All-Gridiron Team Returning in 2023

Carolina Gridiron names All-Gridiron teams each season. Congratulations to each of the players chosen and best wishes for a successful season.

Check Out The Weekly Top 15 This Season

CarolinaGridiron.com releases Top 15 Rankings every week. Be sure to check back each Thursday duing the season to see where your favorite team is ranked.

College Football in North Carolina

Carolina Gridiron is expanding coverage of all college football teams in the state of North Carolina this season. See how your favorite college team is doing on the gridiron this year.

Carolina Gridiron Media Pick'Em

This season, Carolina Gridiron is launching a new media pick ‘em contest featuring some of the state’s top sports media. Each week, we will select a slate of ten games from across the state of North Carolina with a mix of high school and college games being thrown in.

Scrimmages and Jamborees

With your help, we are able to yearly put together the most comprehensive statewide high school football jamboree/scrimmage list in North Carolina. Thank you to all who have helped put together past lists and we are looking forward to next season.

Championship Central

Check in with Carolina Gridiron as we bring you comprehensive coverage of the 2022 North Carolina high school state championships.

NC State to Take on Maryland in Duke's Mayo Bowl

CHARLOTTE - NC State (8-4) faces Maryland (7-5) on Dec. 30 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte at noon on ESPN. The overall series record between NC State and Maryland stands exactly even at 33-33-4. The Wolfpack and the Terps met every year on the gridiron from 1956 until Maryland’s departure from the ACC following the 2013 season.

This is NC State’s 34th bowl appearance (17-15-1) and will mark the fourth time the Wolfpack has played a bowl game in Bank of America Stadium. The Wolfpack won the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl and the 2011 Belk Bowl and lost the 2015 Belk Bowl.

In 2005, NC State turned in a storybook ending to a rollercoaster season with a 14-0 victory over South Florida on New Year’s Eve. The defense, led by bowl MVP Stephen Tulloch, shut out the Bulls in USF’s first bowl game appearance in school history. It marked the only shutout in a bowl that year and the first ever by the Wolfpack.

In 2011, the Wolfpack scored 24 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to overwhelm Louisville in the 2011 win. Quarterback Mike Glennon, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns, was named the MVP of the game.

In 2015, Mississippi State - behind QB Dak Prescott - won 51-28 over the Wolfpack in the soggy Belk Bowl. 

In addition to the three bowl games the Wolfpack has played in Bank of America Stadium, it’s also played four regular season contests in that venue. The Wolfpack closed out the regular season versus East Carolina in Charlotte in 1996 (L, 29-50) and in 2005 (W, 52-14). In 1998 and 1999, NC State and UNC moved their matchup to the stadium. The Wolfpack fell in both of those contests, a 34-37 overtime shootout in Torry Holt’s last regular season game and a 6-10 loss the following year. NC State opened the 2017 campaign at BoA Stadium versus South Carolina in the Belk College Kickoff Game, losing by a touchdown to South Carolina (28-35).

Coach Dave Doeren has now led NC State to more bowl games than any coach in school history.


