ROCKY MOUNT – The NC Wesleyan Battling Bishops held off a late surge from the Methodist Monarchs to secure a 19-17 victory in a closely contested matchup that showcased contrasting offensive styles.

NC Wesleyan’s big-play offense proved decisive, with quarterback Chaz Hirschman connecting on touchdown passes of 65 and 27 yards to Anthony Byrd and Christian Drumgoole, respectively. Despite attempting fewer passes, Hirschman averaged 12.5 yards per attempt compared to Methodist quarterback Brennan Brucato’s 6.2, finishing with 225 passing yards on just 10 completions.

The Bishops struck quickly in their opening drive, as Hirschman found Byrd for a 65-yard touchdown pass just 62 seconds into the game. Methodist responded in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal by Samuel Andrae, cutting the deficit to 6-3 at halftime.

The third quarter saw an explosion of scoring from both teams. Byrd, who finished with 150 rushing yards on 22 carries, extended NC Wesleyan’s lead with an 8-yard touchdown run. Methodist answered when Sajari Love scored on a 12-yard run, bringing the score to 13-10. Drumgoole’s 27-yard touchdown reception pushed the Bishops’ advantage back to nine points.

In the fourth quarter, Methodist mounted a comeback attempt. Brucato connected with Love for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 remaining, but the Bishops managed to run out the clock on their final possession.

Despite the loss, Methodist dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 34 minutes compared to NC Wesleyan’s 26. The Monarchs ran 76 plays to the Bishops’ 59 but averaged less yardage per play (4.8 to 6.9).

Methodist’s balanced offensive approach resulted in 361 total yards, with Brucato completing 18 of 33 passes for 203 yards and the late touchdown. Love led the Monarchs’ ground game with 71 yards on 15 carries and added 83 receiving yards on six catches.

Drumgoole was Hirschman’s primary target, catching five passes for 92 yards. The Bishops accumulated 407 total yards, with 182 coming on the ground and 225 through the air.

Defensively, Methodist’s Omar Goodwin led all tacklers with 10, including one tackle for loss. The Monarchs recorded two sacks on Hirschman, while the Bishops brought down Brucato once.

Penalties played a significant role in the contest, with NC Wesleyan flagged 13 times for 139 yards, nearly double Methodist’s 8 penalties for 65 yards.

Both teams struggled in key situations. Methodist converted 8 of 18 third downs but failed on their lone fourth-down attempt. NC Wesleyan managed just 3 conversions on 11 third-down attempts.

In the kicking game, Methodist’s Kenneth Schoene averaged 37.6 yards on five punts, while NC Wesleyan’s Braxtyn Green averaged 28.8 yards on four attempts. Green missed an extra point attempt that could have proved costly in the close finish.

Up Next

Both teams are at home in USA South conference action as NC Wesleyan (1-4, 1-2) hosts LaGrange at Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Stadium while Methodist (1-4, 1-2) invites Huntingdon to Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville.

SALISBURY – Livingstone overcame an early deficit to defeat Elizabeth City State 23-17 in a closely contested game that featured identical offensive outputs from both teams.

The Vikings struck first with Riley Higgins connecting on a 30-yard field goal in the opening quarter. Livingstone responded in the second quarter when Christopher Garrett found Chris Washington for a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving the Blue Bears a 7-3 lead.

Elizabeth City State reclaimed the advantage before halftime as quarterback Damarcus Creecy connected with Terrance Holland on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Creecy extended the Vikings' lead to 17-7 early in the third quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run.

The Blue Bears mounted their comeback behind running back Calvin Scott, who broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 17-14. Livingstone took the lead for good in the fourth quarter when quarterback Zorian Wallace hit Hezekiah Massey for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Jason Zapata added insurance with a 49-yard field goal to secure the victory.

Both teams finished with identical offensive totals of 277 yards, including 140 yards rushing and 137 yards passing. Mohamed Nyanamukenga led Livingstone's ground attack with 105 yards on 23 carries, while Zechariah Adams-Duckson paced the Vikings with 56 yards on 10 attempts.

