201 yards but was sacked twice and struggled to sustain drives in the red zone. The Tar Heels converted just one of three red zone opportunities into points, settling for Verhoff's 40-yard field goal on their first scoring drive.

Wake Forest opened the scoring on its first possession, taking just 1:49 to march 75 yards in five plays. The drive culminated in Hernandez's 9-yard rushing touchdown, though the score came in unusual fashion. Ashford fumbled after a 9-yard rush, but Hernandez recovered the loose ball and raced 51 yards to the end zone with 13:11 remaining in the first quarter.

The Tar Heels (4-6, 2-4) showed brief signs of life in the first half. After Gavin Gibson forced and recovered a Claiborne fumble at the Wake Forest 31-yard line early in the second quarter, North Carolina drove to the 21-yard line before Verhoff's 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Nick Andersen.

Wake Forest capitalized on the momentum shift, driving 79 yards in 13 plays over 5:40 to extend its lead to 14-3. The drive featured several key conversions, including a fourth-and-one that Ashford converted with a quarterback sneak after an official review confirmed the first down.

North Carolina managed a 57-yard field goal from Verhoff as time expired in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-6 at halftime. The kick followed a drive aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Wake Forest defensive back Aiden Hall.

The third quarter proved decisive. After the Tar Heels kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 14-9, Wake Forest responded immediately. Ashford hit Hernandez in stride on a crossing route, and the versatile playmaker outran the North Carolina defense for a 70-yard touchdown just 52 seconds later.

North Carolina's offense struggled with third-down efficiency, converting just four of 14 attempts. The Tar Heels also lost the time of possession battle 29:58 to 30:02, despite appearing to control tempo for stretches of the third quarter when they held the ball for 10:20.

Wake Forest's defense recorded six tackles for loss and two sacks while breaking up six passes. Aiden Hall led all tacklers with nine stops. The Demon Deacons held North Carolina to an average of just 4.2 yards per play.

Ashford sealed the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-two with 22 seconds remaining. The 10-play, 55-yard drive consumed the final 4:59 of game time and featured several crucial third-down conversions.

Jake Johnson led North Carolina receivers with five catches for 54 yards, while Demon June rushed for 32 yards on nine carries. Khmori House paced the Tar Heels defense with nine tackles, including a sack.

The loss dropped North Carolina to 4-6 overall, putting bowl eligibility in jeopardy with just two regular-season games remaining. Wake Forest has now won three of its last four games.

Top Performers:

• Carlos Hernandez, WF: 181 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs (1 rushing, 1 receiving)
• Demond Claiborne, WF: 98 rushing yards, 1 TD on 23 carries
• Robby Ashford, WF: 191 passing yards, 1 TD; 52 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Rece Verhoff, UNC: 4-of-6 on field goals, including 57-yarder
• Aiden Hall, WF: 9 tackles, 1 TFL

Kelvin Durham threw five touchdown passes and Johnson C. Smith built a commanding lead before holding off Virginia Union 45-21 to claim the CIAA championship, the program's first conference title since 1969 and first championship game appearance since 1972.

The Golden Bulls (10-1) never trailed after taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, methodically pulling away from the two-time defending champion Panthers (9-2) behind Durham's career performance and a defense that made critical plays at crucial moments.

Durham completed 16 of 29 passes for 285 yards with one interception. He also rushed for a touchdown, finishing with 16 net rushing yards on seven carries.

Durham found Deandre Proctor twice in the end zone, including a 58-yard strike in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 28-14. Proctor finished with seven receptions for 146 yards and two scores. Reggie Brigman also caught two touchdown passes of 19 and 32 yards, while Reginald Daniel added a 33-yard scoring reception.

The victory came in a rematch of a September 20 meeting in Richmond that Virginia Union won 28-10. But this time, Johnson C. Smith flipped the script from the opening drive.

After Virginia Union fumbled away its opening possession, the Golden Bulls marched 26 yards in two plays, with Durham hitting Brigman on a 19-yard touchdown pass at 11:56 of the first quarter. The Panthers fumbled on their next possession, with the ball recovered by Daryl Taybron at the Virginia Union 26-yard line, setting up another quick score.

Durham connected with Daniel for a 33-yard touchdown at 1:07 of the first quarter to make it 14-7 after Lukasz Smolen's extra point.

Virginia Union, which came in averaging 238 rushing yards per game behind CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Curtis Allen, managed to keep pace early. The Panthers answered with a methodical six-play, 11-yard drive that consumed nearly three minutes. On fourth-and-one from the two-yard line, Jaehlan Joyner plunged in for a one-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-7 at 4:57 of the first quarter.

Allen, who led all of Division II with 2,098 rushing yards during the regular season, finished with 183 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. But the Golden Bulls defense, anchored by first-team All-CIAA selections Vincent Hill and Cadricus Stanley, contained him when it mattered most.

