HICKORY – Wingate erased a 14-3 halftime deficit to beat Lenoir-Rhyne 20-17 on Saturday at Moretz Stadium, winning on Gunnar Hilsinger’s 25-yard field goal with 1:27 left and sealing it when Anthony Dangerfield intercepted a pass with 51 seconds to play.

The Bulldogs improved to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the South Atlantic Conference. The Bears fell to 3-5 and 2-4.

Hilsinger’s kick capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive that began at the Wingate 15 and used 5:52, right after Lenoir-Rhyne tied the game. Brooks Brien kept it moving with his arm and his legs: a 6-yard completion to Kayden Bash on third-and-5, a 34-yard throw to Xavier Jackson to the Lenoir-Rhyne 25, and a 5-yard run on third-and-4. Jason Willis gained 7 on third-and-11 to set up the kick.

The Bears got the ball back at their 30 with 1:19 left. Elijah Evans sacked Wells Bettenhausen, the next pass fell incomplete, and on third-and-10 Dangerfield picked him off. Brien took a knee to end it.

Wingate’s defense controlled the second half, sacking Bettenhausen six times, five of them in the fourth quarter, and holding the Bears to 51 net rushing yards. Evans had two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble that Geviaunta Walker recovered. Tyson Brown added two sacks. Dangerfield finished with nine tackles and two pass breakups to go with the interception.

The Bulldogs had to climb out of a hole partly of their own making. Hilsinger’s first field goal, ending a 13-play, 72-yard drive, made it 3-0 in the first quarter. After Bryson Steele intercepted Bettenhausen, Brien’s 23-yard throw to Jackson set up first-and-goal at the 7, but Wingate came away empty, turned over on downs at the 4.

Lenoir-Rhyne then scored twice in less than five minutes late in the second quarter. Carson Spoonts, in for a snap in place of Bettenhausen, threw a 48-yard touchdown to Tye Roberson with 6:35 left in the half. Brodie Bradburn intercepted Brien and returned it 43 yards to the Wingate 15, and LJ Turner scored from 5 yards out with 1:51 left. RJ de Madet picked off Brien again before the break.

Wingate opened the second half with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that Willis finished with a 9-yard touchdown run. After Daniel Deneen Jr. missed a 45-yard field goal for Lenoir-Rhyne, Brien found Damonte James for a 51-yard touchdown on third-and-11 with 1:17 left in the third quarter, putting the Bulldogs up 17-14. Deneen had also missed from 34 yards in the first quarter, and the two misses left six points off the board.

The Bears tied it in the fourth, and the drive could have gone differently. An offside penalty on Wingate during a punt gave Lenoir-Rhyne a first down, Mikel McClellan caught a 35-yard pass, and Spoonts ran 18 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown until a holding penalty brought it back. Bettenhausen was sacked on the next play, and Cole Allbaugh kicked a 37-yard field goal with 7:26 left to make it 17-17.

Wingate outgained Lenoir-Rhyne 398-284 and converted 10 of 17 third downs to the Bears’ 4 of 13. Brien threw for 247 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and added 26 rushing yards. Jackson had five catches for 108 yards, and Willis ran for 90 yards. For Lenoir-Rhyne, Bettenhausen threw for 185 yards with two interceptions, Jarrod Mewborn and McClellan combined for 12 catches and 146 yards, Turner ran for 47 yards and a touchdown, and Christian Santana had 12 tackles. The Bears turned the ball over three times to Wingate’s two.

“Very disappointing,” Lenoir-Rhyne coach Doug Socha said. “This is a game that comes down to one score. We had bad penalties, turnovers, and not good enough in critical moments. It starts with me and we will all stay focused on improving.”

Each of Lenoir-Rhyne’s five straight losses to Wingate has come by four points or fewer. The Bears still lead the all-time series 24-18.

Photo Credit: Campbell Athletics

Trailing 24-20, Towson marched 67 yards to the Campbell 8-yard line before Zaydaan Faridi's 26-yard field-goal attempt struck the right upright with 14:50 remaining. The missed opportunity proved costly as the Tigers managed just 46 yards on their final three possessions.

Towson's last chance began at the Campbell 45 with 3:02 remaining, but the Camels forced a turnover on downs at their own 29-yard line to preserve the victory.

The decisive stretch followed a third quarter featuring three lead changes and Campbell's most important defensive play of the afternoon.