The game was marked by penalties, with Elizabeth City State flagged 13 times for 102 yards and Livingstone seven times for 83 yards. The Blue Bears controlled the clock, holding possession for nearly 34 minutes compared to about 26 minutes for the Vikings.

Defensively, Elizabeth City State's Jonari Carroll led all tacklers with seven total tackles, including one for loss. The Vikings generated consistent pressure, sacking Wallace once and hurrying him multiple times.

Up Next

Livingstone (4-2, 2-1) is celebrating Homecoming with a matchup against Fayetteville State while Elizabeth City State (2-3, 0-2) travels to take on Virginia Union.

BUIES CREEK – North Carolina Central unleashed an explosive offensive performance, dominating Campbell 45-14 in a nonconference Old North State Showdown at Barker-Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles (4-2) established their dominance early, erupting for 28 unanswered points in the second quarter. Quarterback Walker Harris orchestrated the offensive onslaught, connecting on 14 of 23 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score of his own.

NC Central’s ground game proved equally potent, with J’Mari Taylor accumulating 89 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Chris Mosley delivered a spark with a 57-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, finishing with 75 yards on just two attempts.

The Eagles’ defense matched their offense’s intensity, limiting Campbell (2-4) to 103 passing yards and forcing three turnovers. Quantez Mansfield led the defensive charge with six tackles, including 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Malcolm Reed and Tomondrey Braxton each recorded interceptions.

Campbell showed signs of life in the second half when VJ Wilkins broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Mike Chandler II later added a 72-yard scoring dash, the Camels’ longest rushing play since 2017. However, these highlights weren’t enough to overcome the substantial deficit.

The Eagles’ special teams contributed to the victory, with Darryl Taylor returning a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Kicker Juan Velarde was perfect on the day, converting all six extra points and adding a 43-yard field goal.

Campbell’s defense was anchored by Cornelius Davis, who recorded a game-high nine tackles, while Jalen Brooks added seven stops and a sack.

Up Next

NC Central hosts VU-Lynchburg next week in Durham while Campbell will have a bye week before resuming Colonial Athletic Association play at No. 12 William & Mary on October 19.

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers secured their most decisive conference win in program history Saturday, defeating East Carolina 55-24 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in front of 17,102 fans.

The 49ers’ offense operated with precision from the start, opening with back-to-back touchdown drives for the first time under head coach Biff Poggi. Running back Cartevious Norton scored on an 11-yard rush, followed by Deshawn Purdie’s 1-yard touchdown run to give Charlotte an early 14-0 lead.

East Carolina responded with a 38-yard field goal by Noah Perez, but struggled to match Charlotte’s offensive output throughout the game. The Pirates did show signs of life in the second quarter when quarterback Jake Garcia connected with Tyler Savage for a 13-yard touchdown, Savage’s first career score.

Charlotte’s ground game proved unstoppable, with the 49ers rushing for six touchdowns, tying a program record set in 2013 against Morehead State. Hahsaun Wilson led the charge with 164 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, while Norton added 88 yards and two scores.

Charlotte's Hahsaun Wilson scores one of his three touchdowns Photo Credit: Ed Conway

The 49ers’ quarterback Deshawn Purdie had his most productive game of the season, throwing for a career-high 206 yards. Purdie effectively utilized his receivers, connecting with Jairus Mack for gains of 32 and 23 yards to set up scoring opportunities.

Charlotte’s defense matched the offense’s intensity. Elijah Culp intercepted Garcia in the second quarter, leading to a Wilson touchdown that extended the lead. The defensive highlight came in the fourth quarter when Stone Handy returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown, the third-longest interception return in program history and the longest ever by a Charlotte defensive lineman.

The Pirates’ offense showed occasional flashes, particularly in the run game. London Montgomery broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, finishing with a team-high 56 yards on just three carries. Chase Sowell led East Carolina’s receivers with 82 yards on four receptions.

East Carolina’s special teams provided a bright spot late in the game when Winston Wright Jr. returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wright finished the game with 161 all-purpose yards.

Charlotte’s Stephen Rusnak had a notable performance, scoring 13 points on two field goals and seven extra points, the second-highest point total for a kicker in program history.

