SOUTH BEND, IN – Notre Dame scored 26 unanswered second-half points to turn a competitive game into a convincing 36-7 victory over NC State on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish capitalized on four NC State turnovers and exploited a depleted Wolfpack secondary to snap a brief losing streak and improve to 4-2 on the season.

The Wolfpack (4-3, 1-2 ACC) held firm through much of the first half, trailing just 10-7 at intermission after limiting Notre Dame to 59 first-half rushing yards. But the game unraveled in the third and fourth quarters as quarterback CJ Bailey threw three interceptions and the offense managed just 233 total yards—the lowest output of the season for NC State.

Bailey completed 17 of 30 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and three picks. He was sacked four times and repeatedly pressured by a Notre Dame defensive front that registered five tackles for loss and four sacks. The Irish defense also forced a fumble that resulted in a safety, capping a brutal stretch in the fourth quarter where NC State turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions.

Running back Hollywood Smothers, the ACC's leading rusher entering the game, was held to 46 yards on 12 carries—his lowest total of the season. As a team, NC State rushed for just 51 yards on 28 attempts, a season-low mark that reflected the absence of offensive lineman Anthony Carter Jr., who left the game early and did not return due to injury.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing. He connected with tight end Eli Raridon seven times for 109 yards and found wide receiver Will Pauling four times for 105 yards and a score. Running back Jeremiyah Love added 86 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a one-yard plunge late in the fourth quarter that capped the scoring.

The Irish (4-2) piled up 485 total yards—the second-most allowed by NC State this season—and converted 6 of 14 third downs. They were 5-for-8 in the red zone, while NC State never reached the 20-yard line and scored its only touchdown from 45 yards out.

Notre Dame opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a six-play, 58-yard drive that ended with Love's two-yard touchdown run. The Irish converted a long third down on a 32-yard pass to Pauling and moved methodically downfield before Love punched it in to make it 7-0.

NC State answered on its next possession after forcing a turnover on downs. Notre Dame faced fourth-and-one at the Wolfpack seven-yard line late in the first quarter, but Carr was sacked for a 10-yard loss by linebacker Travali Price and defensive end Caden Fordham, who combined to drop the quarterback well behind the line of scrimmage.

The Wolfpack capitalized on the stop with an 11-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that featured multiple third-down conversions. Bailey hit running back Jayden "Duke" Scott for 15 yards on third-and-nine to keep the drive alive, then found wide receiver Terrell Anderson for a 45-yard touchdown strike with 13:48 remaining in the second quarter. Kanoah Vinesett's extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Notre Dame appeared poised to retake the lead late in the half when they drove to the NC State eight-yard line, but Bailey intercepted Carr in the back of the end zone on fourth down. The pick marked the first career interception for Brown, a redshirt freshman safety who made the most of his opportunity.

The Wolfpack, however, could not capitalize on the turnover and punted back to the Irish with under two minutes remaining. Notre Dame took over at its own 30-yard line and quickly moved into field-goal range. Carr completed passes of 20 yards to Malachi Fields and 23 yards to Raridon before kicker Noah Burnette connected on a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give the Irish a 10-7 halftime lead.

The turning point came early in the third quarter. Notre Dame took the opening kickoff and marched 90 yards in 11 plays, converting a fourth-and-two with a quarterback sneak and overcoming two pass interference penalties on NC State. Carr capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end KK Smith, extending the lead to 17-7.

On the ensuing possession, NC State went three-and-out and punted. The Irish responded with another touchdown drive, this time needing just five plays to cover 80 yards. Love broke free for a 24-yard run, and Carr followed with a 31-yard completion to Smith. Two plays later, Carr found Pauling for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:46 left in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 24-7.

The fourth quarter devolved into a series of miscues for the Wolfpack. Bailey's third interception, thrown on fourth-and-11 from midfield, was returned 44 yards by safety Adon Shuler to the NC State 17-yard line. The Irish settled for a 34-yard field goal by Burnette to make it 27-7.

On the next possession, Bailey threw another interception while attempting to throw the ball away under pressure. Notre Dame took over at the NC State 20-yard line but fumbled at the two-yard line, where it was recovered by Wolfpack defensive lineman Cian Slone.

Any momentum the defense created evaporated on the next snap. Bailey fumbled a snap in the end zone, and after an official review, the play was ruled a safety. The sequence marked NC State's third turnover in a span of six plays and gave Notre Dame a 29-7 lead with 9:37 remaining.

The Irish added one final touchdown with a 10-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up 3:41 of game time. Love capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the day, a one-yard plunge with 5:13 left in the game. The Wolfpack turned the ball over one more time on an interception by cornerback Karson Hobbs, and Notre Dame ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Fordham led the NC State defense with 10 tackles and a sack, while safety Ronnie Royal III added 10 tackles. Brown finished with nine tackles and the interception. But the Wolfpack defense allowed 342 passing yards and 143 rushing yards, and the injury to Anderson—who caught three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game—further thinned an already shorthanded secondary.