Safety Kaleb Simpkins intercepted Towson quarterback Jacob Davis on the first play from scrimmage after halftime, giving the Camels possession at the Tigers' 42-yard line.

Sixkiller capitalized three plays later, connecting with Jyron Waiters on a 22-yard touchdown pass to put Campbell ahead 17-13.

Towson responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Davis' 1-yard touchdown run, to regain the lead at 20-17 with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter.

Campbell answered immediately, covering 71 yards in eight plays before Thomas scored from a yard out to put the Camels ahead for good with 4:54 left in the period.

It was Thomas' second touchdown of the afternoon and his third consecutive game with multiple rushing scores. He finished with 28 yards on seven carries.

The teams had traded scores during a competitive first half. Campbell opened with a 21-yard field goal from Alex Crabb before Towson took a 7-3 lead on Xavier Pugh's 1-yard touchdown run.

Thomas answered with a 13-yard scoring run late in the first quarter, but Davis found CJ Schaeffer for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 remaining before halftime to give the Tigers a 13-10 advantage.

Towson accumulated 282 first-half yards, including 120 rushing, before Campbell's defense limited the Tigers to 160 yards after intermission.

O'Marion Lewis led the Camels with a season-high 13 tackles and a pass breakup, while Simpkins added 10 tackles and his crucial interception. Jordan Jones contributed seven stops.

Sixkiller completed 20 of 30 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Chinua Ezeigbo led Campbell's receivers with five catches for 68 yards, while Waiters added three receptions for 43 yards.

Davis paced Towson with 257 passing yards and 40 rushing yards, accounting for two touchdowns. Pugh rushed for 75 yards and a score, while Cleveland Charlton caught six passes for 88 yards.

Campbell's victory was its sixth against FCS competition this season, establishing a new program record. The Camels previously reached six overall wins in 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Now 3-0 in conference play, Campbell will look to continue its historic start when it travels to Maine on October 24 before visiting UAlbany the following week.

PHILADELPHIA – Six consecutive losses to start the season had left Charlotte searching for answers. On Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, the 49ers finally found them in an offense that refused to stop scoring and a defense that delivered when the game was on the line.

Quarterback Conner Harrell accounted for four touchdowns, Henry Rutledge rushed for a career-high 123 yards, and Charlotte scored 31 second-half points to defeat Temple 38-31, giving the 49ers their first victory of the season.

The win was also a milestone for head coach Tim Albin, who earned his first American Conference victory and his first win over an FBS opponent since taking over the Charlotte program.

The 49ers (1-6, 1-2 American) entered the afternoon having struggled to sustain offensive production throughout the season. Against Temple (2-5, 1-2), they generated 449 total yards, scored five touchdowns and punted just once.

"It's a big win for our program, on the road," Albin said. "Our team showed grit, that's the word that comes to mind in so many areas."

That resilience was particularly evident during a second half in which Temple repeatedly answered Charlotte touchdowns, only for the 49ers to respond with another scoring drive.

Harrell, making his second consecutive start, completed 23 of 31 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also scored twice on designed quarterback runs, including a 10-yard touchdown with 8:40 remaining that put Charlotte ahead for good.

Rutledge provided the foundation for the offensive performance, gaining 123 yards on 17 carries, including a 48-yard run that helped set up a fourth-quarter touchdown. It was his second 100-yard rushing performance in three games.

A defensive stand keeps Charlotte within reach

Charlotte showed signs of improvement immediately, forcing Temple to punt on its opening possession before marching 67 yards for a touchdown.

Harrell connected with tight end Brody Dawyot for a 29-yard gain to the Temple 1-yard line, setting up Khamani Alexander's short touchdown run. It was the first time Charlotte had scored on its opening possession since the 2024 season.

Temple answered with a 21-yard touchdown run by Keveun Mason, tying the game at 7-7.

The 49ers had opportunities to regain control during the second quarter, but a missed 45-yard field goal and a failed fourth-down conversion left points on the field.

Temple eventually moved ahead when quarterback Ajani Sheppard scored on a 7-yard run with 1:38 remaining before halftime.

The Owls appeared positioned to extend their lead moments later when Rutledge lost a fumble, giving Temple possession at the Charlotte 2-yard line.

Instead, the 49ers produced one of their most important defensive sequences of the season.

Charlotte stopped Temple on four consecutive plays, preserving a manageable 14-7 halftime deficit despite an offense that had gone scoreless since its opening possession.