All-Time Record Between NC State and Maryland

DateLocationNCSUMD
11/30/2013Raleigh, NC2141
10/20/2012College Park, MD2018
11/26/2011Raleigh, NC5641
11/27/2010College Park, MD3138
11/7/2009Raleigh, NC3831
10/25/2008College Park, MD2427
11/24/2007Raleigh, NC037
10/21/2006College Park, MD2026
11/26/2005Raleigh, NC2014
10/16/2004College Park, MD133
11/22/2003Raleigh, NC2426
11/9/2002College Park, MD2124
11/17/2001Raleigh, NC1923
11/4/2000College Park, MD2835
11/6/1999Raleigh, NC3017
11/21/1998College Park, MD3521
11/8/1997Raleigh, NC4528
10/5/1996College Park, MD348
11/4/1995Raleigh, NC1330
11/5/1994College Park, MD4745
11/13/1993Raleigh, NC4421
9/12/1992College Park, MD1410
11/23/1991Raleigh, NC2017
9/22/1990College Park, MD1213
9/2/1989Raleigh, NC106
9/24/1988College Park, MD2630
9/26/1987Raleigh, NC4214
9/27/1986College Park, MD2816
10/5/1985Raleigh, NC1731
10/13/1984College Park, MD2144
11/19/1983Raleigh, NC629
9/25/1982College Park, MD623
9/26/1981Raleigh, NC934
11/1/1980College Park, MD024
10/13/1979Raleigh, NC70
10/7/1978College Park, MD731
10/1/1977Raleigh, NC2420
10/9/1976Raleigh, NC616
10/11/1975College Park, MD2237
10/26/1974College Park, MD1020
10/13/1973Raleigh, NC2422
9/9/1972Raleigh, NC2424
9/18/1971College Park, MD735
10/24/1970Norfolk, VA60
9/27/1969College Park, MD247
10/26/1968Raleigh, NC3111
10/14/1967College Park, MD319
11/5/1966Raleigh, NC2421
10/23/1965College Park, MD297
10/3/1964Raleigh, NC1413
9/21/1963College Park, MD3614
10/6/1962Raleigh, NC614
11/11/1961College Park, MD710
10/8/1960Raleigh, NC1310
12/5/1959College Park, MD2833
9/27/1958Raleigh, NC621
9/28/1957College Park, MD4813
11/22/1956Raleigh, NC1425
11/6/1954College Park, MD1442
11/17/1951College Park, MD053
10/21/1950College Park, MD1613
10/22/1949Raleigh, NC614
11/29/1947College Park, MD00
11/30/1946Raleigh, NC287
11/15/1924College Park, MD00
11/17/1923Raleigh, NC1226
11/30/1922Raleigh, NC67
11/24/1921Baltimore, MD66
11/3/1917Washington, DC106
10/30/1909Raleigh, NC310

2022-23 Big South-OVC Schedule Released


CHARLOTTE -- The Big South Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) announced today its football conference game schedule for the 2023 season, which marks the first year of the joint association of the league’s football member institutions.

The 10 combined teams in 2023 (6 – OVC, 4 – Big South) will play a six-game conference schedule, as prior scheduling commitments prevented opportunities for additional Big South-OVC games in the first year.  

Games will be played during 10 of the 12 weeks in 2023, with the first-ever contest scheduled for Week 2 on Sept. 9 with Lindenwood at 2022 OVC Champion Southeast Missouri.  The first cross-over game features 2022 Big South Champion Gardner-Webb at Tennessee State in Week 3 on Sept. 16.  

Five of the 10 members will begin league play in September – Lindenwood (Sept. 9), Southeast Missouri (Sept. 9), Tennessee State (Sept. 16), Gardner-Webb (Sept. 16), and UT Martin (Sept. 30).  The remaining five squads open conference action on either Oct. 7 or Oct. 14.

Three league games are slated for Oct. 7, Oct. 14, and Oct. 21 and the slate increases to four on the final Saturday of October.  Two of the three November dates have the maximum five conference games on the schedule.

More details of the association’s administration, including tiebreakers for the automatic bid to the playoffs, will be announced at a later date.

Below is the 2023 composite Big South-OVC league schedule, which is subject to change.


2023 Big South-OVC Football Conference Schedule

 

Saturday, Sept. 9

Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri

 

Saturday, Sept. 16

Gardner-Webb at Tennessee State


Saturday, Sept. 30

Tennessee State at UT Martin

 

Saturday, Oct. 7

UT Martin at Eastern Illinois

Robert Morris at Gardner-Webb

Tennessee Tech at Lindenwood

 

Saturday, Oct. 14

Robert Morris at Bryant

Lindenwood at Charleston Southern

Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri

 

Saturday, Oct. 21

Bryant at Eastern Illinois

Charleston Southern at UT Martin

Southeast Missouri at Tennessee Tech

 

Saturday, Oct. 28

Bryant at Charleston Southern

UT Martin at Gardner-Webb

Lindenwood at Tennessee State

Tennessee Tech at Robert Morris

 

Saturday, Nov. 4

Gardner-Webb at Bryant

Tennessee State at Charleston Southern

Eastern Illinois at Lindenwood

Robert Morris at Southeast Missouri

UT Martin at Tennessee Tech

 

Saturday, Nov. 11

Bryant at Lindenwood

Charleston Southern at Robert Morris

Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois

Gardner-Webb at Tennessee Tech

Southeast Missouri at UT Martin

 

Saturday, Nov. 18

Southeast Missouri at Bryant

Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb

Eastern Illinois at Robert Morris

Tennessee Tech at Tennessee State


NC State's Dunn Named Top Kicker in the Nation


RALEIGH – NC State's Christopher Dunn was named the winner of the 2022 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award on Thursday night during The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.