Notre Dame linebacker Tae Johnson paced the Irish defense with seven tackles, while safety Drayk Bowen also recorded seven stops. Defensive end Boubacar Traore tallied two sacks for 21 yards, and the Irish held NC State to 5-of-16 on third down.

The loss drops NC State to 2-3 all-time against Notre Dame. The Wolfpack will have a bye week before traveling to face Pittsburgh on October 25.

Key Performers:

• CJ Carr, Notre Dame: 19-of-31 passing, 342 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: 18 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TDs
• Eli Raridon, Notre Dame: 7 receptions, 109 yards
• Will Pauling, Notre Dame: 4 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
• CJ Bailey, NC State: 17-of-30 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
• Hollywood Smothers, NC State: 12 rushes, 46 yards
• Caden Fordham, NC State: 10 tackles, 1 sack

DURHAM – Shaw erased a six-point deficit in the final quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points to pull out a 20-13 victory over Winston-Salem State on Saturday at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

The Bears trailed for most of the afternoon but found their rhythm when it mattered most, engineering two fourth-quarter touchdown drives that flipped the outcome. Shaw improved to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while Winston-Salem State fell to 3-4 and 1-3 in the CIAA.

Freshman quarterback Alexander Marsh directed the comeback, completing 12 of 22 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns while adding 53 yards on the ground. His dual-threat ability kept the Rams' defense off balance throughout the second half, and he delivered when Shaw needed him most.

The turning point came midway through the fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-16 from the Winston-Salem State 28-yard line, Marsh connected with receiver Tyrek Hardison for a 28-yard touchdown strike at the 6:05 mark. The extra point attempt failed, leaving the score tied at 13-13.

Shaw's defense then forced Winston-Salem State into a quick three-and-out, giving the offense the ball back at its own 21-yard line with 4:26 remaining. What followed was a methodical 10-play, 79-yard march that consumed over four minutes of clock. Marsh capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Trey Thorpe with just seven seconds left, and Jordan Lane's extra point gave the Bears their final margin.

Winston-Salem State had seized early momentum in the second quarter. Linebacker Zymiere Dempsey-Freeman recovered a fumble and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown at the 13:51 mark, giving the Rams a 6-0 lead after a failed extra point attempt. Less than seven minutes later, running back Daylin Lee punched in a one-yard touchdown run to cap a nine-play, 90-yard drive. Angel Gomez-Corona's conversion made it 13-0.

Shaw answered before halftime, marching 75 yards on 17 plays over nearly seven minutes. Marsh scored on a nine-yard run with 25 seconds left in the half, and Lane's kick cut the deficit to 13-7 at the break.

The Rams controlled possession for just 16 minutes and 13 seconds compared to Shaw's 43 minutes and 47 seconds. That disparity told the story of the game. Shaw ran 78 offensive plays to Winston-Salem State's 34, grinding out yards on the ground and keeping the Rams' offense on the sideline for extended stretches.

Shaw rushed for 186 yards on 56 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt. Fabian Diggs led the way with 70 yards on 19 attempts, while Thorpe added 42 yards on 14 carries in addition to his game-winning touchdown catch. Marsh's 53 rushing yards came on 17 attempts, and he also threw a second-quarter touchdown pass to cut into Winston-Salem State's lead.

Hardison emerged as Marsh's top target, hauling in five catches for 76 yards and the crucial fourth-quarter score. Christian Rutledge added one reception for 30 yards, and Diggs caught three passes for 19 yards out of the backfield.

Winston-Salem State averaged 8.2 yards per rush but managed only 21 attempts for 173 total yards. Running back JaQuan Kelly broke off a 57-yard run in the first quarter and finished with 115 yards on six carries. Noah Marshall contributed 57 yards on seven attempts, but the Rams struggled to sustain drives as the game wore on.

Quarterback Daylin Lee completed eight of 13 passes for 51 yards but threw two interceptions, both of which came in the third quarter and stalled potential scoring opportunities. Receiver Jayden Grimes caught six passes for 38 yards, providing a reliable target in the short passing game.

Shaw's defense tightened considerably after halftime, holding Winston-Salem State scoreless over the final two quarters. Linebacker Latrell McFadden intercepted Lee in the red zone during the third quarter, snuffing out a promising drive. Defensive back Brian Collins also picked off Lee later in the third, giving Shaw favorable field position.

The Bears generated consistent pressure on Lee, recording two sacks for 19 yards. Jaden Perkins and Amarion Mbaye combined for 1.5 sacks, and the defensive front limited Winston-Salem State to an average of 6.6 yards per play despite the Rams' explosive rushing capability.