Albin pointed to that stand as evidence of his team's determination.

"We have a turnover and, you know, OK, well here it comes again," Albin said during his postgame press conference. "And we did not do that. We didn't flinch."

The stop proved especially important because Charlotte would receive the second-half kickoff.

Harrell ignites second-half turnaround

The 49ers wasted little time erasing the deficit.

Harrell directed a six-play, 73-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, completing passes to Dawyot and Jaden Barnes before finding Derrick Eley for a 24-yard touchdown.

The score tied the game at 14-14 and marked the first time since 2022 that Charlotte had scored touchdowns on its opening possessions of both halves.

Following another defensive stop, Harrell led a seven-play, 68-yard drive that ended with his 8-yard touchdown run, giving Charlotte a 21-14 advantage.

Temple responded almost immediately.

Sheppard broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run, completing a two-play, 75-yard possession that tied the game at 21-21 with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter.

But Charlotte's offense continued to find answers.

After the teams exchanged punts, Rutledge broke loose for a 48-yard gain that helped set up another scoring opportunity. Harrell capped the 78-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Gus McGee early in the fourth quarter.

The touchdown was McGee's second career scoring reception and his first catch since Charlotte's season opener against The Citadel.

The 49ers led 28-21, but Temple again refused to go away.

Sheppard connected with Peter Clarke on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 11:04 remaining, producing the game's fourth tie.

Charlotte's response came on another efficient possession.

Harrell found Barnes for a 21-yard gain, and Temple committed two personal fouls on the play, advancing the ball to the Owls' 10-yard line.

Harrell finished the drive himself, scoring on another quarterback draw to give Charlotte a 35-28 lead with 8:40 remaining.

The 49ers had scored touchdowns on four of their first five second-half possessions.

Defense and special teams finish the job

Charlotte still needed its defense to protect the lead against a Temple offense that finished with 455 total yards.

The Owls moved into Charlotte territory on their ensuing possession, but defensive lineman DJ Burgess delivered a critical fourth-down sack to return possession to the 49ers.

Charlotte then moved into field-goal range, where freshman kicker Aiden Bui faced an opportunity to provide some breathing room.

Bui, handling placekicking duties for the first time in his college career, had missed a 45-yard attempt earlier in the game.

This time, he connected from 47 yards with 1:48 remaining, extending Charlotte's lead to 38-28.

The kick capped an impressive debut in which Bui also converted all five of his extra-point attempts.

Temple mounted one final scoring drive, covering 65 yards in just one minute before Carl Hardin kicked a 28-yard field goal with 48 seconds remaining.

The Owls attempted an onside kick, but Charlotte recovered and ran out the remaining time to secure its first victory.

The defensive performance was far from flawless, but the 49ers made several critical stops despite allowing more than 450 yards.

Collin Gill and Kadin Schmitz led Charlotte with eight tackles apiece, while Dylon Womack and Gavin Willis each recorded seven. The 49ers finished with two sacks and five tackles for loss.

A breakthrough for Charlotte's offense

The victory featured several career-best performances from Charlotte's young offensive contributors.

Eley led the receiving corps with six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, setting career highs in both receptions and receiving yards.

Dawyot also established career highs with four catches for 60 yards, while Barnes added five receptions for 53 yards. Jaylen Hampton contributed three catches for 57 yards.

Rutledge's performance was particularly significant. In addition to his 123 rushing yards, he returned three kickoffs for 75 yards and finished with 189 all-purpose yards.

Charlotte averaged 6.5 yards per offensive play and converted six of its 10 third-down opportunities.

Albin credited the offensive line with providing Harrell cleaner protection, particularly during the second half.

"It's probably the cleanest pocket game we've had in my time," Albin said.

The Charlotte coach also praised Harrell's response to coaching adjustments after halftime, noting that the quarterback improved his pocket positioning and delivered throws more effectively as the game progressed.

For Temple, Sheppard provided much of the offensive production, completing 15 of 23 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown while adding 70 rushing yards and two scores.

Clarke led the Owls with five receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Mason contributed 64 rushing yards and a score.

Despite those performances, Temple could not produce the defensive stops necessary to slow Charlotte's second-half surge.

A win to build upon

Charlotte's victory was its 49th in program history and its first conference road win under Albin.

The 49ers scored their most points against an FBS opponent in two seasons, while their 31 second-half points tied for the eighth-highest scoring half in school history.

