The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its football playoff brackets Sunday, setting the stage for first-round action across all eight classifications beginning Friday, November 7.

In a historic shift, the NCHSAA expanded from four classifications to eight this season, creating new opportunities for teams across the state. A total of 330 teams earned playoff berths based solely on RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), with brackets ranging from 22 teams in 1A to 48 teams in most other classifications.

Defending Champions in New Landscape

The classification expansion has reshuffled last year's state champions into different competitive tiers. Tarboro, the defending champion from the old system, enters as the No. 1 seed in 2A East. Monroe, another 2024 titleholder, claimed the No. 8 seed in 5A West. West Charlotte secured the No. 2 seed in 8A West, while Grimsley earned the top seed in 7A West as it looks to defend its crown.

The new eight-classification structure creates fresh championship races across the state, with no defending champions in 1A, 3A, 4A, or 6A under the restructured system.

Top Seeds Across Classifications

Several programs secured the No. 1 seeds in their respective brackets:

East: KIPP Pride (1A), Tarboro (2A), James Kenan (3A), Reidsville (4A), Hunt (5A), Jacksonville (6A), Cardinal Gibbons (7A), and Hoggard (8A) earned top billing in the Eastern brackets.

West: Robbinsville (1A), Murphy (2A), Mountain Heritage (3A), Brevard (4A), South Point (5A), Watauga (6A), Grimsley (7A), and Hough (8A) claimed the top seeds in the Western brackets.

First-Round Byes and Matchups

The top five seeds in 1A received first-round byes, while other classifications feature full brackets. Notable first-round matchups include several inter-regional contests, with teams like Washington County (1A East No. 6) facing Winston-Salem Prep (1A West No. 6) in cross-bracket play.

In 1A East, No. 8 Sallie B. Howard faces No. 9 Columbia, while No. 7 Hobgood Charter takes on Rosman from the West bracket. The 1A West bracket features Andrews (No. 9) traveling to College Prep & Leadership Academy (No. 8).

Competitive Balance Across State

The expansion to eight classifications aims to create more competitive balance across North Carolina's diverse football landscape. Traditional powers are spread throughout the new system, with programs like Reidsville (4A East No. 1), Cardinal Gibbons (7A East No. 1), and perennial contenders finding new homes in the restructured format.

The 2A brackets are particularly deep, featuring 22 teams in each region. Murphy, a storied program in western North Carolina, leads the 2A West bracket, while Tarboro's defending championship pedigree makes it the team to beat in the East.

Mid-tier classifications showcase competitive depth, with Hunt leading 5A East and South Point topping 5A West. The state's largest classification, 8A, features 24 teams with Hoggard and Hough as the respective regional favorites.

Road to Championships

Teams will battle through multiple rounds over the coming weeks, with state championship games scheduled for mid-December. The RPI-based seeding system eliminates subjective selection, with every playoff berth and seed determined by the mathematical formula that weighs winning percentage, opponents' winning percentage, and opponents' opponents' winning percentage.

Friday night's opening round marks the beginning of a new era in North Carolina high school football, as the expanded playoff system provides more teams the opportunity to compete for state titles while maintaining competitive balance across all eight classifications.

FAYETTEVILLE – Braylon Knapp threw four touchdown passes and N.C. Wesleyan scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull away from Methodist 48-17 at Monarch Stadium on Saturday.

The Bishops improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while the Monarchs fell to 1-7 and 0-5.

Knapp completed 9 of 16 passes for 183 yards without an interception, connecting with four different receivers for scores. Michael Pannell caught two of those touchdowns and returned a punt 61 yards for another score, finishing with five receptions for 84 yards.

N.C. Wesleyan needed more than six minutes to find the end zone on its opening possession, capping a 13-play, 77-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Knapp to Tyson Resper. The Bishops added two more scores in a span of 40 seconds late in the first half. Knapp found Sean Cartwright for a 66-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0, then Pannell took a punt back for a score on the ensuing possession to extend the lead to 21-0.

Methodist responded immediately with a 40-yard touchdown run by CJ Ferguson, cutting the deficit to 21-7 with 7:26 remaining in the second quarter. The Monarchs added a 22-yard field goal from Ethan Emery before halftime to pull within 21-10.

The third quarter featured another explosive offensive stretch from N.C. Wesleyan. After Ferguson scored on a 14-yard run to make it 27-17, the Bishops answered with a five-play, 72-yard drive that took less than three minutes. Knapp connected with Pannell for a 55-yard touchdown pass to push the advantage back to 34-17.