Winston-Salem State's defense kept the game close for three quarters, limiting Shaw to 4.2 yards per play and forcing the Bears into third-and-long situations. Linebacker Jamieson Alston led the Rams with 16 total tackles, including 13 solo stops and three tackles for loss. He also forced the fumble in the second quarter that led to Dempsey-Freeman's touchdown return.

But Shaw's ability to convert on third and fourth down proved decisive. The Bears went 7-for-20 on third down and an impressive 7-for-9 on fourth down, repeatedly extending drives that kept Winston-Salem State's offense off the field. The Rams, by contrast, failed to convert any of their four third-down attempts and didn't face a fourth-down decision until late in the game.

Special teams played a role as well. Shaw punter Jordan Lane averaged 42.7 yards on three punts, including a 52-yarder that pinned Winston-Salem State deep in its own territory. The Rams attempted two field goals, both of which missed. Gilberto Lorenzana's 47-yard attempt sailed wide in the first quarter, and Gomez-Corona's 38-yard try in the fourth quarter fell short, preserving Shaw's chance for a comeback.

Winston-Salem State outgained Shaw in total offense, 224 yards to 331, but the Bears' time of possession and ability to finish drives in the fourth quarter made the difference. Shaw reached the red zone twice and scored both times, while Winston-Salem State converted just one of four red-zone opportunities into a touchdown.

The victory marked Shaw's first win over Winston-Salem State since 2022 and came during the program's annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. The Bears now return home for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 18, when they host Johnson C. Smith at 1 p.m.

Winston-Salem State will also play at home next week, welcoming Livingstone College to Bowman Gray Stadium for its Homecoming game on Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

Top Performers

Shaw

• Alexander Marsh: 12-of-22 passing, 145 yards, 2 TDs; 17 rushes, 53 yards, 1 TD
• Tyrek Hardison: 5 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD
• Fabian Diggs: 19 rushes, 70 yards; 3 receptions, 19 yards
• Latrell McFadden: 1 interception, 28-yard return

Winston-Salem State

• JaQuan Kelly: 6 rushes, 115 yards
• Jamieson Alston: 16 total tackles, 3 TFL, 1 forced fumble
• Jayden Grimes: 6 receptions, 38 yards
• Noah Marshall: 7 rushes, 57 yards

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville State shook off an early deficit and seized control with 31 unanswered points across the second and third quarters, beating Livingstone 38-14 on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The Broncos improved to 4-3 overall and remained undefeated in CIAA conference play at 4-0, while the Blue Bears fell to 3-3 and 2-2 in league action.

The game began with Livingstone drawing first blood. After a methodical five-play, 44-yard drive, quarterback Elijah Alexander punched in a one-yard touchdown run with 2:52 remaining in the opening quarter. Jason Zapata's extra point gave the Blue Bears a 7-0 advantage.

Fayetteville State answered before the quarter ended. Following a 37-yard completion from Demari Daniels to Kristian Golden that moved the ball to the Livingstone 28, running back Bryce Council capped a six-play, 65-yard march with a four-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the first. John Hernandez-Vargas converted the kick to level the score at 7-7.

The Broncos took their first lead early in the second quarter after capitalizing on a blocked punt. Kadynce Watson blocked Isaac Gallagher's kick at the Livingstone 18, and Brian Seagraves recovered at the Blue Bears' 37. Five plays later, Caden Davis connected with Kavase Towns on a five-yard touchdown pass at the 11:43 mark, putting Fayetteville State ahead 14-7.

With five seconds remaining before halftime, the Broncos extended their lead following a 10-play, 56-yard drive. Daniels found Golden on an eight-yard touchdown strike, and Hernandez-Vargas added the point-after to make it 21-7 at the break.

Fayetteville State opened the second half with a nine-play, 64-yard scoring drive that consumed more than four minutes. Daniels converted a critical fourth-and-three situation with a 23-yard scramble to the Livingstone six-yard line. Two plays later, Wilson Kargbo Jr. hit Braylon Vinson for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Hernandez-Vargas' kick pushed the margin to 28-7 with 10:26 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos scored again just 63 seconds later. Defensive end Aaron Johnson sacked Alexander on third-and-10, forcing a fumble that cornerback Shawn Robinson recovered at the Livingstone 12. On the next snap, Vinson took a handoff 12 yards for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 35-7 at the 9:23 mark.

Livingstone responded immediately with its most explosive sequence of the afternoon. Running back Javen Parker broke free for a 53-yard run to the Fayetteville State 22 on first down. Backup quarterback Alfredo Sotelo then connected with Tavion Jackson for a 21-yard completion to the one-yard line, and Caleb Stokes finished the three-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Zapata's extra point cut the deficit to 35-14 with 7:43 remaining in the third.

Fayetteville State added a 21-yard field goal from Hernandez-Vargas early in the fourth quarter following an eight-play, 31-yard drive to close out the scoring at 38-14.