For a program that entered the weekend winless, the performance offered tangible evidence of progress.

Albin emphasized that the victory should serve as a starting point rather than a conclusion.

"We got a road win in our league, and we're going to build off of it," he said.

Charlotte now enters an open week with an opportunity to recover, correct mistakes and build on the momentum of a breakthrough performance.

DURHAM – For more than 40 minutes, North Carolina watched a commanding lead slowly disappear Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium. With the Victory Bell seemingly slipping into Duke's hands, the Tar Heels found just enough offense for one final scoring drive and one final defensive stop.

Jaylen McGill broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run with 1:53 remaining, and freshman defensive back Kenton Dopson III intercepted a pass in the closing seconds as North Carolina escaped with a 24-20 victory in a dramatic renewal of the Tobacco Road rivalry.

The Tar Heels (4-2, 2-1 ACC) had built a 17-0 advantage early in the second quarter before Duke scored 20 unanswered points, taking its first lead with 4:39 remaining. But North Carolina answered with a 78-yard touchdown drive, then turned away the Blue Devils' final possession to reclaim the Victory Bell.

The victory snapped Duke's two-game winning streak in the series and gave North Carolina its first win in Durham since 2022.

"It was a heck of a football game," North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick said afterward. "I give a lot of credit to Duke. It's a good football team. They're well coached, and they battled hard. Fortunately, we were able to make a couple more plays than they did."

A rivalry game that refused to end quietly

Duke (4-2, 1-2 ACC) appeared headed for an improbable comeback victory after taking advantage of another North Carolina special teams mistake late in the fourth quarter.

With the Tar Heels protecting a 17-13 lead, punter Adam McCann-Gibbs mishandled a snap and was tackled for a 16-yard loss, giving Duke possession at the UNC 34-yard line.

The Blue Devils capitalized on the opportunity. Quarterback Walker Eget directed a five-play scoring drive, connecting with running back Nate Sheppard on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 4:39 remaining.

The score completed a remarkable turnaround for a Duke team that had struggled to move the football during the opening quarter.

North Carolina, however, had one more answer.

Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. helped move the Tar Heels downfield on their final meaningful possession, setting the stage for McGill to deliver the decisive play.

McGill, who had previously lost a fumble deep in Duke territory, responded with three carries for 44 yards on the game-winning drive. His final attempt covered 24 yards and sent North Carolina back in front, 24-20.

Belichick praised both the blocking and the determination of his running back.

"He's a tough kid. He's very dependable," Belichick said of McGill. "That touchdown run was so well blocked, and he made a nice run on it."

Duke still had nearly two minutes to respond.

Eget moved the Blue Devils into North Carolina territory, threatening to deliver another late reversal. But an intentional grounding penalty pushed Duke backward, and Dopson intercepted Eget at the UNC 15-yard line with 14 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

For Dopson, who has taken on an expanded role in an injury-depleted secondary, the interception provided a defining moment in the rivalry.

"Hopefully that'll be a big confidence moment for him," Belichick said. "He's stepped in there, and not every play is great, but there's more good ones than there are bad ones."

North Carolina dominates the opening quarter

The dramatic finish seemed unlikely after North Carolina controlled the early stages of the contest.

The Tar Heels took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards in 11 plays, with Rece Verhoff connecting on a 28-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

UNC's defense then forced a three-and-out, and Calvin Thomas blocked Duke's ensuing punt. Jaziel Hart recovered the loose ball at the Duke 11-yard line, giving North Carolina an immediate opportunity to extend its advantage.

Three plays later, Edwards found Jordan Shipp for a 5-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 10-0.

The Tar Heels continued to control possession into the second quarter. A 14-play, 63-yard drive ended with Demon June scoring on a 4-yard run with 13:43 remaining before halftime.

At 17-0, North Carolina appeared capable of turning the rivalry game into a comfortable afternoon.

Duke's defense had other ideas.

The Blue Devils first missed an opportunity to cut into the deficit when North Carolina stopped them on fourth-and-1 near the goal line. But moments later, Duke forced a fumble by Shipp, and Andrew Pellicciotta recovered the ball and returned it 9 yards for a touchdown.

The defensive score trimmed the deficit to 17-7 and gave Duke a foothold in a game that had threatened to get away.

Duke fights back behind Sheppard and its defense

After halftime, the Blue Devils began to control the tempo.