Nahji Seagraves carried the ball 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown for the Bishops. His 1-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter made it 41-17. Seagraves had rushes of 25 and 13 yards during N.C. Wesleyan's ground attack.

The game's final touchdown came on defense. Savon McKeithan intercepted a Kolbe Little pass at the N.C. Wesleyan 20-yard line and returned it 80 yards for a score with 5:54 remaining to set the final margin.

Ferguson led Methodist's rushing attack with 18 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Little completed 14 of 27 passes for 147 yards with one interception. Bryson Ausby caught three passes for 30 yards and returned six kickoffs for 163 yards.

N.C. Wesleyan controlled possession for just 23:46 compared to Methodist's 36:14, but the Bishops made the most of their opportunities. They converted 5 of 9 third-down attempts and scored on all three of their red zone possessions. Methodist went 5 of 15 on third down and managed just two scores in four red zone trips.

The Bishops averaged 6.9 yards per play compared to 5.0 for the Monarchs. Knapp averaged 20.3 yards per completion, while Little averaged 10.5. N.C. Wesleyan's special teams provided a significant advantage, with Braxtyn Green averaging 45.2 yards per punt with two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Methodist's Kenneth Schoene averaged 30.0 yards per punt.

Mathias Winston led the Bishops' defense with 10 tackles, while Eric Cooper added seven tackles and forced a fumble. Lavar Williams recorded N.C. Wesleyan's only sack, a 5-yard loss in the first quarter.

Top Performers

N.C. Wesleyan:

• Braylon Knapp: 9-16 passing, 183 yards, 4 TDs
• Michael Pannell: 5 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TDs; 1 punt return TD
• Nahji Seagraves: 21 rushes, 100 yards, 1 TD
• Savon McKeithan: 80-yard interception return for TD

Methodist:

• CJ Ferguson: 18 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TDs
• Kolbe Little: 14-27 passing, 147 yards, 1 INT
• Bryson Ausby: 6 kickoff returns, 163 yards

WINGATE – Wingate defensive end Elijah Barnes crashed through the line on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime, sacking Khamoni Robinson and forcing a fumble that Tyson Brown recovered to preserve a 38-37 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the South Atlantic Conference, extending their winning streak to four games. Lenoir-Rhyne fell to 5-5 and 4-3 in league play. The victory marked Wingate's fourth consecutive win over the Bears.

After both teams scored touchdowns in overtime, Lenoir-Rhyne coach Doug Socha elected to attempt a two-point conversion rather than kick the extra point for a second overtime period. Robinson dropped back to pass, but Barnes broke through for the game-ending sack.

"It was a hard fought emotional game today," Socha said. "We had some missed opportunities and needed one more play."

The game reached overtime after Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes engineered a nine-play, 74-yard drive in the final 1:53 of regulation. Holmes completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Estronza with 19 seconds remaining to tie the score at 31-31.

Wingate needed just three plays to score in overtime. Xavier Pugh carried for five yards, then Holmes found Jaylen Himes for 10 yards to set up Pugh's 10-yard touchdown run. Caleb Bonesteel converted the extra point for a 38-31 lead.

Robinson answered with a six-yard touchdown run on Lenoir-Rhyne's possession, setting up the decisive two-point attempt.

Holmes completed 23 of 36 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns while adding 50 yards on the ground. Himes caught eight passes for 134 yards and two scores, while Xavier Jackson hauled in five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. Pugh contributed 71 rushing yards and a score along with three catches for 42 yards.

Robinson finished 21 of 30 for 283 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for two more scores. Alex Boyd recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 103 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.

Songa Yates tied a career high with nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown, moving into a tie for seventh place on Lenoir-Rhyne's all-time list with 17 career touchdown receptions. Zion Agnew added five catches for 86 yards and a score.

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped ahead early when Robinson connected with Agnew for a 47-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, capping an eight-play, 75-yard march. The Bears extended their lead to 14-3 when Robinson found Yates for a 52-yard scoring strike on their second possession.

Wingate responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Bonesteel's 24-yard field goal. Holmes completed passes of 23 yards to Himes, 12 yards to Pugh and 10 yards to Estronza during the drive.

The Bears appeared poised to build a commanding lead in the second quarter when they drove inside the Wingate five-yard line. But the Bulldogs' defense held on fourth-and-goal from the two, forcing a turnover on downs.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back Desmond Greene intercepted Holmes on Wingate's ensuing possession, his fourth interception of the season. The turnover set up Robinson's seven-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 21-3 advantage with 1:45 left in the half.