Daniels completed 11 of 20 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown while rushing 11 times for 53 yards. Council carried the ball 14 times for 46 yards and a score. Vinson finished with 44 yards and a touchdown on six rushing attempts and added one reception for 11 yards and another score. Golden led all receivers with four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the contest, racking up seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Kaydin Thomas recorded two sacks and two tackles for loss, while Johnson added two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Keyshawn Monk contributed six tackles and an interception. Ryan Debow recovered a muffed punt in the fourth quarter, and Robinson's fumble recovery set up a touchdown in the third.

Fayetteville State held Livingstone to 206 total yards—65 rushing and 141 passing. The Broncos won the turnover battle 3-0, forced the Blue Bears into 14 third-down attempts and allowed just two conversions, and went a perfect six-for-six in the red zone with five touchdowns and one field goal.

Parker led Livingstone with 91 yards on 13 carries, including the 53-yard burst in the third quarter. Alexander completed six of 14 passes for 106 yards but was sacked five times and threw one interception. Sotelo came on in relief and went two-for-eight for 35 yards. Jackson caught three passes for 52 yards, and Davyn Reid added three receptions for 50 yards.

Defensively, Kenyon Garner paced the Blue Bears with seven tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Kevin Larkins Jr. recorded eight tackles, while Malachi Adkins and Zavion Lloyd each finished with seven. Jayden Reeder added three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Fayetteville State outgained Livingstone 294-206 and held a decisive 156-65 edge in rushing yards. The Broncos converted four of 14 third-down opportunities and controlled possession for 33:56 compared to 26:04 for the Blue Bears. Fayetteville State also averaged 4.3 yards per play to Livingstone's 3.6.

The game featured a halftime ceremony honoring former Fayetteville State standout Joshua Williams, who now plays cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The university retired his jersey in recognition of his contributions to the program.

Fayetteville State will enjoy a bye week before traveling to face Shaw at 1 p.m. on October 25 at Durham County Stadium. Livingstone returns to action next Saturday, October 18, when it hosts Winston-Salem State at 1 p.m.

Top Performers

Fayetteville State:

• Demari Daniels: 11-of-20 passing, 114 yards, 1 TD; 11 rushes, 53 yards
• Kristian Golden: 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
• Bryce Council: 14 rushes, 46 yards, 1 TD
• Braylon Vinson: 6 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 11 yards, 1 TD
• Kaydin Thomas: 2 sacks, 2 TFLs
• Aaron Johnson: 2 sacks, 2 TFLs, 1 forced fumble

Livingstone:

Javen Parker: 13 rushes, 91 yards

Elijah Alexander: 6-of-14 passing, 106 yards; 1 rushing TD

Tavion Jackson: 3 receptions, 52 yards

Kenyon Garner: 7 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks

Kevin Larkins Jr.: 8 tackles

WINGATE – Xavier Pugh rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries as Wingate defeated Catawba 41-28 on Saturday night at Irwin Belk Stadium, improving to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in South Atlantic Conference play. The Bulldogs amassed 527 total yards without punting once, ending the Indians' four-game winning streak.

Wingate controlled the game from the opening drive, building a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter before Catawba mounted a late rally that fell short. The Bulldogs held possession for more than 35 minutes and converted seven of 11 third-down attempts while averaging eight yards per play.

"We didn't punt tonight," could have been Wingate's calling card as the offense sustained drives consistently throughout the contest. The Bulldogs' balance on offense—281 rushing yards and 246 passing yards—kept Catawba's defense from finding answers.

First Half Surge

Wingate forced a three-and-out on Catawba's opening possession and took over at its own 26-yard line. The Bulldogs converted their first scoring opportunity into points with a methodical 10-play, 74-yard drive. Quarterback Elijah Holmes connected with Laron Warner for 14 yards to cross into Catawba territory, then found Jaylen Himes for 13 yards to reach the 30. Holmes capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Himes at the 7:55 mark of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs needed just 2:28 to strike again after Jake Snapp's 14-yard punt return set up Wingate at its own 29. A 31-yard reception by Xavier Jackson moved the ball to midfield, and Holmes took over from there, scoring on a 33-yard run to make it 14-0 with 2:12 remaining in the opening period.

Wingate extended its advantage early in the second quarter with a 12-play, 88-yard drive that consumed 5:32. Holmes connected with Pugh for 42 yards to reach the Catawba 28, then scrambled for 12 yards to get inside the 10. Pugh finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0 at the 8:36 mark.

Catawba finally broke through late in the half after Wingate kicker Caleb Bonesteel missed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left. Starting at their own 25 with 2:07 remaining, the Indians used an eight-play, 75-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. Preston Brown completed a 42-yard pass to Bo Pryor to reach the Wingate 25, then ran for 11 yards to move inside the 15. Brown connected with Amari McArthur for a 16-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the half, cutting the deficit to 21-7 at intermission.