The Panthers pulled even at 14-14 early in the second quarter when Allen capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run at 11:44. Allen broke free on the left side for the score, and Brady Myers's extra point tied the game.

But Johnson C. Smith responded immediately with an eight-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Durham finding Proctor for a 25-yard touchdown with 7:15 remaining in the second quarter. Smolen's kick gave the Golden Bulls a 21-14 lead they would never relinquish.

The Golden Bulls took that seven-point advantage into halftime and seized control in the third quarter.

Durham engineered a nine-play, 80-yard scoring drive to open the second half. On second-and-13 from the Johnson C. Smith 42-yard line, Durham dropped back and connected with Proctor down the left sideline. Proctor outran the Virginia Union secondary for a 58-yard touchdown at 5:30 of the third quarter, extending the lead to 28-14 after Smolen's conversion.

Two plays later, Virginia Union quarterback RJ Rosales threw an interception to Tynan Tucker at the Panthers' 29-yard line. Tucker returned it 29 yards to the Virginia Union 23, setting up another Johnson C. Smith scoring opportunity.

The Golden Bulls converted that turnover into points, driving 23 yards in seven plays. Durham capped the drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown at 2:33 of the third quarter to make it 35-14. It marked Durham's only rushing touchdown of the game.

Virginia Union, trying to become the first CIAA program to win three consecutive championships since the conference split into divisions in 2002, mounted one final charge in the fourth quarter. The Panthers put together a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took more than four minutes off the clock. Allen finished it with a five-yard touchdown run at 4:58 of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 38-21.

That score came after Smolen had kicked a 40-yard field goal at 9:14 of the fourth quarter to give Johnson C. Smith a 38-14 cushion. The field goal capped an 11-play, 49-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes.

But the Golden Bulls defense, which held Virginia Union to 150 passing yards and forced two interceptions, shut down the Panthers' comeback hopes. Durham then delivered the final blow with 58 seconds remaining, hitting Brigman for a 32-yard touchdown pass that sealed the victory at 45-21. The score completed a six-play, 50-yard drive.

The championship capped a remarkable season for Johnson C. Smith under third-year head coach Maurice Flowers, who was named CIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Bulls to their first championship appearance in 53 years. The victory gave the program 10 wins for the first time in school history and validated a rebuilding effort that began when Flowers, a Johnson C. Smith graduate, took over the program.

Freshman running back Bobby Smith, the CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, provided balance to the Johnson C. Smith attack with 78 net yards on 23 carries. Smith's emergence this season gave the Golden Bulls a formidable ground game to complement Durham's passing prowess, forcing defenses to account for multiple threats.

The Johnson C. Smith defense recorded seven tackles for loss and consistently pressured Rosales, who completed just 10 of 22 passes with two interceptions. Jalen Alexander led the defensive front with six total tackles and two tackles for loss totaling six yards. TyQueron Hines added six total tackles and broke up two passes in the secondary. Elijah Wilson also broke up two passes.

Vincent Hill led all tacklers with seven total stops, while Stanley added six tackles. Kristian Eanes contributed five tackles with one tackle for loss.

Virginia Union, which entered as the top seed after going 7-0 in conference play, struggled to establish rhythm against a Johnson C. Smith defense that had limited Allen to 114 yards in their September meeting. Rosales managed 45 net rushing yards on 12 carries, but the Panthers couldn't sustain drives consistently enough to mount a serious threat after falling behind by three touchdowns.

The Golden Bulls controlled possession for nearly 30 minutes, converting nine of 12 third-down attempts while limiting Virginia Union to four of 12 on third down. That time of possession advantage allowed Johnson C. Smith to dictate tempo and keep Allen off the field for extended stretches.

Latrae Bass and Tucker each recorded interceptions for the Golden Bulls, with Bass picking off Rosales at 9:45 of the first quarter at the Virginia Union 50-yard line. Tucker's interception in the third quarter proved more costly, setting up the touchdown that gave Johnson C. Smith a commanding 35-14 lead.

The championship marked redemption for the Golden Bulls, who had watched Virginia Union celebrate back-to-back titles while building toward this moment. Johnson C. Smith's only loss this season came against these same Panthers in September, a defeat that served as motivation throughout the remainder of the campaign.

Durham's performance showcased the chemistry he developed with his receiving corps throughout the year. Proctor, a first-team All-CIAA selection, proved to be a dynamic threat downfield, averaging 20.9 yards per reception. Brian Lane added three catches for 18 yards, while Cayden Bell-McKethan hauled in a 23-yard reception in the first quarter. Jabreel Murray caught one pass for four yards.