Duke opened the third quarter with a 19-play, 62-yard possession that consumed more than eight minutes. Although the drive ended with only a 22-yard field goal by Gavin Strange, it demonstrated the Blue Devils' ability to sustain possession against a North Carolina defense that had dominated the opening half.

Duke's defense then produced another crucial turnover when McGill fumbled inside the Blue Devils' 10-yard line, preventing North Carolina from restoring its double-digit advantage.

The Tar Heels went scoreless for more than 41 minutes between June's second-quarter touchdown and McGill's game-winner.

Duke continued to chip away in the fourth quarter, moving inside the UNC 5-yard line before settling for another Strange field goal, this one from 21 yards, to cut the deficit to 17-13.

The Blue Devils ultimately outgained North Carolina 373-326 and controlled possession for more than 31 minutes.

Sheppard, who entered the weekend among the nation's leading offensive producers, finished with 175 yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 77 yards on 20 carries and caught 11 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

Eget completed 24 of 38 passes for 249 yards, a touchdown and the decisive interception.

Duke also received a strong defensive performance from Preston Watson, who recorded eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack. Nick Morris Jr. added seven tackles.

But the Blue Devils' inability to finish several promising possessions with touchdowns proved costly.

Red-zone defense makes the difference

While North Carolina's offense struggled through the middle portions of the game, its defense repeatedly prevented Duke from capitalizing fully on scoring opportunities.

The Tar Heels stopped the Blue Devils on fourth down near the goal line in the second quarter and forced short field goals on two other drives that reached deep into UNC territory.

Belichick identified those defensive stands as critical to the outcome.

"They just fight hard down there," Belichick said. "They don't give up on those final yards, and that's really been helpful for us all year."

Peyton Seelmann led North Carolina with 16 tackles, while Gregory Smith III added 10 tackles and two pass breakups. Dopson finished with seven tackles in addition to his game-sealing interception.

The defensive effort came despite North Carolina playing without injured defensive backs Tre Miller and Kaleb Cost.

On offense, Edwards completed 15 of 25 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Shipp led the receiving corps with seven catches for 75 yards, while Jelani Thurman added four receptions for 52 yards.

McGill finished with 75 rushing yards on 12 carries, and June contributed 49 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.

Belichick acknowledged that North Carolina's turnovers nearly proved disastrous, but he emphasized the resilience his team displayed in responding to Duke's comeback.

"These guys battled all the way," Belichick said. "I don't have any questions about their competitiveness, character, toughness."

The Bell returns to Chapel Hill

The result carried significance beyond the ACC standings.

Duke entered the afternoon having won eight consecutive games against in-state opponents and had captured the previous two meetings with North Carolina. The Blue Devils also had not lost at home this season.

All three streaks ended Saturday.

North Carolina improved its all-time advantage in the rivalry to 67-42-4, while Belichick earned his first Victory Bell triumph as the Tar Heels' head coach.

The victory also gave UNC consecutive conference road wins and continued a two-game winning streak following its early-season struggles.

For Duke, the loss marked a second consecutive defeat and a missed opportunity to complete one of the season's more memorable comebacks.

For North Carolina, it was a reminder that rivalry victories are rarely decided by how comfortably a team starts.

Sometimes they come down to one last run, one last defensive play and the opportunity to ring a familiar bell.

CONWAY, SC – A disastrous finish to the first half left Appalachian State trailing by 10 points Friday night at Coastal Carolina. But with Henry Hasselbeck taking control of the offense and Jaquari Lewis finding the end zone four times, the Mountaineers turned a frustrating evening into a much-needed Sun Belt Conference victory.

Lewis rushed for 85 yards and four touchdowns, while Hasselbeck accounted for 237 yards of total offense as App State rallied for a 35-32 victory at Brooks Stadium, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Chanticleers.

The Mountaineers (4-2, 1-1 Sun Belt) trailed 24-14 at halftime before scoring 21 unanswered points to seize control of the game. Coastal Carolina (2-5, 1-2) pulled within three points late in the fourth quarter, but App State's rushing attack delivered the final first downs needed to preserve the win.

"We made some nice adjustments and manned them up a lot more than playing all those zones," App State head coach Dowell Loggains said of the defensive turnaround. "We just made a stronger commitment, you know, to the run game."

That commitment produced 253 rushing yards and helped the Mountaineers finish with 516 yards of total offense.

