GREENSBORO – Elijah Kennedy returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown and followed with an 85-yard kickoff return for another score in the final six minutes, lifting NC A&T to a 28-24 victory over Campbell on Saturday at Truist Stadium.
The Aggies trailed 24-21 with 1:49 remaining when Kennedy took the ensuing kickoff following Campbell's go-ahead field goal and raced untouched for the game-winning score. The dramatic finish capped a second-half comeback that saw NC A&T erase a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit.
Campbell appeared in control after Alex Crabb's 38-yard field goal gave the Camels a 24-21 lead with 1:49 left, finishing off a 12-play, 53-yard drive that consumed more than four minutes. But Kennedy's return on the next play immediately flipped the outcome.
The Camels got the ball back at their own 25 with 1:29 remaining. Kamden Sixkiller completed an 18-yard pass to Stevie Keener to move into NC A&T territory, and a facemask penalty on the Aggies advanced Campbell to the NC A&T 40. But Sixkiller was sacked for a two-yard loss, threw two incompletions, and his final pass intended for Daniel Lopes fell incomplete at the NC A&T 23 with 43 seconds left.
Kennedy's heroics began earlier in the fourth quarter when he returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown with 6:12 remaining, tying the game at 21-21 after Campbell had taken a two-touchdown lead.
Campbell opened the scoring when Sixkiller connected with Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox on a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. NC A&T answered on its next possession, capping a six-play, 44-yard drive when Kevin White hit Michael Carlock-Williams with a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.
The Camels retook the lead early in the second quarter on Naieem Kearney's one-yard touchdown run, the culmination of a 15-play, 97-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Campbell extended its advantage to 21-7 early in the fourth quarter when Sixkiller found Trevor Wilson for a nine-yard touchdown pass, finishing a four-play, 35-yard drive.
NC A&T responded with a seven-play, 86-yard scoring drive, pulling within 21-14 when White scored on a three-yard run with 9:37 left in the game. The Aggies' offense produced 49 yards on a completion to Jayvonne Dillard before White's rushing touchdown.
Sixkiller completed 30 of 48 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Campbell. He found nine different receivers, with Randall King catching seven passes. Mike Chandler II added 62 yards on 12 receptions, frequently serving as a safety valve in the passing game.
White finished 12 of 20 passing for 133 yards and one touchdown without an interception for NC A&T. Dillard caught three passes for 63 yards, while Kennedy caught three for 28 yards before his special teams fireworks.
Campbell generated 375 total yards compared to 222 for NC A&T, but the Aggies produced 264 return yards that proved decisive. The Camels held a significant time of possession advantage at 35:18 to 23:59.
Wesley Graves led NC A&T's ground game with 89 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Camels managed just 63 net rushing yards on 32 attempts, averaging two yards per carry.
Campbell's defense recorded three sacks and five tackles for loss. Logan Livermon led the Camels with nine total tackles, while DaVonyae Pettis added five tackles and two tackles for loss.
On the NC A&T side, Joshua Iseah recorded 11 tackles to pace the defense. Marquis Hood contributed five tackles and two sacks totaling 17 yards in losses. Aaron Harris broke up four passes in coverage.
The Camels converted five of 14 third downs and went one of three on fourth down attempts. NC A&T was three of 11 on third downs and did not attempt a fourth down conversion.
Campbell committed nine penalties for 65 yards, while NC A&T was flagged 11 times for 122 yards. The Aggies' pass interference penalties proved costly, setting up multiple Campbell scoring opportunities.
Campbell falls to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play. NC A&T improves to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the league, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Top Performers
NC A&T:
- Elijah Kennedy: 3 receptions for 28 yards, 1 TD; 96-yard punt return TD; 85-yard kickoff return TD
- Kevin White: 12-of-20 passing, 133 yards, 1 TD; 3-yard rushing TD
- Wesley Graves: 18 rushes, 89 yards
- Joshua Iseah: 11 tackles
Campbell:
- Kamden Sixkiller: 30-of-48 passing, 312 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
- Randall King: 7 receptions, 62 yards
- Naieem Kearney: 1-yard rushing TD
- Logan Livermon: 9 tackles
.png)