The offensive line, anchored by Lineman of the Year Jamari Mason, provided Durham with protection throughout the afternoon. The Golden Bulls allowed no sacks and opened lanes for Smith's rushing attack, demonstrating the balance that made them one of the conference's most complete teams.

Smolen handled all the kicking duties for Johnson C. Smith, converting seven of eight extra points and making his lone field goal attempt from 40 yards. He also punted twice for 84 yards, with both punts landing inside the 20-yard line. On kickoffs, Smolen sent eight kicks for 481 yards, averaging 60.1 yards per kickoff with three touchbacks.

Virginia Union's bid for a historic three-peat came up short despite Allen's remarkable season that saw him lead Division II in multiple statistical categories. The senior running back finished his career with one of the most productive seasons in conference history but couldn't deliver one final championship for the Panthers.

Zyaire Tart provided a spark in the return game for Virginia Union, returning three kickoffs for 52 yards and handling punt return duties. Ricky Key Jr. led the Panthers' receiving corps with four catches for 79 yards, while Tart added four receptions for 33 yards.

The loss snapped Virginia Union's seven-game winning streak and denied the program a chance to cement a dynasty. Instead, Johnson C. Smith will carry the CIAA banner as conference champions for the first time in more than a half century.

For a program that had gone decades without a championship appearance, Saturday's victory represented more than just a trophy. It validated the vision Flowers brought when he returned to his alma mater and confirmed that Johnson C. Smith football had returned to prominence in the CIAA.

The Golden Bulls now celebrate a championship that bridged generations and brought glory back to Charlotte. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Johnson C. Smith players rushed the field in celebration, culminating a journey that ended with a championship trophy in Durham. The 56-year wait was finally over.

Top Performers

• Kelvin Durham, QB, Johnson C. Smith: 16-of-29 passing, 285 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT; 7 carries, 16 net rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
• Deandre Proctor, WR, Johnson C. Smith: 7 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs (long of 58)
• Curtis Allen, RB, Virginia Union: 25 carries, 183 yards, 2 TDs (long of 45)
• Bobby Smith, RB, Johnson C. Smith: 23 carries, 78 net yards
• Reggie Brigman, WR, Johnson C. Smith: 3 receptions, 61 yards, 2 TDs
• Vincent Hill, LB, Johnson C. Smith: 7 total tackles (4 solo, 3 assists)
• Tynan Tucker, DB, Johnson C. Smith: 1 interception, 29-yard return

GREENSBORO - Cameron Turner threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Shamar Privette with 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, lifting Greensboro College to a 13-12 victory over Methodist University at Pride Field on Saturday.

The play came on second-and-8 from the Greensboro 22-yard line and capped a three-play, 80-yard drive that took just 46 seconds. Turner had rushed for 12 yards on first down before connecting with Privette for the game-winning score. The Pride failed on a two-point conversion attempt but held on for the win.

Methodist had taken a 12-7 lead earlier in the fourth quarter on Ethan Emery's 24-yard field goal with 11:13 left in the game. That kick completed a 14-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 7:46 of clock time. The Monarchs had driven inside the Greensboro 10-yard line but were pushed back by a false start penalty before the field goal attempt.

Greensboro struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on Turner's 10-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the first quarter. The Pride marched 69 yards in 10 plays on that opening drive, benefiting from a Methodist offsides penalty on fourth-and-1.

Methodist responded early in the second quarter when Kolbe Little scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:16 remaining in the half. The Monarchs had moved 56 yards in nine plays, but Emery's extra point attempt sailed wide, leaving Methodist trailing 7-6. The Monarchs added a 22-yard field goal from Emery with 1:08 left before halftime to take a 9-7 lead into the break.

Turner finished 10-of-18 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 50 yards and another score on 13 carries. Privette caught three passes for 104 yards and the decisive touchdown. KJ Brown added four receptions for 33 yards for Greensboro.

For Methodist, quarterback play was split between Little and Asa Windham. Little completed 7-of-15 passes for 67 yards with one interception, while Windham was 8-of-12 for 81 yards. Kyan McCollum led the Monarchs' ground game with 62 yards on 16 carries.

Jay Law paced Greensboro's defense with 13 total tackles (10 solo), while Frank Walker recorded 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Kalil Marcus intercepted Little's pass in the first quarter and also broke up a pass.

Anthony Smith led Methodist with seven solo tackles. The Monarchs held a 36:17 to 23:43 advantage in time of possession but converted just 5-of-14 third-down attempts. Greensboro went 3-for-11 on third down.

Methodist falls to 1-8 on the season, while Greensboro improves to 2-7 with the come-from-behind victory.