Hasselbeck, who split first-half quarterback duties with injured starter Malachi Singleton before playing the entire second half, rushed for 125 yards on 21 carries. His performance ranks second among App State quarterbacks in the program's FBS era, just one yard shy of Taylor Lamb's 126-yard outing against Toledo in the 2016 Camellia Bowl.

Hasselbeck also completed 9 of 12 passes for 112 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown to Sam Pickett III that extended App State's lead to 35-24 with 6:41 remaining.

The touchdown capped a remarkable offensive reversal after the Mountaineers failed to score during the second quarter.

Coastal Carolina had taken control with 17 unanswered points before halftime, including a 58-yard field goal by Nico Cavanillas Alti as time expired. The kick followed a costly App State possession in which the Mountaineers reached the Coastal 1-yard line before a chop-block penalty and a fumbled snap by Singleton erased the scoring opportunity.

Instead of potentially tying the game, App State entered the locker room facing its largest deficit of the night.

Loggains acknowledged that the sequence required more than tactical adjustments.

"If you want to be the team we want to be, you can't find ways to lose a game," Loggains said. "In that scenario, we found a way to lose the half."

The Mountaineers responded by leaning on their offensive line, their quarterback's mobility and Lewis' ability to finish drives.

After both teams opened the third quarter with punts, Hasselbeck directed a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive. Lewis capped the possession with a 12-yard run, cutting Coastal's lead to 24-21 with 7:59 remaining in the period.

App State's defense then supplied the game's pivotal turnover.

Safety Devin Henderson intercepted Coastal quarterback Deuce Bailey, giving the Mountaineers possession near midfield. Henderson had dropped a potential interception one play earlier but immediately capitalized on his second opportunity.

"I feel like it was a game changer play," Henderson said afterward.

The offense made the turnover count, covering 58 yards in 10 plays. Hasselbeck and J'Marion Burnette helped move the ball on the ground before Lewis scored from 3 yards out to give App State a 28-24 lead with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.

It was Lewis' fourth rushing touchdown of the night, placing him among a small group of Mountaineers to accomplish the feat in the program's FBS era.

Only Cam Peoples and Daetrich Harrington had previously scored at least four rushing touchdowns in an FBS game for App State. Peoples holds the program's FBS single-game record with five against North Texas in the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Lewis credited the offensive line for creating the opportunities.

"All week I preached to O-line, just get me the hole open and I'm going to make sure they're satisfied," Lewis said.

While the offense found its rhythm, App State's defense began limiting the explosive plays that had fueled Coastal Carolina's first-half success.

The Chanticleers had scored on their opening possession when Bailey connected with Tristian Gardner for a 21-yard touchdown. After App State answered with two Lewis touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead, Bailey found Robby Washington for a 71-yard score early in the second quarter.

Bailey later threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ben Verges, giving Coastal a 21-14 advantage before the long field goal extended the margin.

The Coastal quarterback finished with 298 passing yards and three touchdowns, but App State held the Chanticleers scoreless in the third quarter.

Loggains said the defensive improvement came after a first half in which the Mountaineers surrendered too many big plays.

"I don't think we played well enough on defense," he said. "We played just well enough to win the game, but gave away too many yards, way too many explosive plays."

App State's offense provided some breathing room midway through the fourth quarter.

Following a Coastal punt, Hasselbeck needed only four plays to move the Mountaineers 69 yards. He opened the possession with a 17-yard completion to Pickett, then helped set up the touchdown with a 12-yard run.

On the scoring play, Hasselbeck connected with Pickett for a 31-yard touchdown, the quarterback's first career touchdown pass.

Hasselbeck said the offense had emphasized getting the ball to its playmakers during halftime.

"We told him in the locker room at halftime like, 'Hey, we're going to come to you,'" Hasselbeck said of Pickett. "That moment, it was Sam Pickett's time to shine."

Pickett finished with five receptions for 78 yards, while Singleton completed 12 of 14 passes for 151 yards before giving way to Hasselbeck for the second half.

Coastal Carolina refused to go quietly.

Bailey led a 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with Jaden Allen-Hendrix scoring on a 2-yard run with 3:11 remaining. A successful two-point conversion pass to Dominic Lee-Knicely brought the Chanticleers within 35-32.

But Coastal never got the ball back.

Hasselbeck opened App State's final possession with an 11-yard run, and Lewis followed with a 16-yard gain. The Mountaineers eventually faced third-and-1 at the Coastal 39, where Lewis gained 2 yards to secure the first down and allow App State to run out the clock.