Dunn, a former All-Gridiron player who set new ACC records in points scored (479) and field goals (93) in 2022, leads the ACC and ranks second nationally in field goal percentage (.960). He also tops the league in kick scoring and field goals and tied for the national lead in field goals per game.

The Lexington native becomes the third national award winner under NC State football head coach Dave Doeren, joining Bradley Chubb (Nagurski & Hendricks Award, 2017) and Garrett Bradbury (Rimington Trophy, 2018). He is the second Groza Award winner in NC State football history joining Marc Primanti (1996).

"I'm so proud of Chris for all of his accomplishments and am so happy that he was recognized nationally with the Groza Award," Doeren said. "Nobody has worked harder than he has.

"He's overcome a lot of obstacles – on and off the field – but his dedication, persistence, and faith have helped him become the remarkable person and kicker that he is today. I can't wait to see what the future holds for him."

Dunn was also named a CBS Sports and The Athletic All-American earlier on Thursday. He's the first NC State kicker to earn All-America accolades in 26 years, as Primanti earned the honor the same year he won the Groza, 1996.

In 2022, Dunn twice earned ACC Specialist of the Week honors and Lou Groza Star of the Week accolades. He claimed both honors in the same week after he tied a career-high with four made field goals in NC State's 19-17 win over Florida State, scoring 13 of the Pack's 19 points. He also tied a career-long with a 53-yarder in the victory over the Seminoles.

Of Dunn's 24 makes on the season, 10 of them came from 40 yards or longer. He went a perfect 7-for-7 from 20-29 yards, 7-for-7 from 30-39 yards, and 2-for-2 on kicks over 50 yards. He also went 8-for-9 from 40-49 yards, missing just one kick the entire season – in the regular season finalé. He is a perfect 200-for-200 on PAT attempts in his Wolfpack career.

In 1992, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award to honor the nation's top collegiate place-kicker. The winner is determined by a voting panel of Division I head coaches, sportswriters, sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous winners.

The award is named in honor of Lou Groza, a nine-time all-pro and winner of eight championships, four in the AAFC and four in the NFL. Groza, one of the greatest kickers in football history, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

East Lincoln Wins Third Title in Eleven Years


RALEIGH – The 3A state championship game, scheduled to be the last game of the 2022 North Carolina high school football season, featured two undefeated teams with dynamic offenses and stingy defenses. In the end, it was turnovers that seemed to make the biggest difference, with East Lincoln’s four turnovers leading the Mustangs to a 30-15 victory and the 3A state championship.

Northern Nash started the game with a bang, with Keno Jones hitting a streaking Randall King for a sixty-six-yard catch and run to get the Knights inside the five-yard line on the second play of the game. Jones scored on a keeper on the next play to put Northern Nash on the board less than a minute into the game. A fumble on East Lincoln’s first play from scrimmage looked like it would be a disaster for the Mustangs, but the East Lincoln defense stepped up and turned Northern Nash over on downs.

Energized by their team’s big defensive stops, the Mustangs offense started to hit their stride later in the quarter. Sophomore running back Christopher Daley II punished the Northern Nash defense, rumbling in from thirty-five yards out to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead. Keno Jones went deep again on the next Northern Nash drive, hitting Trey Battle for forty-five yards to get the Knights in scoring position. The East Lincoln defense kept the Knights out of the end zone and forced a Bryson Jenkins field goal to end the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to quarterback Tyler Mizzell and the Mustangs. Mizzell threw two beautiful touchdown passes to give East Lincoln a commanding lead going into the half. The first score was a toss to Markell Clark, but it was the fade to Keandre Walker in the back corner of the end zone that had the Mustang faithful on their feet and feeling like they had overcome the costly miscues from earlier in the evening. A Christopher Mileta field goal with no time remaining in the half set the intermission score at 24-9. After a scoreless third quarter, Mileta would add the next points of the game with two fourth-quarter field goals. Keno Jones added a late touchdown pass to Ashton Rhodes to cap the scoring.

Defensively, East Lincoln teetered between giving up big passes to Northern Nash’s speedy outside receivers and making athletic plays to pick off passes. Defensive end Diego Neira picked off a screen pass to set up East Lincoln’s second touchdown of the night. Aiden Terrell and Keandre Walker picked off passes on consecutive drives in the third quarter and Marcel Johnson recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter to keep Northern Nash off the board.

The win marked the third football state championship for East Lincoln, all within the last eleven seasons. Northern Nash suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 0-2 all-time in state title games.