The Bulldogs cut into the deficit before halftime when Holmes hit Himes for 53 yards on the first play of a drive, then connected with him again for a nine-yard touchdown. That made it 21-10 with 1:19 remaining in the second quarter.

Brayden Cresimore's 44-yard field goal as time expired in the half, Lenoir-Rhyne's longest of the season, extended the Bears' lead to 24-10.

Wingate seized momentum in the third quarter with two touchdown drives. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bulldogs took over at their own 40 and drove 60 yards in six plays. Holmes connected with Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown on third-and-three to make it 24-17.

Following another Lenoir-Rhyne punt, Holmes led a six-play, 64-yard scoring drive. He completed a 19-yard pass to Jackson, then gained 11 yards on a scramble to reach the red zone. Holmes found Himes for an 18-yard touchdown that tied the game at 24-24 with 4:05 left in the third quarter.

Chris Harris gave Wingate prime field position late in the third when he sacked Robinson, forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Lenoir-Rhyne 33. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back John Royal intercepted Holmes on third-and-six from the 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter and returned it 52 yards to the Wingate 28. Boyd's five-yard touchdown run six plays later put the Bears ahead 31-24 with 10:58 remaining.

James Ussery intercepted Holmes later in the fourth quarter to give Lenoir-Rhyne possession at its own 41, but the Bears couldn't convert the turnover into points. Ussery finished with a career-high 13 tackles and an interception.

Wingate forced consecutive three-and-outs in the final minutes to set up the game-tying drive. Holmes completed passes of 26 yards to Pugh and 26 yards to Jackson during the march, getting the Bulldogs inside the 10 with 30 seconds left before finding Estronza for the tying score.

Wingate held a 507-453 advantage in total offense. The Bulldogs converted seven of 13 third-down attempts, while Lenoir-Rhyne succeeded on nine of 14. Wingate scored on four of five red zone trips compared to two of four for the Bears.

Jaquan Edwards led Wingate's defense with 10 tackles, while Anthony Dangerfield and Tory Kelly added nine and eight tackles respectively. Harris finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, the forced fumble and fumble recovery. Jonathen Cross contributed six tackles with a tackle for loss, half a sack and a pass breakup.

Tate O'Bryan set a career high with 76 receiving yards for Lenoir-Rhyne. Greene finished with seven tackles and an interception.

The game marked Lenoir-Rhyne's highest-scoring output of the season.

FAYETTEVILLE – Johnson C. Smith scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining to complete a comeback victory over Fayetteville State on Friday afternoon in Fayetteville. The Golden Bulls improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while the Broncos fell to 5-4 and 5-1.

Trailing 14-10 with 3:22 left in the game, Johnson C. Smith quarterback Kelvin Durham engineered a nine-play, 69-yard drive that consumed the final three minutes. Bobby Smith finished the march with a six-yard touchdown run, and Lukasz Smolen's extra point provided the final margin.

The winning drive featured Durham's 15-yard scramble to the Fayetteville State 29-yard line on a first-and-15 play, keeping the drive alive after a false start penalty. The Golden Bulls faced another obstacle when Durham was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Shawn Robinson, creating a third-and-21 situation from the 30-yard line. Durham found Clinton Riley for 12 yards, then converted on fourth-and-9 with a 12-yard run to the six-yard line before Smith's decisive score.

Durham completed 20 of 27 passes for 182 yards with one interception. He also rushed nine times for 33 yards and a touchdown, though he absorbed three sacks. Smith carried 31 times for 113 yards and the game-winning score, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.

Fayetteville State erased a 10-0 deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Bryce Council's 21-yard touchdown run at 13:25 of the final period cut the margin to 10-7. The Broncos took their only lead with 3:28 remaining when Demari Daniels connected with Xayden Watson on a 52-yard touchdown pass, capping a five-play, 92-yard drive that took just 88 seconds.

That scoring drive began at the Fayetteville State eight-yard line following a punt. Daniels completed a 14-yard pass to Unique Kelly, then found Watson streaking down the middle for the touchdown. John Hernandez-Vargas converted the extra point to give the Broncos a 14-10 advantage.

Johnson C. Smith controlled possession for more than 38 minutes compared to Fayetteville State's 21:37. The Golden Bulls ran 68 offensive plays to the Broncos' 50 and held a 328-236 advantage in total yardage.