The victory ended App State's three-game losing streak at Brooks Stadium and marked its first win over Coastal Carolina since 2021.

For the Mountaineers, the performance offered evidence of an offense capable of controlling games on the ground, even with uncertainty surrounding its starting quarterback.

For Hasselbeck, the opportunity to take over in the second half came with confidence in the players around him.

"A strong part of it is trust," he said. "We got as many guys in that locker room and I trust all of them and I know they trust me."

App State will have little time to celebrate. The Mountaineers return to Boone for a Thursday night Sun Belt matchup against James Madison, with the game scheduled to air nationally on ESPNU.

BIRMINGHAM, AL – East Carolina spent most of Thursday night looking like a team headed for its fourth consecutive victory. Instead, the Pirates watched an eight-point lead disappear in the final 35 seconds of regulation before UAB completed a stunning comeback with a 30-17 overtime victory at Protective Stadium.

The Pirates (3-3, 1-1 American) led 17-9 with less than two minutes remaining and had pinned the Blazers at their own 7-yard line. But UAB quarterback Ryder Burton engineered a 93-yard touchdown drive in just 62 seconds, then ran for the tying two-point conversion to force overtime.

UAB (4-3, 2-1) took its first lead of the night on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Burton to Roderick Robinson II in overtime. East Carolina's opportunity to answer ended when Delvon Gulley intercepted Emory Williams and returned the ball 80 yards for a touchdown, completing a 21-point unanswered scoring run.

The dramatic finish spoiled an otherwise strong defensive performance by East Carolina, which held UAB without a touchdown for more than 59 minutes and limited the Blazers to 99 rushing yards.

"We hadn't let them in the end zone all day," ECU head coach Blake Harrell said afterward. "You've got to make them go 90 yards with just a little over a minute to go. The defense needs to go win the game there and we just couldn't get the plays made that we need to make."

East Carolina appeared firmly in control early, scoring touchdowns on two of its first three possessions while its defense overwhelmed the UAB offense.

Williams directed a 13-play, 75-yard opening drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ray Ray Joseph Jr. The Pirates converted four third downs during the possession and consumed nearly five minutes before taking a 7-0 lead.

ECU extended its advantage early in the second quarter on an unusual scoring play. Williams completed a pass to Ismael Smith Flores, who fumbled near the goal line after being hit by UAB defender Jo Pierce. Freshman Dawson Quarterman recovered the loose ball in the end zone for his first career touchdown, giving the Pirates a 14-0 advantage.

The Pirates' defense controlled much of the first half, holding UAB without a first down throughout the opening quarter for the second consecutive game. The Blazers managed just 91 yards before halftime, while ECU recorded eight tackles for loss and three sacks.

UAB finally broke through with a 41-yard field goal from Jonah Delange midway through the second quarter, trimming East Carolina's halftime lead to 14-3.

The momentum gradually shifted after intermission.

Delange connected from 26 and 50 yards in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-9 as East Carolina's offense struggled to sustain the early success that had produced its two touchdowns.

The Pirates answered with a 13-play, 50-yard possession that ended with Noah Perez's career-long 43-yard field goal with 9:24 remaining. The kick pushed ECU's lead to 17-9, forcing UAB to score a touchdown and two-point conversion just to tie.

East Carolina's defense then forced a turnover on downs with 5:34 remaining. The Pirates used nearly four minutes on their ensuing possession before a 33-yard pooch punt by Perez left UAB facing a long field with only 1:37 on the clock.

The Blazers were backed up even farther by a penalty, but Burton found his rhythm against a defense that had frustrated him throughout the night.

He eventually connected with Braylon McReynolds on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining. Burton followed with a successful quarterback keeper on the two-point conversion, erasing East Carolina's lead and sending the game into overtime.

Burton finished 19-of-37 passing for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns. CJ Smith was his primary target, catching eight passes for 119 yards.

East Carolina's offense, meanwhile, never regained its first-quarter efficiency.

Williams completed 18 of 27 passes for 126 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Pirates finished with 317 total yards, including 191 on the ground, but scored only three points after taking their 14-0 lead.

Running back TJ Engleman Jr. provided much of the offensive production, rushing for 104 yards on a career-high 26 carries. It marked his third consecutive 100-yard performance, making him the first ECU player to accomplish that feat since Keaton Mitchell in 2022.