Key Performers:

• Shamar Privette (Greensboro): 3 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
• Cameron Turner (Greensboro): 10-18 passing, 163 yards, 1 TD; 13 rushes, 50 yards, 1 TD
• Jay Law (Greensboro): 13 total tackles
• Kyan McCollum (Methodist): 16 rushes, 62 yards

CHARLOTTE – Will Henderson III rushed for 185 yards and a touchdown, and Owen McCown threw for 306 yards and two scores as UTSA defeated Charlotte 28-7 at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday.

The Roadrunners (5-5, 3-3 American) controlled the game from start to finish, outgaining the 49ers 521-197 in total offense. UTSA averaged 6.9 yards per play compared to Charlotte's 3.4, and the visitors converted 7 of 13 third-down attempts while holding the 49ers to 6 of 15.

McCown connected with Devin McCuin for a 45-yard touchdown on UTSA's second possession of the game, capping an 85-yard drive that took just over two minutes. The Roadrunners reached the red zone three times in the first half but had to settle for a 7-0 lead at intermission after Michael Petro missed field goals from 33 and 35 yards.

Charlotte's defense kept the game close through 30 minutes, allowing just seven points despite UTSA crossing midfield on four of five first-half possessions. Gavin Shipman intercepted McCown in the end zone on the Roadrunners' second drive, and Randy Franklin broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone to end the half.

"We had our chances; it was a one-score game at halftime," Charlotte head coach Tim Albin said. "We couldn't get anything going offensively, consistently. The run game is a problem and it's no fun to play quarterback when you can't run the ball consistently."

The 49ers (1-9, 0-7 American) managed just 51 rushing yards on 30 attempts, an average of 1.7 yards per carry. Charlotte has now been held to fewer than 100 rushing yards six times this season and under 200 total yards twice.

UTSA broke the game open in the second half. Petro missed another field goal attempt from 35 yards to open the third quarter, but Henderson took over on the next possession. The running back carried 19 times for 190 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown run that put the Roadrunners ahead 14-0 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown run was part of an 80-yard drive that required just five plays and took 2:02 off the clock. Henderson averaged 9.7 yards per carry and accounted for more than half of UTSA's 215 rushing yards.

McCown added his second touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, finding David Amador II from seven yards out to cap a 67-yard drive and push the lead to 21-0. The touchdown came just 13 seconds into the fourth quarter after UTSA converted a fourth-and-two on the previous play.

Derrick Eley provided the lone highlight for Charlotte on the ensuing kickoff. After a penalty moved the kickoff to the 20-yard line, Eley fielded the ball at the 12 and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown. The return marked the fifth kickoff return touchdown in program history and the first since Aaron McAllister's 97-yarder. Eley's return is the fourth-longest in school history and the sixth-longest all-purpose play the program has produced in its 13 seasons.

"Coach [Brian] Haines has done a tremendous job on those [special teams] units," Albin said of his special teams coordinator. "Derrick is obviously very exciting and electric. Every time he gets the ball in his hands, you think he's going to score. I thought he should've scored last week at East Carolina."

UTSA answered quickly, putting together a 65-yard touchdown drive on its next possession. McCown capped the seven-play march with a two-yard rushing touchdown with 5:46 remaining, restoring the three-touchdown advantage at 28-7.

McCown completed 24 of 37 passes with one interception. His top target was McCuin, who caught seven passes for 100 yards and the touchdown. AJ Wilson added five receptions for 87 yards, while Houston Thomas had four catches for 54 yards.

The Roadrunners controlled possession for 31:14 compared to Charlotte's 28:46. UTSA also held a 29-13 advantage in first downs and forced four sacks.

Charlotte quarterbacks Grayson Loftis and Zach Wilcke combined to complete 16 of 28 passes for 146 yards and an interception. Loftis was 13 of 24 for 100 yards and was sacked three times, while Wilcke went 3 of 4 for 46 yards with an interception and one sack.

Javen Nicholas led Charlotte's receiving corps with six catches for 45 yards. Sean Brown had four receptions for 43 yards. On the ground, Cameren Smith rushed nine times for 37 yards, and Jariel Cobb added 26 yards on six carries.

The 49ers reached the red zone just once, and that possession ended with Wilcke's interception on fourth down at the UTSA 17-yard line with 2:15 remaining in the game.

Charlotte honored 26 seniors before the game in a pregame ceremony. The group combined for 393 games played and 136 starts as members of the program.

"I'm very proud of our 26 seniors," Albin said of his first senior class at Charlotte. "They could've chosen to walk out of here with the coaching change but they chose to stay. I thanked every one of them today on the field for probably the 1,000th time and I thanked them after the game. We are building something from the inside out and they helped lay the foundation. We have an unbelievable fan base that has supported us all year long. I know our football team appreciates it."

UTSA's defense forced one fumble and recorded one interception. Tyan Milton intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards. The Roadrunners recorded five tackles for loss totaling 31 yards and had three sacks for 26 yards.