The game remained scoreless until Johnson C. Smith drove 57 yards in 10 plays on its second possession. The drive stalled at the Fayetteville State 13-yard line, but Smolen converted a 32-yard field goal with 3:36 left in the opening quarter.

Johnson C. Smith extended its lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter. Taking over at the Fayetteville State 30-yard line after a failed fourth-down conversion, the Golden Bulls needed six plays to reach the end zone. Durham capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run at 2:44 of the second period.

Durham set up the score with a 13-yard completion to Lane, reaching the four-yard line. After a one-yard rush, Durham scored on a three-yard run two plays later.

Fayetteville State struggled to generate offense through the first three quarters. The Broncos managed just 87 rushing yards on 25 attempts and completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards. Daniels accounted for all of Fayetteville State's passing production, finishing 16-for-25 with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Council led the Broncos' ground attack with 78 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, averaging six yards per attempt. His 21-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter came on third-and-7 from the Johnson C. Smith 21-yard line, breaking through the middle for the touchdown.

Deandre Proctor caught six passes for 57 yards to lead Johnson C. Smith's receiving corps. Lane added three receptions for 22 yards, while Cayden Bell-McKethan had one catch for 25 yards. Durham spread the ball to eight different receivers.

Watson's two receptions totaled 62 yards and the touchdown for Fayetteville State. Kelly caught three passes for 35 yards, and Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah had four receptions for 23 yards.

The Golden Bulls converted six of 14 third-down attempts and went one-for-one on fourth down. Fayetteville State converted four of 13 third downs but failed on its only fourth-down attempt in regulation.

Penalties proved costly for both teams. Johnson C. Smith was flagged 10 times for 85 yards, while Fayetteville State committed seven penalties for 67 yards. Several of those infractions came at crucial moments, including multiple pass interference calls and false start penalties that disrupted drives.

Jatavien Taylor recorded an interception for Fayetteville State in the second quarter, returning it three yards to set up the Broncos at their own 26-yard line. The turnover ended a Johnson C. Smith drive that had reached the Fayetteville State 35-yard line.

Vincent Hill led Johnson C. Smith's defense with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Jaxson Hickson added six tackles and recorded one sack. Matthew Leach paced Fayetteville State with 12 tackles, while Taylor finished with 10 tackles to go along with his interception.

Robinson registered two sacks for 18 yards for the Broncos, including the crucial third-quarter sack that created the third-and-21 situation on the final drive. Joseph Woodard added another sack for Fayetteville State.

The victory kept Johnson C. Smith in contention atop the conference standings with one regular-season game remaining. Fayetteville State saw its four-game winning streak snapped.

Top Performers:

• Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith: 31 rushes, 113 yards, 1 TD
• Kelvin Durham, Johnson C. Smith: 20-of-27 passing, 182 yards; 9 rushes, 33 yards, 1 TD
• Bryce Council, Fayetteville State: 13 rushes, 78 yards, 1 TD
• Demari Daniels, Fayetteville State: 16-of-25 passing, 149 yards, 1 TD
• Deandre Proctor, Johnson C. Smith: 6 receptions, 57 yards

BREVARD – Brevard imposed its will on both sides of the ball Saturday afternoon, overwhelming Greensboro 34-7 at Pride Field. The Tornados improved to 3-3 with a complete performance that featured a dominant ground attack, timely passing and a relentless defensive effort that held the Pride to just one first-quarter score.

Rayshawn Williams led the offensive charge, rushing 14 times for 125 yards and scoring the game's final touchdown. His physical running style wore down Greensboro's defense, with gains of 36, 15, 12 and 10 yards highlighting his afternoon. Williams also contributed in the passing game, catching one pass for two yards.

The tone was set early, though not in Brevard's favor. Greensboro marched 61 yards on 11 plays on its opening possession, capping the drive when Cameron Turner found Jayden Morrison for a touchdown pass. Reagan Sawyer's extra point gave the Pride a 7-0 lead less than six minutes into the game.

Brevard responded immediately. After a kickoff return that included a personal foul penalty on Greensboro, the Tornados found themselves at the GSO 23-yard line. One play later, Jeremyah Lane burst 23 yards up the left side for a touchdown. Hayden Vandegriff's extra point attempt was blocked, leaving Brevard trailing 7-6 with 6:31 remaining in the opening quarter.

The rest of the game belonged to the Tornados. Brevard scored 14 points in the second quarter, seven in the third and seven in the fourth, while the defense shut out Greensboro over the final three quarters.