Second Half Trading Blows

Wingate answered immediately to start the third quarter, marching 80 yards in eight plays. Holmes opened the drive with a 19-yard completion to Himes, then connected with Himes again for 20 yards to reach the Catawba 40. After a 21-yard pass to Silas Tate, Pugh scored from 21 yards out to restore the three-touchdown cushion at 28-7 with 10:51 left in the period.

The Indians showed resilience after a turnover gave them favorable field position at their own 19. Brown was sacked and fumbled on third down, but Catawba recovered. Following a pass interference penalty that gave the Indians a first down at their own 33, Brown hit RJ Jackson for 28 yards to reach Wingate territory. Jay Moore converted a third-and-one with a two-yard run, and Brown found Jalen Brown for a 17-yard touchdown with two seconds remaining in the third quarter, pulling Catawba within 28-14.

Fourth Quarter Separation

Snapp's 46-yard kickoff return to start the fourth quarter set Wingate up at the 50-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Pugh broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 35-14 at 14:14.

Catawba responded with a seven-play, 71-yard drive. Brown converted a third-and-19 with a 26-yard completion to Nick Venezia, and penalties against Wingate helped move the ball into scoring position. Brown scored on a 15-yard run to make it 35-21 with 11:24 remaining.

The Bulldogs countered with a six-play, 46-yard drive. Holmes connected with Xavier Jackson for 25 yards, and Mason Avery added a 13-yard run before Bonesteel kicked a 37-yard field goal at the 9:11 mark to push the advantage to 38-21.

Ephraim Wright forced a fumble on Catawba's next possession, recovered by Ryan Green near midfield. Wingate ran 11 plays and drained 5:45 off the clock, with Avery carrying seven times for 27 yards on the drive. Bonesteel converted a 25-yard field goal to make it 41-21 with 2:02 remaining.

Catawba added a late touchdown when Brown threw a four-yard scoring pass to Jalen Brown with eight seconds left, but the outcome was already decided.

Statistical Standouts

Holmes finished 14-of-24 passing for 246 yards and one touchdown while adding 64 yards and a score on the ground. Pugh also caught two passes for 43 yards, giving him 207 all-purpose yards for the night. Himes led all receivers with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson added two receptions for 56 yards.

Brown completed 23 of 32 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns for Catawba while leading the team in rushing with 39 yards on 12 carries. Pryor hauled in seven catches for 69 yards, and Jalen Brown caught four passes for 31 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Jaquan Edwards paced Wingate with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Eli Lipscomb recorded eight tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Mandjou Berte added 1.5 sacks, and Jasiah Hill contributed six tackles with one tackle for loss.

Jaylen Hinton led Catawba with eight tackles, while Braylon Baker and Kyle Perry each recorded seven tackles with one tackle for loss. Isaiah Herrera notched a sack on a critical third-and-goal play in the third quarter that forced a fumble recovered by Rickey Jones.

The Bulldogs' red-zone efficiency proved decisive—Wingate scored on three of five trips inside the 20, while Catawba converted all four of its red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. Wingate's ability to sustain drives and control the clock limited Catawba's offensive possessions to 57 plays compared to 66 for the Bulldogs.

Catawba falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Wingate evened its SAC record at 2-2.

Key Performers

Wingate:

• Xavier Pugh: 20 rushes, 164 yards, 3 TDs; 2 catches, 43 yards
• Elijah Holmes: 14-of-24 passing, 246 yards, 1 TD; 9 rushes, 64 yards, 1 TD
• Jaylen Himes: 7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
• Jaquan Edwards: 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL
• Eli Lipscomb: 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Catawba:

• Preston Brown: 23-of-32 passing, 232 yards, 3 TDs; 12 rushes, 39 yards, 1 TD
• Bo Pryor: 7 catches, 69 yards
• Jaylen Hinton: 8 tackles

SALISBURY – Catawba scored 21 unanswered points across the second half to defeat Mars Hill 42-28 on Friday night at Shuford Stadium. The Indians improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Lions dropped to 3-2 and 2-1.

The game featured five lead changes and was tied 21-21 at halftime before Catawba's offense found its rhythm after the break.

Preston Brown completed 17 of 27 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns for Catawba, adding a rushing score despite losing nine yards on the ground. His ability to spread the ball around proved crucial, connecting with eight different receivers. Brown found the end zone through the air on throws of 13 yards to Kevin Lalin, 26 yards to Marquece Williams, and 18 yards to Jalen Brown.

The real story for Catawba was Lalin's performance on the ground. The running back carried 25 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-sealing 26-yard touchdown run with 2:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Lalin added a receiving touchdown and consistently moved the chains, averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

Mars Hill quarterback JR Martin put together an impressive stat line in a losing effort, completing 25 of 40 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. However, he threw one interception and was sacked three times for 40 yards in losses. Martin also rushed for a touchdown but managed just one net yard on 11 rushing attempts after losing 42 yards to sacks and negative plays.