Charlotte's defense registered four tackles for loss for 31 yards but did not record a sack. Gavin Willis led the 49ers with seven solo tackles and nine total stops. Thailand Baldwin and Kadin Schmitz each finished with six tackles.

For UTSA, Shad Banks Jr. led the defense with seven solo tackles and eight total. Tyan Milton and Zach Morris combined for 10 tackles from the secondary.

Charlotte closes the regular season with road games at No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 22 and at Tulane on Nov. 29. UTSA returns home to face Army West Point on Nov. 23.

Key Performers

UTSA

• Will Henderson III: 19 rushes, 185 yards, 1 TD (59-yard long)
• Owen McCown: 24-37, 306 yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
• Devin McCuin: 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

Charlotte

• Derrick Eley: 88-yard kickoff return TD
• Javen Nicholas: 6 receptions, 45 yards
• Gavin Willis: 9 total tackles

DURHAM – Josh Shaw's 30-yard touchdown run with 1:51 remaining lifted South Carolina State to a 34-27 victory over North Carolina Central on Friday night at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, extending the Bulldogs' winning streak to eight games and keeping their MEAC championship hopes alive.

The victory improved South Carolina State to 8-3 overall and a perfect 4-0 in conference play, while N.C. Central dropped to 7-4 and 2-2 in the MEAC.

Shaw finished with 83 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, capping a pivotal fourth quarter in which South Carolina State outgained the Eagles 161-52 in total offense. His game-winning score came on the first play after a two-minute warning timeout, as the Bulldogs needed just six plays to cover 52 yards in 3:16 following a punt from the N.C. Central 5-yard line.

"We just kept grinding," could have been the motto for South Carolina State, which controlled possession for more than 36 minutes and converted 10 of 17 third-down attempts while building a decisive advantage in total offense, 454-306.

Quarterback William Atkins IV completed 24 of 36 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs, though he was sacked five times and threw one interception. His connection with Jordan Smith proved particularly effective, as Smith hauled in seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.

The game featured five lead changes and one tie, with neither team leading by more than 14 points at any stage.

South Carolina State struck first on its second possession, driving 27 yards in 10 plays before Nico Cavanillas Alti connected on a 50-yard field goal at the 6:34 mark of the first quarter. N.C. Central answered quickly, with Kaleb Robison matching from 41 yards out to tie the game at 3-3 after a six-play, 51-yard drive.

The Bulldogs then seized momentum with a stunning 14-point burst in the final 10 seconds of the opening quarter. Atkins found Deyandre Ruffin for a 28-yard touchdown to cap a nine-play, 75-yard march, putting South Carolina State ahead 10-3 with 10 seconds remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs successfully recovered an onside kick at their own 49-yard line, and Atkins immediately launched deep to Nigel Johnson for a 51-yard scoring strike as time expired in the quarter.

The 17-3 deficit proved temporary for the Eagles, who responded with 17 unanswered points in the second quarter.

Robison's second field goal, from 31 yards, cut the margin to 17-6 at the 10:44 mark. Less than a minute later, defensive back Eric Adams intercepted Atkins and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, his second pick-six of the season and fourth interception overall, pulling N.C. Central within 17-13.

The Eagles completed their comeback on their next possession, a methodical 10-play, 98-yard drive that consumed 4:37 and ended with Chris Mosley plunging in from 9 yards out. The touchdown and Robison's extra point gave N.C. Central its first lead of the night, 20-17, with 2:58 left in the half.

Mosley finished with 105 yards on 21 carries, recording his fifth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. He also caught one pass for no yards.

South Carolina State tied the game at 20-20 early in the third quarter when Alti converted a 28-yard field goal following a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff of the second half. The seven-play, 35-yard drive took 3:13 off the clock.

N.C. Central reclaimed the lead just three minutes later when Walker Harris found Mehki Wall streaking down the middle for a 35-yard touchdown, Wall's fourth receiving score of the season. The seven-play, 66-yard drive put the Eagles ahead 27-20 with 8:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Wall led all receivers with 88 yards on five catches. Harris completed 13 of 31 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown but was sacked three times and struggled to maintain consistency in the passing game.

South Carolina State answered with its own lengthy scoring drive to open the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs marched 80 yards in 13 plays, converting three third downs along the way before Atkins hit Smith for a 24-yard touchdown with 13:25 left in regulation. The extra point tied the game at 27-27.

N.C. Central's ensuing possession stalled at its own 30-yard line after a three-and-out, and the Eagles punted to the South Carolina State 20 with 11:05 remaining.

That set up a critical 10-play drive that reached the N.C. Central 1-yard line before the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs with 6:03 to play. Shaw carried four straight times on goal-line attempts but was stopped short on fourth down by Donquarius Parker and Wisdom Simms.

