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

Date	Location	NCSU	MD
11/30/2013	Raleigh, NC	21	41
10/20/2012	College Park, MD	20	18
11/26/2011	Raleigh, NC	56	41
11/27/2010	College Park, MD	31	38
11/7/2009	Raleigh, NC	38	31
10/25/2008	College Park, MD	24	27
11/24/2007	Raleigh, NC	0	37
10/21/2006	College Park, MD	20	26
11/26/2005	Raleigh, NC	20	14
10/16/2004	College Park, MD	13	3
11/22/2003	Raleigh, NC	24	26
11/9/2002	College Park, MD	21	24
11/17/2001	Raleigh, NC	19	23
11/4/2000	College Park, MD	28	35
11/6/1999	Raleigh, NC	30	17
11/21/1998	College Park, MD	35	21
11/8/1997	Raleigh, NC	45	28
10/5/1996	College Park, MD	34	8
11/4/1995	Raleigh, NC	13	30
11/5/1994	College Park, MD	47	45
11/13/1993	Raleigh, NC	44	21
9/12/1992	College Park, MD	14	10
11/23/1991	Raleigh, NC	20	17
9/22/1990	College Park, MD	12	13
9/2/1989	Raleigh, NC	10	6
9/24/1988	College Park, MD	26	30
9/26/1987	Raleigh, NC	42	14
9/27/1986	College Park, MD	28	16
10/5/1985	Raleigh, NC	17	31
10/13/1984	College Park, MD	21	44
11/19/1983	Raleigh, NC	6	29
9/25/1982	College Park, MD	6	23
9/26/1981	Raleigh, NC	9	34
11/1/1980	College Park, MD	0	24
10/13/1979	Raleigh, NC	7	0
10/7/1978	College Park, MD	7	31
10/1/1977	Raleigh, NC	24	20
10/9/1976	Raleigh, NC	6	16
10/11/1975	College Park, MD	22	37
10/26/1974	College Park, MD	10	20
10/13/1973	Raleigh, NC	24	22
9/9/1972	Raleigh, NC	24	24
9/18/1971	College Park, MD	7	35
10/24/1970	Norfolk, VA	6	0
9/27/1969	College Park, MD	24	7
10/26/1968	Raleigh, NC	31	11
10/14/1967	College Park, MD	31	9
11/5/1966	Raleigh, NC	24	21
10/23/1965	College Park, MD	29	7
10/3/1964	Raleigh, NC	14	13
9/21/1963	College Park, MD	36	14
10/6/1962	Raleigh, NC	6	14
11/11/1961	College Park, MD	7	10
10/8/1960	Raleigh, NC	13	10
12/5/1959	College Park, MD	28	33
9/27/1958	Raleigh, NC	6	21
9/28/1957	College Park, MD	48	13
11/22/1956	Raleigh, NC	14	25
11/6/1954	College Park, MD	14	42
11/17/1951	College Park, MD	0	53
10/21/1950	College Park, MD	16	13
10/22/1949	Raleigh, NC	6	14
11/29/1947	College Park, MD	0	0
11/30/1946	Raleigh, NC	28	7
11/15/1924	College Park, MD	0	0
11/17/1923	Raleigh, NC	12	26
11/30/1922	Raleigh, NC	6	7
11/24/1921	Baltimore, MD	6	6
11/3/1917	Washington, DC	10	6
10/30/1909	Raleigh, NC	31	0

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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

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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.

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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.

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