The Lions opened the scoring with an 84-yard drive capped by a 62-yard touchdown pass from Martin to Edward Louis Jr. The connection tied the game at 7-7 just 1:35 after Catawba had taken an early lead. Louis Jr. finished with four catches for 90 yards and the touchdown.

Charlie Guinade emerged as Martin's favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 78 yards and a 31-yard touchdown that tied the game at 21-21 with 47 seconds left in the first half. Guinade also returned one punt for 12 yards.

The first half featured explosive plays and quick-strike scoring. Neither team punted until late in the second quarter, as the offenses combined for six touchdowns in the first 30 minutes. Mars Hill's David Hargro caught a three-yard touchdown pass to cut Catawba's lead to 21-14 in the second quarter, part of a 10-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 5:26.

Catawba's defense made the critical difference after halftime. Evan Simons led all defenders with 12 total tackles, including three tackles for loss totaling 31 yards. Simons recorded two sacks for 28 yards and intercepted Martin's pass in the first quarter, returning it 23 yards to set up the Indians' first touchdown. His quarterback pressure disrupted Mars Hill's timing throughout the second half.

The turning point came midway through the third quarter. After Mars Hill failed to sustain any offensive momentum following the halftime intermission, Catawba mounted a 10-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in Brown's 26-yard touchdown pass to Williams. The score gave Catawba a 28-21 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter, and Mars Hill never recovered.

Early in the fourth quarter, Brown connected with Jalen Brown for an 18-yard touchdown on a six-play, 65-yard drive, extending the lead to 35-21. Mars Hill responded with Martin's eight-yard rushing touchdown to pull within 35-28, but the Lions couldn't get stops when they needed them most.

Catawba converted eight of 13 third-down attempts and went 4-for-4 in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all four trips inside the 20-yard line. Mars Hill went 3-for-3 in the red zone but struggled on third down, converting just four of 12 attempts. The Lions also failed on all three fourth-down tries.

Bo Pryor led Catawba's receivers with seven catches for 72 yards, consistently finding soft spots in Mars Hill's coverage. Bennett Galloway added 50 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, providing a complementary rushing threat to Lalin's dominance.

Catawba controlled time of possession, holding the ball for 34:03 compared to Mars Hill's 25:57. The Indians outgained the Lions 425 to 366 in total offense and rushed for 218 yards on 43 attempts.

Bryson Sims handled all kicking duties for Catawba, converting all six extra points and averaging 62.7 yards on seven kickoffs with four touchbacks.

Key Performers:

• Kevin Lalin (CAT): 25 rushes for 173 yards and 2 TDs; 1 catch for 13 yards and 1 TD
• Evan Simons (CAT): 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT
• JR Martin (MHU): 25-40 passing, 307 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 1 rushing TD
• Preston Brown (CAT): 17-27 passing, 207 yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD
• Charlie Guinade (MHU): 7 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD

BOONE – A goal line stand and late interception sealed a dramatic fourth quarter as the App State Mountaineers held off the Oregon State Beavers 27-23 in front of a capacity crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Mountaineers (3-2) welcomed their farthest-traveling opponent in stadium history and built a commanding 17-0 first-quarter lead before weathering a furious Oregon State comeback attempt. The Beavers (0-6) threatened to score on three separate possessions in the final period but came away empty each time, undone by a suffocating App State defense that made plays when it mattered most.

Oregon State's best scoring opportunity came late in the fourth quarter after the Beavers drove to a first-and-goal at the App State 3-yard line. Four consecutive carries by Anthony Hankerson gained just one yard total. On third down, officials initially signaled a touchdown, but replay review showed Ronnie Porter and Myles Farmer had stopped Hankerson inches short of the goal line with 1:58 remaining. On fourth down, Farmer tripped up Hankerson behind the line of scrimmage, and Colton Phares finished the tackle for a 2-yard loss to preserve the four-point lead.

The stop gave App State possession at its own 3-yard line, but the Mountaineers couldn't run out the clock. On second down, Rashod Dubinion fumbled at the goal line. Starting quarterback JJ Kohl recovered the loose ball in the end zone, conceding a safety rather than allowing Oregon State to score a go-ahead touchdown. The unintentional safety made it 27-23 with 1:40 left and forced App State to execute a free kick from the 20-yard line.

Oregon State moved quickly into scoring range following the safety, reaching the App State 25 for a first down with 25 seconds remaining. But Rondo Porter sacked Maalik Murphy for a 13-yard loss, backing the Beavers up to the 38. On the next play, Murphy found receiver Trent Walker crossing in front of the App State bench, but Juan Berchal delivered a shoulder hit that jarred the ball loose. The ball popped into the air, where Zyeir Gamble bobbled it four times before securing the game-sealing interception.