Ethan Beamish managed the game efficiently from the quarterback position, completing 8 of 15 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. His 54-yard completion to Alex Bolton in the second quarter set up one scoring drive, while his 31-yard connection with Adam Douglas in the third quarter sparked another. Beamish's most important throw came late in the first half when he hit Christian Roberson for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining before halftime, extending Brevard's lead to 18-7.

Douglas finished with four receptions for 50 yards, serving as Beamish's most reliable target. Roberson caught two passes, including the touchdown, and added a 27-yard kickoff return.

Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel provided explosive plays in the running game, carrying five times for 72 yards and one touchdown. His 26-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Brevard a 12-7 lead. He also broke off runs of 27 and 16 yards, consistently finding gaps in Greensboro's defensive front.

Lane added 23 yards on two carries beyond his touchdown run, while Beamish contributed 11 yards on the ground despite being sacked twice.

The Brevard defense overwhelmed Turner and the Greensboro offense throughout the final three quarters. Baylee Ramey recorded eight solo tackles and five assists for 13 total stops, adding one tackle for loss. His presence in the middle of the field disrupted Greensboro's rhythm repeatedly.

Robert Dorsey terrorized the Pride backfield with six solo tackles, two assists and three tackles for loss totaling 18 yards. He recorded multiple sacks and consistently penetrated into the backfield on rushing attempts.

Turner finished 8 of 19 passing for 83 yards before being replaced by Chase Altis in the fourth quarter. Turner rushed 24 times for 72 net yards but was sacked eight times, losing 44 yards in the process. The constant pressure from Brevard's defensive line and linebackers prevented Greensboro from establishing any offensive continuity.

Altis completed 5 of 10 passes for 70 yards in relief, but by the time he entered the game, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Camron Torrence-Kelly led Greensboro's rushing attack with 88 net yards on 13 carries. Kyjuan Westmoreland added 43 yards on nine attempts. Despite these individual efforts, the Pride managed just 207 net rushing yards as a team and could not sustain drives once Brevard's defense made adjustments after the opening quarter.

Greensboro's receiving corps was led by KJ Brown and Jae'Vian Carr, who each caught three passes for 43 yards. Shamar Privette also caught three passes for 40 yards, but none of Greensboro's receivers found the end zone after the opening drive.

Brevard controlled possession for just 21:25 compared to Greensboro's 38:35, but the Tornados made their opportunities count. They converted 3 of 7 third-down attempts and scored touchdowns on four of their seven trips inside Greensboro territory.

The third quarter proved decisive for establishing the final margin. After Sawyer returned a kickoff for a touchdown to open the second half, giving Brevard a 26-7 lead, Vandegriff's extra point made it 27-7. Greensboro never threatened to make the game competitive again.

In the fourth quarter, Williams capped a three-play, 54-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run. His 36-yard burst up the middle on that drive showcased his ability to break tackles and find space in the open field. Vandegriff's extra point set the final score at 34-7.

Brevard's special teams contributed to the victory beyond the kickoff return touchdown. Samuel Vargas punted twice for 63 yards, pinning Greensboro deep once with a punt inside the 20-yard line. Lane returned one punt for 35 yards, providing excellent field position for the offense.

Vandegriff missed one field goal attempt from 32 yards in the third quarter, but his kickoffs were effective, totaling 360 yards on six attempts with an average of 60 yards per kick.

Greensboro's Guy Galardi III punted three times for 119 yards, averaging 39.7 yards per attempt, but his unit could not overcome the offensive struggles.

The penalties proved costly for both teams but particularly for Greensboro, which committed multiple personal fouls and holding penalties at critical moments. Brevard also committed nine penalties for 111 yards, including holding calls that negated positive plays.

For Brevard, the victory represents a complete team effort and moves the Tornados to .500 on the season. The defense's ability to shut down an opponent after giving up an early touchdown demonstrates growth and resilience. The offense showed balance between the run and pass while protecting Beamish well enough to allow the passing game to complement the ground attack.

Greensboro falls to 1-5, searching for answers on both sides of the ball. The Pride's inability to protect Turner in the pocket and the offense's failure to score after the first quarter will need to be addressed moving forward.