The Eagles failed to capitalize, going three-and-out from their own 1-yard line before punting back to South Carolina State with 5:07 remaining. The Bulldogs took over at their own 48 and needed just six plays to find the end zone, with Shaw breaking off the decisive 30-yard scoring run.

N.C. Central had one final chance, starting at its own 8-yard line with 1:43 left. Harris completed passes to Wall for 19 yards and Chauncey Spikes for 20 yards to move the Eagles across midfield, but the drive stalled at the South Carolina State 49. Harris's fourth-down pass intended for Mosley fell incomplete with 12 seconds remaining, sealing the Bulldogs' victory.

South Carolina State dominated time of possession in the first quarter, holding the ball for 11:21 compared to just 3:39 for the Eagles. The Bulldogs finished with 39 rushing attempts for 140 yards, while N.C. Central managed just 88 yards on 28 carries.

Defensively, Jelani Vassell paced N.C. Central with a career-high 12 tackles. For South Carolina State, Roderick Kelly recorded eight tackles, including one tackle for loss.

The Bulldogs converted both of their field goal attempts and all four extra points, while the Eagles also went 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs. South Carolina State was penalized four times for 49 yards, while N.C. Central committed four penalties for 43 yards.

N.C. Central will close its regular season on Nov. 22 at Morgan State, while South Carolina State remains in contention for the MEAC title with its unblemished conference record.

Key Performers

South Carolina State:

• William Atkins IV: 24-36, 314 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
• Josh Shaw: 10 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
• Jordan Smith: 7 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD

N.C. Central:

• Chris Mosley: 21 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
• Mehki Wall: 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
• Walker Harris: 13-31, 218 yards, 1 TD

The second round of the NCHSAA playoffs delivered high-scoring nights, tight finishes, and dominant efforts across all eight classifications. Top seeds across the state largely held serve, while several mid-bracket teams continued surprise postseason pushes.

1A

East:
#1 KIPP Pride advanced with a 48-7 win over #8 Sallie B. Howard. #4 Wilson Prep outscored #5 SCPA 64-40, #2 Northside-Pinetown rolled past #7 Hobgood Charter 48-7, and #3 Bear Grass Charter topped #11 North Edgecombe 49-14.

West:
#1 Robbinsville powered through #9 Andrews 56-7, while #4 North Stokes fell to #5 East Columbus 32-21. #2 South Davidson defeated #7 Rosman 27-8, and #3 Thomas Jefferson Classical shut out #6 WSPA 43-0.

2A

East:
Top-seeded #1 Tarboro cruised 52-0 over #16 Camden County. #8 Hobbton edged #9 Lakewood 20-14, #4 East Bladen shut out #20 Union 50-0, and #5 Manteo beat #12 Northampton County 36-8. #2 Warren County handled #18 Rosewood 36-6, #10 East Carteret upset #7 Gates County 61-18, #3 North Duplin blanked #14 Southside 42-0, and #6 Holmes beat #11 Perquimans 55-16.

West:
#1 Murphy dominated #16 Albemarle 57-14. #9 Community School of Davidson stunned #8 Swain County 65-13, while #4 East Wilkes beat #13 Hayesville 44-7. #5 Corvian Community cruised over #12 North Rowan 45-7. #2 Starmount beat #15 Cherryville 56-7, #7 South Stanly shut out #10 Christ the King 38-0, #14 Mountain Island Charter upset #3 Alleghany 7-6, and #11 Mitchell beat #6 Bishop McGuinness 42-12.

3A

East:
#1 James Kenan beat #16 Wallace-Rose Hill 26-7. #9 Ayden-Grifton edged #8 Whiteville 27-26. #13 Farmville Central upset #4 Louisburg 58-27, #5 Martin County held off #12 Wake Prep 28-20, and #2 Pender shut out #15 Hertford County 60-0. #7 Northeastern topped #10 South Columbus 56-21. #14 Kinston upset #3 Midway 34-13, and #6 Pasquotank County beat #11 Princeton 54-41.

West:
#1 Mountain Heritage rolled past #16 West Lincoln 46-13, #9 Hendersonville fell just short against #8 Lincolnton 28-27, and #4 North Stanly held off #13 East Surry 49-45. #5 Providence Grove fell 31-21 to #12 West Davidson. #2 Mount Airy blanked #15 Thomasville 52-0, while #10 Shelby beat #7 East Rutherford 65-34. #3 Eastern Randolph beat #19 Union Academy 43-7, and #6 Walkertown shut out #22 Wheatmore 67-0.

4A

East:
#1 Reidsville dominated #17 Red Springs 44-0. #9 Eastern Wayne beat #8 Southwestern Randolph 49-0, and #4 Central Davidson downed #13 Carver 49-8. #12 North Pitt upset #5 Randleman 28-23. #2 West Craven beat #18 Roanoke Rapids 41-6, #7 T.W. Andrews defeated #10 Clinton 36-17, #3 East Duplin beat #14 North Johnston 48-20, and #11 SouthWest Edgecombe edged #6 Bunn 29-24.

West:
#1 Brevard beat #16 West Stokes 41-14. #8 Burns handled #24 West Stanly 49-7. #4 Pisgah topped #13 West Iredell 41-26, and #5 Mount Pleasant beat #12 Tuscola 44-34. #2 Hibriten beat #18 R-S Central 43-19, #7 Stuart Cramer won a 60-49 shootout over #10 Bandys, #3 Newton-Conover beat #14 Foard 24-14, and #6 Maiden beat #11 North Surry 49-21.

5A

East:
#1 Hunt held off #16 Eastern Alamance 30-28. #8 Southern Nash beat #9 Southeast Alamance 58-39, #4 Croatan defeated #20 Seaforth 49-13, and #12 Havelock upset #5 Currituck 35-14. #2 Northeast Guilford beat #11 West Carteret 49-22, #7 Rocky Mount topped #23 South Granville 28-6, #3 Northside-Jacksonville beat #19 Person 41-20, and #6 St. Pauls defeated #18 Dixon 46-32.

West:
#1 South Point beat #17 Erwin 48-13. #8 Monroe defeated #9 West Rowan 49-14, #4 Crest routed #13 Concord 69-6, and #5 East Lincoln beat #12 West Henderson 56-15. #2 Jay M. Robinson blanked #15 North Davidson 42-0, #10 Oak Grove upset #7 Northwest Cabarrus 36-7, #3 Hickory routed #19 Montgomery Central 45-6, and #6 Franklin edged #11 Forest Hills 14-13.

6A

East:
#1 Jacksonville beat #16 Harnett Central 52-12. #8 Scotland outlasted #9 Terry Sanford 49-40. #4 Union Pines shut out #13 Lee County 35-0, and #5 Williams defeated #12 Franklinton 49-12. #2 Northern Nash beat #18 White Oak 48-18, #7 Seventy-First topped #10 South Johnston 22-3, #3 Middle Creek beat #14 West Brunswick 52-20, and #6 Southern Alamance beat #11 J.H. Rose 55-36.

West:
#1 Watauga beat #16 St. Stephens 47-6. #8 Charlotte Catholic shut out #9 A.C. Reynolds 27-0. #4 Freedom beat #20 Central Cabarrus 40-6, and #5 Sun Valley handled #12 Olympic 42-6. #2 Northern Guilford beat #15 Asheville 46-13, #10 Kings Mountain edged #7 T.C. Roberson 21-20, #3 Ashbrook beat #14 Statesville 22-14, and #11 Dudley upset #6 Asheboro 21-6.

7A

East:
#1 Cardinal Gibbons rolled past #24 Ashley 52-8. #8 Hillside blanked #9 Ashley 33-0, #4 Garner beat #14 New Hanover 37-24, and #5 Cape Fear routed #13 Wake Forest 47-7. #2 Cleveland handled #17 South Garner 55-3, #7 Southeast Raleigh topped #10 New Bern 62-28, #3 Clayton beat #18 South Garner 29-0, and #6 D.H. Conley beat #12 Sanderson 44-32.

West:
#1 Grimsley beat #17 West Cabarrus 42-7. #8 Jack Britt edged #9 Davie County 22-20. #4 Mooresville defeated #13 Butler 38-14, and #5 Reagan beat #12 A.L. Brown 42-7. #2 Weddington shut out #15 Marvin Ridge 63-0, #7 Lake Norman beat #10 East Forsyth 28-14, #3 Independence beat #14 Page 45-6, and #6 Richmond Senior held off #11 Porter Ridge 48-43.

8A

East:
#1 Hoggard dominated #9 Willow Spring 48-0. #5 Rolesville upset #4 Apex Friendship 14-7, #2 Millbrook blanked #7 Panther Creek 65-0, and #3 Jordan edged #6 Leesville Road 28-24.

West:
#1 Hough powered past #9 Palisades 63-7. #5 West Forsyth upset #4 Mallard Creek 16-10, #2 West Charlotte beat #7 Providence 41-0, and #3 Myers Park beat #11 Chambers 42-0.