The defensive heroics capped a game that started with App State dominating. The Mountaineers forced a three-and-out on Oregon State's opening drive, then marched 55 yards in 10 plays to set up a 49-yard field goal by Dominic De Freitas.

The lead grew to 10-0 when Farmer forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return. David Wells Jr. fumbled at the Oregon State 14, and Porter recovered at the 18. Four plays later, Kohl scrambled 6 yards for his first touchdown as a Mountaineer.

App State struck again before the first quarter ended. After a 68-yard reception by Davion Dozier moved the ball to the Oregon State 5, Dubinion punched it in from 2 yards out with 3:38 left in the period. The 17-0 margin represented the Mountaineers' largest lead of the game.

Oregon State finally broke through early in the second quarter. After missing a 28-yard field goal attempt, the Beavers capitalized on an App State punt. Murphy hit Walker for 37 yards, then Wells Jr. broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 17-7.

The Mountaineers drove into Oregon State territory on the next possession but couldn't extend the lead. A dropped deep pass at the 13-yard line forced a punt, and Oregon State seized momentum. The Beavers marched 93 yards in eight plays, with Murphy connecting with Wells Jr. on a 3-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-14 at halftime.

Kohl, making his first career start in place of injured regular starter AJ Swann, answered with a strong third quarter. App State converted a fourth-and-1 from their own 33-yard line early in a 13-play, 76-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Kohl capped the possession with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dozier, who made four catches for 140 yards in just his second career game.

Oregon State responded immediately. Murphy led a seven-play, 75-yard drive, finding Cornell Hatcher Jr. for a 15-yard touchdown pass to pull within 24-21.

De Freitas added a 45-yard field goal with 50 seconds left in the third quarter to push the lead back to six points at 27-21, setting up the tense fourth quarter that featured three Oregon State scoring threats and three defensive stands.

Phares opened the fourth-quarter dramatics with an end-zone interception on third-and-goal early in the period. Oregon State had driven to the App State 6 before Phares stepped in front of Murphy's pass to end the threat.

Kohl completed 13 of 28 passes for 218 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in his first start. Dubinion led the ground game with 98 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown.

Murphy completed 30 of 45 passes for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked once and faced consistent pressure throughout the game. Walker caught 13 passes for 179 yards, representing more than half of Oregon State's receiving production.

Hankerson carried 19 times for 64 yards for the Beavers, who managed just 98 yards rushing as a team on 25 attempts. Oregon State outgained App State in total yardage 456-354 but committed two turnovers to App State's one and went 0-for-1 in the red zone in the fourth quarter.

Phares led App State's defense with 10 total tackles, one interception, and a tackle for loss. Emory Floyd added six tackles, while Elijah Mc-Cantos contributed six tackles and broke up a key fourth-quarter pass.

App State returns to Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday with a road game at Georgia State, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30.

Key Performers

App State:

• Davion Dozier: 4 receptions, 140 yards, 1 TD
• JJ Kohl: 13-of-28 passing, 218 yards, 1 TD
• Rashod Dubinion: 19 rushes, 98 yards, 1 TD
• Colton Phares: 10 tackles, 1 interception

Oregon State:

• Trent Walker: 13 receptions, 179 yards
• Maalik Murphy: 30-of-45 passing, 358 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• Anthony Hankerson: 19 rushes, 64 yards

ELIZABETH CITY – Christopher Perkins delivered the signature performance Elizabeth City State had been searching for, accounting for five touchdowns as the Vikings defeated Livingstone 39-27 on Saturday afternoon at Roebuck Stadium.

The junior quarterback completed 17 of 20 passes for 190 yards and four touchdowns while adding 130 yards and another score on the ground, leading ECSU to its first win of 2025. The Vikings improved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in CIAA play, while Livingstone dropped to 3-2 and 2-1 in conference action.

Elizabeth City State controlled possession for more than 27 minutes and racked up 397 total yards, including 197 on the ground. The Vikings converted six of 10 third-down attempts and scored on two of their four red-zone opportunities while limiting Livingstone to three conversions on 11 third-down tries.

Early Exchange Sets Stage

The Vikings opened the game with a methodical nine-play, 43-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Traquan Johnson capped the march with a one-yard touchdown run at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter, and Wyatt Jackson's extra point gave ECSU an early 7-0 lead.

Livingstone needed just 73 seconds to respond. On the third play of the ensuing drive, quarterback Elijah Alexander connected with Tavion Jackson on a 67-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 7-7 with 7:13 left in the opening period.

The Vikings regained the lead late in the second quarter when Perkins broke loose on a 73-yard touchdown run, cutting through the middle of the Livingstone defense and outrunning the secondary to the end zone. The Vikings missed the extra point but led 13-7 with 9:41 remaining in the half.

That score came one play after Sterling Chavis intercepted Alexander at the ECSU five-yard line, halting a Livingstone drive that had reached the Vikings' seven. Chavis returned the pick 22 yards to give Perkins and the offense excellent field position.