Top Performers

Brevard:

• Rayshawn Williams: 14 rushes, 125 yards, 1 TD
• Ethan Beamish: 8-of-15 passing, 136 yards, 1 TD
• Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel: 5 rushes, 72 yards, 1 TD
• Baylee Ramey: 13 tackles (8 solo, 5 assists), 1 TFL
• Robert Dorsey: 8 tackles, 3 TFL (18 yards)

Greensboro:

• Camron Torrence-Kelly: 13 rushes, 88 yards
• Cameron Turner: 8-of-19 passing, 83 yards, 1 TD (8 sacks)
• KJ Brown: 3 receptions, 43 yards
• Jae'Vian Carr: 3 receptions, 43 yards
• Jadon Barnes: 6 tackles (3 solo, 3 assists)

GREENSBORO – Elijah Kennedy returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown and followed with an 85-yard kickoff return for another score in the final six minutes, lifting NC A&T to a 28-24 victory over Campbell on Saturday at Truist Stadium.

The Aggies trailed 24-21 with 1:49 remaining when Kennedy took the ensuing kickoff following Campbell's go-ahead field goal and raced untouched for the game-winning score. The dramatic finish capped a second-half comeback that saw NC A&T erase a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit.

Campbell appeared in control after Alex Crabb's 38-yard field goal gave the Camels a 24-21 lead with 1:49 left, finishing off a 12-play, 53-yard drive that consumed more than four minutes. But Kennedy's return on the next play immediately flipped the outcome.

The Camels got the ball back at their own 25 with 1:29 remaining. Kamden Sixkiller completed an 18-yard pass to Stevie Keener to move into NC A&T territory, and a facemask penalty on the Aggies advanced Campbell to the NC A&T 40. But Sixkiller was sacked for a two-yard loss, threw two incompletions, and his final pass intended for Daniel Lopes fell incomplete at the NC A&T 23 with 43 seconds left.

Kennedy's heroics began earlier in the fourth quarter when he returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown with 6:12 remaining, tying the game at 21-21 after Campbell had taken a two-touchdown lead.

Campbell opened the scoring when Sixkiller connected with Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox on a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. NC A&T answered on its next possession, capping a six-play, 44-yard drive when Kevin White hit Michael Carlock-Williams with a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.

The Camels retook the lead early in the second quarter on Naieem Kearney's one-yard touchdown run, the culmination of a 15-play, 97-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Campbell extended its advantage to 21-7 early in the fourth quarter when Sixkiller found Trevor Wilson for a nine-yard touchdown pass, finishing a four-play, 35-yard drive.

NC A&T responded with a seven-play, 86-yard scoring drive, pulling within 21-14 when White scored on a three-yard run with 9:37 left in the game. The Aggies' offense produced 49 yards on a completion to Jayvonne Dillard before White's rushing touchdown.

Sixkiller completed 30 of 48 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Campbell. He found nine different receivers, with Randall King catching seven passes. Mike Chandler II added 62 yards on 12 receptions, frequently serving as a safety valve in the passing game.

White finished 12 of 20 passing for 133 yards and one touchdown without an interception for NC A&T. Dillard caught three passes for 63 yards, while Kennedy caught three for 28 yards before his special teams fireworks.

Campbell generated 375 total yards compared to 222 for NC A&T, but the Aggies produced 264 return yards that proved decisive. The Camels held a significant time of possession advantage at 35:18 to 23:59.

Wesley Graves led NC A&T's ground game with 89 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Camels managed just 63 net rushing yards on 32 attempts, averaging two yards per carry.

Campbell's defense recorded three sacks and five tackles for loss. Logan Livermon led the Camels with nine total tackles, while DaVonyae Pettis added five tackles and two tackles for loss.

On the NC A&T side, Joshua Iseah recorded 11 tackles to pace the defense. Marquis Hood contributed five tackles and two sacks totaling 17 yards in losses. Aaron Harris broke up four passes in coverage.

The Camels converted five of 14 third downs and went one of three on fourth down attempts. NC A&T was three of 11 on third downs and did not attempt a fourth down conversion.

Campbell committed nine penalties for 65 yards, while NC A&T was flagged 11 times for 122 yards. The Aggies' pass interference penalties proved costly, setting up multiple Campbell scoring opportunities.

Campbell falls to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play. NC A&T improves to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the league, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Top Performers

NC A&T:

• Elijah Kennedy: 3 receptions for 28 yards, 1 TD; 96-yard punt return TD; 85-yard kickoff return TD
• Kevin White: 12-of-20 passing, 133 yards, 1 TD; 3-yard rushing TD
• Wesley Graves: 18 rushes, 89 yards
• Joshua Iseah: 11 tackles

Campbell:

• Kamden Sixkiller: 30-of-48 passing, 312 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Randall King: 7 receptions, 62 yards
• Naieem Kearney: 1-yard rushing TD
• Logan Livermon: 9 tackles