"It's a tough one to take," Engleman said. "I feel like we had so many opportunities to score. We've just got to clean stuff up man, bring the guys together. We've just got to go score at the end of the day."

The Pirates finished with 10 tackles for loss, marking their fourth consecutive game reaching double figures in that category. Ashton Levells-Mitchell led ECU with six tackles, while Preston Carr, J.D. Lampley and Josh Benton each recorded a sack.

UAB's defense also made several important contributions. Pierce finished with a game-high 16 tackles, while Muaaz Byard added 15. The Blazers forced three ECU fumbles, recovering one, before Gulley's interception ended the game.

For East Carolina, the loss represented a missed opportunity to build momentum in American Conference play. The Pirates held the lead for virtually the entire night, controlled possession for more than 34 minutes and outgained UAB on the ground by 92 yards.

But those advantages were not enough to overcome an offense that stalled after its fast start and a defense that could not deliver one final stop.

UAB, which trailed by 14 points early and never led during regulation, emerged with a victory that ended a seven-game losing streak against the Pirates.

WINGATE- Wingate's defense left little room for Tusculum to operate Saturday afternoon, holding the Pioneers to just five first downs and 122 yards of total offense as the Bulldogs claimed a 31-14 South Atlantic Conference victory at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs (3-4, 3-2 SAC) controlled the game statistically, outgaining Tusculum 384-122 while holding possession for more than 37 minutes. Wingate allowed just 50 rushing yards on 34 attempts and limited the Pioneers to three completions in nine passing attempts.

Tusculum (3-4, 2-3 SAC) managed only 2.8 yards per offensive play and failed to score an offensive touchdown in the second half.

The defensive performance helped Wingate overcome three turnovers, including a third-quarter fumble returned for a touchdown that briefly reduced the Bulldogs' lead to three points.

Wingate's offense was led by Jayshawn Appling, who rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Brooks Brien completed 15 of 25 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Aaron Griffin and Xavier Jackson for scores.

The Bulldogs established an early advantage after Geviaunta Walker forced and recovered a fumble on Tusculum's opening possession, giving Wingate the ball at the Pioneers' 42-yard line.

Photo Credit: Wingate Athletics

Five plays later, Brien connected with Griffin for a 28-yard touchdown, putting Wingate ahead 7-0 with 9:25 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs extended their lead early in the second quarter when Brien found Jackson for a 21-yard touchdown, completing a 12-play, 85-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes.

Tusculum answered with its most productive offensive possession of the afternoon. Quarterback Tedros Gleaton connected with Ashton Hagans for a 54-yard touchdown with 1:49 remaining before halftime, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

Wingate responded with a 10-play, 53-yard drive, including a 21-yard fourth-down completion from Brien to Tanner Mays. Gunnar Hilsinger converted a 33-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Bulldogs into halftime ahead 17-7.

The Pioneers threatened to reverse the game's momentum early in the third quarter.

After intercepting Brien on Wingate's opening second-half possession, Tusculum recovered a Bulldogs fumble on the next drive. Judah Knight returned the loose ball 20 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the margin to 17-14 with 11:49 remaining in the period.

Despite the sudden shift, Wingate's defense prevented Tusculum from capitalizing further.

The Bulldogs eventually answered with a nine-play, 85-yard touchdown drive late in the third quarter. Brien connected with Griffin for 38 yards and Kelson Tate for 16 yards before Ethan Wallace scored on a two-yard run with 20 seconds remaining, extending the lead to 24-14.

Wingate's defense continued to dominate in the fourth quarter. Chris Harris recorded a third-down sack that forced another Tusculum punt, and the Bulldogs added their final touchdown with 2:55 remaining.

Appling broke loose for a 49-yard run but fumbled near the goal line. Teammate Zymill Patterson recovered the ball in the end zone, pushing Wingate's advantage to 31-14.

Griffin finished with five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson added four catches for 71 yards and a score. Wallace contributed 49 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Harris and Elijah Manning led Wingate with eight tackles apiece. Harris added two tackles for loss and a sack, while Tyson Brown and GW Clemmer recorded seven tackles each.

Tusculum's offense finished with only five first downs, compared with 20 for Wingate, and converted just four of 14 third-down opportunities.

The Bulldogs' ability to control possession and limit Tusculum's offensive production proved decisive, allowing Wingate to withstand its turnover problems and secure its third conference victory.