Third Round Matchups

(All matchups listed in bracket order, using seeds)

1A

East:
#1 KIPP Pride vs #4 Wilson Prep
#2 Northside-Pinetown vs #3 Bear Grass Charter

West:
#1 Robbinsville vs #5 East Columbus
#2 South Davidson vs #3 Thomas Jefferson Classical

2A

East:
#1 Tarboro vs #8 Hobbton
#4 East Bladen vs #5 Manteo
#2 Warren County vs #10 East Carteret
#3 North Duplin vs #6 Holmes

West:
#1 Murphy vs #9 Community School of Davidson
#4 East Wilkes vs #5 Corvian Community
#2 Starmount vs #7 South Stanly
#11 Mitchell vs #14 Mountain Island Charter

3A

East:
#1 James Kenan vs #9 Ayden-Grifton
#13 Farmville Central vs #5 Martin County
#2 Pender vs #7 Northeastern
#6 Pasquotank County vs #14 Kinston

West:
#1 Mountain Heritage vs #8 Lincolnton
#4 North Stanly vs #12 West Davidson
#2 Mount Airy vs #10 Shelby
#3 Eastern Randolph vs #6 Walkertown

4A

East:
#1 Reidsville vs #9 Eastern Wayne
#4 Central Davidson vs #12 North Pitt
#2 West Craven vs #7 T.W. Andrews
#3 East Duplin vs #11 SouthWest Edgecombe

West:
#1 Brevard vs #8 Burns
#4 Pisgah vs #5 Mount Pleasant
#2 Hibriten vs #7 Stuart Cramer
#3 Newton-Conover vs #6 Maiden

5A

East:
#1 Hunt vs #8 Southern Nash
#4 Croatan vs #12 Havelock
#2 Northeast Guilford vs #7 Rocky Mount
#3 Northside-Jacksonville vs #6 St. Pauls

West:
#1 South Point vs #8 Monroe
#4 Crest vs #5 East Lincoln
#2 Jay M. Robinson vs #10 Oak Grove
#3 Hickory vs #6 Franklin

6A

East:
#1 Jacksonville vs #8 Scotland
#4 Union Pines vs #5 Williams
#2 Northern Nash vs #7 Seventy-First
#3 Middle Creek vs #6 Southern Alamance

West:
#1 Watauga vs #8 Charlotte Catholic
#4 Freedom vs #5 Sun Valley
#2 Northern Guilford vs #10 Kings Mountain
#3 Ashbrook vs #11 Dudley

7A

East:
#1 Cardinal Gibbons vs #8 Hillside
#4 Garner vs #5 Cape Fear
#2 Cleveland vs #7 Southeast Raleigh
#3 Clayton vs #6 D.H. Conley

West:
#1 Grimsley vs #8 Jack Britt
#4 Mooresville vs #5 Reagan
#2 Weddington vs #7 Lake Norman
#3 Independence vs #6 Richmond Senior

8A

East:
#1 Hoggard vs #5 Rolesville
#2 Millbrook vs #3 Jordan

West:
#1 Hough vs #5 West Forsyth
#2 West Charlotte vs #3 Myers Park

WINSTON-SALEM – Winston-Salem State University is preparing for a major transition in its football program following the announcement that head coach Robert Massey will step down at the end of the year. Massey, who has led the Rams since 2019, informed university officials of his decision and will officially resign effective December 31, 2025. He will continue coaching through December and assist with transition planning, focusing on recruiting, player development, and program operations.

Massey’s tenure at WSSU has been marked by both challenges and achievements. Over six seasons, he compiled a 25-34 overall record, including a 20-23 mark in CIAA conference play. The Rams experienced a difficult stretch with four consecutive losing seasons, the longest such streak for the program since 1976. However, Massey’s leadership brought a turnaround in 2024, when the team posted its only winning record under his guidance, finishing 7-3. The 2025 season saw the Rams end with a 4-6 record, signaling the end of an era.

University officials and student-athletes have expressed gratitude for Massey’s dedication and impact. Chancellor Bonita J. Brown praised his commitment, stating, “Coach Massey has served our student-athletes with dedication and care. We are grateful for his leadership and for the positive impact he has had on Rams Football.” Massey is credited with strengthening recruiting pipelines, improving day-to-day operations, and expanding support systems for student-athletes. His focus extended beyond the field, emphasizing personal growth and the development of a positive team culture.

Reflecting on his time at WSSU, Massey said, “Athletics is about more than competition; it’s about helping young people discover who they can become. I am proud of the student-athletes I’ve been able to coach and the culture we built together. WSSU will always have a special place in my heart.”

Massey’s coaching career began at North Carolina Central, his alma mater, where he served as a wide receivers and defensive backs coach. Before joining WSSU, he held head coaching roles at Livingstone College (interim, 2005-2006) and Shaw University (2012-2015), compiling a combined record of 16-44. His experience as a coach was preceded by a notable NFL career, highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 1992 as a member of the Phoenix Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals).

With Massey’s departure, WSSU will begin the search for its next head football coach. While the process is underway, position coaches and administrative staff will oversee daily activities to ensure continuity. Interim Director of Athletics Eric Burns emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting student-athletes academically, personally, and athletically during the transition.

This was first reported by HBCU Gameday.