Third-Quarter Surge

Elizabeth City State broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring on three consecutive possessions to build a commanding 33-7 advantage.

The onslaught began on the Vikings' opening drive of the second half, an eight-play, 64-yard march that featured a key third-down conversion when Perkins hit Troy Smith for eight yards. Two plays later, Perkins found Smith again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown pass that extended the lead to 20-7 at the 9:26 mark. Benjamin Turner's extra point was good.

After forcing a Livingstone three-and-out, ECSU took over at its own 29-yard line. Perkins was sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down, but he quickly made up for it. He completed passes to EJ Gatling and Holland for minimal gains before hitting Holland again on second-and-15 for a 29-yard gain to the Livingstone five. On the next play, Perkins found Johnson for a five-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 26-7 with 6:19 left in the third.

The Vikings tacked on another score just before the end of the quarter. Following a fumble by Livingstone's Davyn Reid on the kickoff return, ECSU took over at the Blue Bears' 29. Perkins needed just two plays, scrambling 30 yards to the 20-yard line before hitting Holland for a 20-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the third quarter. Turner's kick made it 33-7.

Livingstone Responds Too Late

The Blue Bears finally found some offensive rhythm late in the third quarter. Alexander led a six-play, 51-yard drive that he finished with a two-yard touchdown run as the third quarter expired, cutting the deficit to 33-14.

Livingstone's defense then forced a three-and-out to start the fourth quarter, and the offense capitalized. Alexander directed a seven-play, 32-yard drive that he capped with a two-yard touchdown pass to Chris Washington. Jason Zapata's extra point made it 33-21 with 7:12 remaining.

But Perkins answered immediately. On the Vikings' next possession, he completed passes to Holland twice and Smith once during a seven-play, 63-yard drive. The march ended with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Shamar Sutton at the 8:14 mark, restoring the 18-point cushion at 39-21. The Vikings failed to convert the two-point attempt.

Livingstone tacked on a late score when backup quarterback Salomon Georges Jr. led a six-play, 40-yard drive and hit Ronald Lindsey for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:55 left. The two-point conversion failed, and the Vikings recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.

Balanced Attack

Perkins spread the ball effectively throughout the afternoon. Holland led all receivers with six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Smith hauled in four passes for 59 yards and a score. Sutton added three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, and Johnson contributed one catch for five yards and a score.

On the ground, Perkins carried 15 times for 130 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. Johnson added 37 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Ameil Braswell chipped in 17 yards on three attempts.

For Livingstone, Jackson caught eight passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Lindsey had four receptions for 53 yards and a score. Alexander completed 15 of 23 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and one interception before giving way to Georges Jr., who finished 4-of-8 for 41 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Blue Bears managed just 91 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Georges Jr. led the way with 39 yards on four carries, while Javen Parker added 36 yards on eight attempts.

Defensive Contributions

ECSU's defense registered four sacks and two interceptions while forcing two fumbles. Jaevon Branch led the unit with eight tackles, including five solo stops and a sack. Caleb Gervais-Lynch recorded a sack for a 10-yard loss, Drewvon Oxendine had a five-yard sack, and Sir'Sean Ingram brought down Alexander for a three-yard loss.

Chavis finished with five tackles and his crucial red-zone interception, while Worthy added an interception in the fourth quarter that ended Livingstone's final drive.

For Livingstone, Jordan Paul led the defense with eight tackles and forced a fumble. Velson Seide added five tackles, including a sack for a six-yard loss. Kevin Larkins Jr. recorded three tackles and returned an interception 36 yards in the second quarter that set up Livingstone's final drive of the half.

Key Numbers

The Vikings dominated the possession battle, holding the ball for 27:08 compared to Livingstone's 22:21. ECSU averaged 6.5 yards per play compared to 5.2 for the Blue Bears.

Perkins was not sacked until the third quarter and finished the game having been brought down twice for 12 yards in losses. By contrast, Alexander and Georges Jr. combined to be sacked four times for 29 yards.

The Vikings also won the field-position battle, averaging 56.6 yards per kickoff compared to 35.6 for Livingstone. Jackson's seven kickoffs included one touchback and one that went out of bounds.

Both teams struggled with extra points. ECSU converted just three of five attempts, while Livingstone made three of three but failed on both two-point conversion tries.

The Vikings will look to build on this performance as they continue CIAA play, while Livingstone must regroup after surrendering 32 unanswered points over a two-quarter span.

Top Performers

• Christopher Perkins, ECSU: 17-of-20 passing, 190 yards, 4 TDs; 15 rushes, 130 yards, 1 TD
• Terrance Holland, ECSU: 6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
• Jaevon Branch, ECSU: 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack
• Tavion Jackson, Livingstone: 8 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD
• Elijah Alexander, Livingstone: 15-of-23 passing, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT