1A State Championship

Mount Airy 21, Tarboro 3
MVP: Tyler Mason

Mount Airy Offensive MOP – Mario Revels 
Mount Airy Defensive MOP – Ian Gallimore
Tarboro Offensive MOP – Kamerin McDowell-Moore 
Tarboro Defensive MOP – Isaiah Jones

Mount Airy Secures 9th NCHSAA Football State Championship

2A State Championship

Reidsville 28, Clinton 18
MVP: Al Lee

Reidsville Offensive MOP – Kendre Harrison
Reidsville Defensive MOP – Paul Widerman
Clinton Offensive MOP – Josiah Robinson
Clinton Defensive MOP – Jayden Williams

Reidsville Secures Record Setting NCHSAA 20th State Championship

3A State Championship

Hickory 33, Seventy-First 26
MVP: Brady Stober

Hickory Offensive MOP – Isaiah Lackey
Hickory Defensive MOP – Henry Pitts
Seventy-First Offensive MOP – Deandre Nance 
Seventy-First Defensive MOP – Zayvion Hill

Hickory Wins 3A Title in Nail-Biting Finish

4A State Championship

Weddington 56, Hoggard 21
MVP: Keenan Jackson

Weddington Offensive MOP – Tyler Budge
Weddington Defensive MOP – Aiden Harris
Hoggard Offensive MOP – Hudson Wilharm
Hoggard Defensive MOP – Kamar Fulton

Weddington Dominates in Fourth Title Win in Eight Years

Let's take a look back at the 2023 college football season in North Carolina, where we find a bunch of exciting moments and games that caught the interest of fans across the state. In these top ten matchups, there were surprising wins that no one saw coming and thrilling comebacks that will be remembered for a long time. Each game showed how unpredictable and exciting football can be, with teams trying to make it to the postseason and be the best in their conferences. Join us as we go back and revisit these awesome games that made the North Carolina college football season memorable, remembering the wins, challenges, and fun times from the year.

#10 - Fayetteville State Grabs Comeback Victory Over Livingstone

The Fayetteville State Broncos secured a 19-14 victory over the Livingstone Blue Bears in a thrilling game at Jeralds Stadium, with a standout offensive performance, a crucial comeback from a 14-0 deficit, and a strong defensive effort led by Dylan Morris, ultimately maintaining their 5-0 record in CIAA play.

#9 - Elon Holds Off Campbell Comeback And Goes to 2-0 in CAA Action With 28-24 Win

#8 - Gardner-Webb Stages Thrilling Comeback Victory Over Eastern Kentucky

#7 - Duke's Comeback Bid Foiled by Notre Dame in 21-14 Nail-Biter

#6 - Mars Hill Secures Thrilling 16-14 Victory over Barton in SAC Clash

#5 - Mars Hill Stuns Wingate in Dramatic Second-Half Comeback

#4 - Tar Heels Triumph in Thrilling 2OT Battle Against Blue Devils

#3 - Wingate Pulls Off Last-Minute Stunner, Upsets No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne

#2 - Electrifying Overtime Showdown Sees NCCU Edge Out Campbell 49-48

ORLANDO FL – In the sweetest corner of Orlando, Florida, at Camping World Stadium, a scrumptious college football clash unfolded between the NC State Wolfpack and the Kansas State Wildcats in the Pop Tarts Bowl. The aroma of anticipation (and toasted pastries) filled the air as fans gathered, ready to savor a game filled with pop-tastic plays, touchdown delights, and tasty maneuvers. Let's unravel the flavorsome highlights of this delectable showdown.

First Quarter: Frosted Cherry

The Wildcats kicked off the flavor fest, leaving the Wolfpack trailing early with a thirty-seven-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to DJ Giddens. It was a berry good start for Kansas State, as Chris Tennant's PAT kick added the extra point, giving them a fruity lead of 7-0 at 12:35.

Second Quarter: Brown Sugar Cinnamon

Kansas State continued to sprinkle their magic in the second quarter, with Giddens rushing for a four-yard touchdown, and Johnson adding another touchdown with a 19-yard rush. The Wolfpack tried to spice things up with a 31-yard rushing touchdown by Brennan Armstrong, and just before the clock could say "time's up," Brayden Narveson served a 26-yard field goal, making the halftime score a toasty 21-10 in favor of Kansas State.

Third Quarter: S’mores

The Wolfpack came back with a burst of flavor in the third quarter, narrowing the gap with a 49-yard field goal from Narveson and a truly zesty 60-yard rushing touchdown from Trent Pennix. Despite a failed PAT pass, NC State managed to cut the deficit to 21-19, leaving the fans craving more excitement.

Fourth Quarter: Cookies and Creme

In a lip-smacking final quarter, the Wildcats sealed the deal with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown. Chris Tennant's successful PAT kick was the frosting on the pastry, and Kansas State finished on top with a final score of 28-19, leaving fans with a taste of victory.

Nutrition Facts:

The offensive buffet saw both teams piling up impressive yardage, with Kansas State gaining 429 total yards and NC State close behind with 399 yards. The rushing game was a delicious highlight, with Giddens leading for Kansas State with 152 yards, while Armstrong and Pennix combined for a mouthwatering 195 yards for NC State.

Defensively, both teams showed they were no strangers to tough bites, with a close tackle count of 54 for NC State and 55 for Kansas State. The Wildcats managed a crucial interception, adding some extra crunch to their defensive gameplan.

NC State, who won five straight games to close out the regular season, is now .500 in bowls games with a 17-17-1 all-time postseason record and a 5-4 bowl record under Dave Doeren, who has led NC State to more bowl games than any coach in school history.

CHARLOTTE – In a stadium that looked like Morgantown South, the West Virginia Mountaineers gave their dedicated fans a resounding 30-10 victory at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Wednesday night at Bank of America Stadium. Game MVP Garrett Greene led his team in rushing and passing as the Mountaineers improved to 9-4 on the season.

The Mountaineers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Greene hit a streaking Traylon Ray down the sideline on the game's first play. The freshman wide receiver raced past Tar Heel defenders for a seventy-five-yard touchdown. Just as the Tar Heels offense looked poised to even the score, West Virginia safety Aubrey Burks picked off an errant pass in the end zone, giving the ball back to the Mountaineers.

The Tar Heels finally got on the scoreboard with a Noah Burnette field goal halfway through the second quarter. The rest of the quarter was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams. West Virginia extended their lead with a 78-yard punt return touchdown by Beanie Bishop Jr., only for the Tar Heels to respond with a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Conner Harrell to JJ Jones. However, West Virginia closed out the half with a field goal, heading into the locker room with a 17-10 lead.

The second half witnessed a continuation of West Virginia’s dominance. Kicker Michael Hayes added two more field goals, further solidifying the Mountaineers’ lead. Running back Jaheim White’s eleven-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter served as the final blow, sealing West Virginia’s decisive victory, and began a chorus of “Country Roads” by the thousands of Mountaineer faithful who had made the trip south. The postgame "Mayo Dump" had an equally raucous cheer.

Although the stat line was close, with West Virginia gaining 379 total offensive yards compared to North Carolina’s 353, the Mountaineers’ defense recorded two interceptions and consistently disrupted the Tar Heels’ offensive plays. The limited Tar Heels fans in attendance were left stunned, wondering how a season that began with so much promise ended with three straight losses and a bowl loss for the fourth season in a row.

BIRMINGHAM, AL – In a hard-fought battle at Protective Stadium, the Duke Blue Devils emerged victorious against the Troy Trojans, claiming a 17-10 win in the Birmingham Bowl on December 23, 2023. The game showcased a mix of defensive prowess, offensive resilience, and standout special teams performances.

Early Domination and Defensive Brilliance

Duke wasted no time asserting control, with graduate running back Jaylen Coleman punching in a one-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. The Blue Devils set the tone early, ultimately holding Troy to a meager three points until late in the fourth quarter.

The defensive unit proved to be the backbone of Duke's success. Sophomore cornerback Chandler Rivers shone with three critical pass breakups, etching his name into the bowl record books. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Tre Freeman led the team with nine tackles, capping off a season where he surpassed the 100-tackle mark.

A standout moment came from senior defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, who notched four tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and 1.0 sack, disrupting Troy's offensive rhythm. The Blue Devils collectively recorded 10 pass breakups, marking a historic high for a bowl game in the program's history.

Offensive Contributions and Milestones

Graduate running back Jaylen Coleman, in his final appearance, contributed significantly with a crucial touchdown. Freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis showcased composure, going 19-of-29 for 183 yards despite facing a resilient Troy defense.

Senior wide receiver Jalon Calhoun etched his name alongside Duke great T.J. Rahming, tying for third all-time in program history with 253 career catches. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Sahmir Hagans played a pivotal role, hauling in five receptions for 55 yards.

Special Teams Excellence

Sophomore kicker Todd Pelino delivered a clutch performance, converting three field goals (34-, 37-, and 45-yards), tying a Duke bowl record. His precision proved crucial in securing the win, matching the tenacity displayed by the defense throughout the game.

Graduate student punter Porter Wilson showcased his punting prowess, registering four punts for 188 yards, concluding the season with the best single-season punting average in program history (46.64).

Sealing the Victory

The game's defining moment came in the fourth quarter when graduate safety Jeremiah Lewis secured the win with his fifth career interception, putting an end to Troy's hopes of a comeback.

Duke's triumph not only marked its fifth consecutive bowl victory but also snapped Troy's 10-game winning streak and halted its five-game bowl winning streak. The Blue Devils closed the season with an 8-8 all-time bowl record, leaving an indelible mark on the Birmingham Bowl and capping off a memorable year for Duke football.