The victory marked several milestones for Charlotte. The 55 points scored were the most under Coach Poggi and the fifth-highest in program history. The 31-point margin of victory ranks as the second-largest against a conference opponent. The win also gave Charlotte its first 2-0 start in conference play in program history.

For East Carolina, the loss dropped their record to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Head coach Mike Houston’s record against Charlotte fell to 0-2.

Defensively, Charlotte held East Carolina to 343 total yards. The Pirates split quarterback duties, with Jake Garcia completing 6 of 8 passes for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Katin Houser went 11 for 28 for 84 yards and an interception.

The game marked a significant shift in momentum for Charlotte, who had previously relied on comebacks for victories. This time, they controlled the game from start to finish, amassing 517 total yards of offense, including 311 on the ground.

On defense, Charlotte’s pressure was evident, with Lacota Dippre recording his first career sack. The 49ers’ defensive performance was particularly impressive in the first half, holding East Carolina to just 10 points while the offense built a 31-10 lead.

The Pirates’ defense struggled throughout the game, with Ja’Marley Riddle leading the unit with a career-high nine tackles. East Carolina’s defensive line managed only two sacks and five tackles for loss against Charlotte’s efficient offense.

The victory represents a significant step forward for Charlotte’s program under Poggi, demonstrating their ability to compete and win decisively in the American Athletic Conference. For East Carolina, the loss highlights areas needing improvement as they move deeper into their conference schedule.

Up Next

Both teams now enter their scheduled bye week. Charlotte (3-3, 2-0 AAC) will travel to face Navy on October 19, while East Carolina (3-3, 1-1 AAC) will head to West Point to face Army on the same date.

BUIES CREEK – In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, Campbell edged out Delaware State 44-41 on Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium, securing their first home victory of the season. The game was a showcase of offensive firepower, with both teams combining for a staggering 974 yards of total offense.

The star of the day was Campbell's wide receiver Sincere Brown, who put on a spectacular performance with 133 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just five catches. His final score, a two-yard reception from quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr. with only 42 seconds left on the clock, proved to be the game-winner. This clutch play capped off a rapid 79-yard drive that saw the Camels march down the field in just five plays, including crucial catches by VJ Wilkins and RJ Jackson.

Campbell WR Sincere Brown (Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

Mascoe Jr. had an outstanding day under center, completing 18 of 26 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. His connection with Brown and Wilkins, who added 115 yards on seven receptions, was pivotal in keeping the Camels' offense rolling throughout the game.

On the other side of the field, Delaware State's offense was equally impressive. Quarterback Marqui Adams threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns, completing 12 of 23 attempts. The Hornets' ground game was particularly potent, led by running back Jaden Sutton, who racked up an impressive 198 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

The game was a seesaw battle from start to finish, featuring seven lead changes, with five occurring in the fourth quarter alone. Each time one team seemed to take control, the other would respond with a big play or crucial drive.

Campbell's defense, while giving up significant yardage, made key stops when it mattered most. Linebacker Jojo Pace led the unit with 10 tackles and a critical interception, while Jalen Brooks contributed eight tackles. Defensive lineman Elijah Hawk was a disruptive force, recording 1.5 tackles for loss, including one of Campbell's two sacks on the day.

The final moments of the game were filled with tension as Delaware State, trailing by three points, quickly drove to the Campbell 32-yard line with just seconds remaining. However, Michel Bergeron's 49-yard field goal attempt fell short, sealing the victory for the Camels.

This high-scoring affair showcased the offensive talents of both teams. Campbell's passing attack was particularly effective in the second half, accumulating 346 of their 457 total yards through the air. Delaware State, meanwhile, found success on the ground, rushing for 265 of their 517 total yards.

The game also marked a milestone for Campbell's receiving corps, as Brown and Wilkins became only the second pair of Camels to each surpass 100 receiving yards in a single game. The last time this feat was accomplished was in November 2022 against Bryant.

For Campbell, this victory improves their record to 2-3 and provides a much-needed boost of confidence as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season. Delaware State, despite the loss, can take solace in their offensive output and the individual performances of players like Adams and Sutton.

Up Next

Campbell hosts in-state FCS rival NC Central while Delaware State hosts Saint Francis.