BUIES CREEK – Brandon Peskin's 36-yard field goal with one second remaining lifted No. 13 Richmond over Campbell 27-24 Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium, spoiling the Camels' latest upset bid.

Richmond (8-2, 6-0 CAA) trailed for much of the contest before mounting a decisive late-game drive, covering 45 yards in 11 plays to set up Peskin's game-winner. The victory came despite Campbell's impressive 273-yard rushing performance, a season-best for the Camels (3-7, 1-5 CAA).

The drama peaked in the final two minutes. After Campbell's Brandon Guzman intercepted Richmond quarterback Camden Coleman with 3:46 remaining, the Camels advanced to the Spider 35-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. Coleman, who finished with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, then engineered the winning drive by completing four of five passes and rushing for 27 yards to position Peskin for the decisive kick.

Campbell controlled the early stages, taking a 7-0 lead when Mike Chandler II capped a 91-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Richmond responded early in the second quarter as Coleman connected with Nick DeGennaro on a 40-yard touchdown pass to level the score.

The momentum shifted immediately back to Campbell when Randall King returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, marking the Camels' first kickoff return score since 2018. Connor Lytton's 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Campbell a 17-7 advantage.

Richmond rallied in the third quarter. Zach Palmer-Smith's 1-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 17-14, and Peskin's first field goal of the day, from 36 yards, tied the game at 17 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Camels reclaimed the lead when Chandler II, who rushed for a season-high 121 yards, found Sincere Brown for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Brown's catch was his 11th touchdown reception of the season, establishing a new Campbell single-season record.

Richmond answered with a methodical 12-play, 76-yard drive, culminating in Coleman's 9-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Vion Griffin that tied the game at 24 with 4:45 remaining.

Landon Ellis led Richmond's receiving corps with seven catches for 101 yards, while Campbell's ground attack featured strong contributions from JJ Cowan, who added 82 yards on 12 carries.

Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough

Defensively, Richmond's Matthew Traynor led all players with 12 tackles, including two for loss, and intercepted a pass. Campbell's Cornelius Davis recorded nine tackles, and Jalen Brooks registered eight stops with the game's only sack.

The victory keeps Richmond unbeaten in CAA play. Campbell will finish its 2024 season with a road game at Delaware next Saturday before hosting Towson on November 23.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell wide receiver Sincere Brown caught two deep touchdown passes to lead the Fighting Camels to a 21-7 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium.

Brown's first touchdown came early, hauling in a 64-yard strike from quarterback Chad Mascoe just 75 seconds into the game. He later sealed the victory with a 53-yard touchdown reception from Mike Chandler II in the fourth quarter, finishing with 150 receiving yards on five catches.

Campbell's Sincere Brown on his way to the end zone (Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

The Fighting Camels (4-5, 2-3) controlled the first quarter, building a 14-0 lead after Chandler II scored on a 7-yard run with eight seconds remaining. Campbell's ground attack was effective throughout, accumulating 167 rushing yards led by JJ Cowan's 74 yards on 11 carries.

NC A&T (1-8, 0-5) struggled to find offensive rhythm early but showed life in the fourth quarter. The Aggies mounted their best drive of the day, marching 95 yards on 12 plays, culminating in Ger-Cari Caldwell's 9-yard touchdown reception from Justin Fomby to cut the deficit to 14-7.

However, Campbell responded immediately with Brown's second touchdown, effectively ending the Aggies' comeback hopes.

Despite the loss, NC A&T's defense played well in stretches, led by Henry Daniel's nine tackles, including two sacks. The Aggies actually held possession for nearly nine minutes longer than Campbell and ran 21 more offensive plays, but struggled to convert opportunities into points, missing two field goals in the second quarter.

Fomby completed 20 of 40 passes for 185 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for NC A&T. Cameren Dalrymple led the Aggies' rushing attack with 75 yards on 16 carries.

Campbell's defense proved disruptive throughout the afternoon, with Jojo Pace and Jalen Brooks each recording nine tackles. The Fighting Camels' secondary broke up seven passes and intercepted two, with Da'Quan Johnson and Lakeem Rudolph each picking off passes in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead.

Up Next

Campbell travels to take on in-state CAA rival Elon next Saturday while NC A&T hosts a ranked William and Mary squad in Greensboro.

BUIES CREEK – In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, Campbell edged out Delaware State 44-41 on Saturday at Barker-Lane Stadium, securing their first home victory of the season. The game was a showcase of offensive firepower, with both teams combining for a staggering 974 yards of total offense.

The star of the day was Campbell's wide receiver Sincere Brown, who put on a spectacular performance with 133 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just five catches. His final score, a two-yard reception from quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr. with only 42 seconds left on the clock, proved to be the game-winner. This clutch play capped off a rapid 79-yard drive that saw the Camels march down the field in just five plays, including crucial catches by VJ Wilkins and RJ Jackson.

Campbell WR Sincere Brown (Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

Mascoe Jr. had an outstanding day under center, completing 18 of 26 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. His connection with Brown and Wilkins, who added 115 yards on seven receptions, was pivotal in keeping the Camels' offense rolling throughout the game.

On the other side of the field, Delaware State's offense was equally impressive. Quarterback Marqui Adams threw for 252 yards and four touchdowns, completing 12 of 23 attempts. The Hornets' ground game was particularly potent, led by running back Jaden Sutton, who racked up an impressive 198 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

The game was a seesaw battle from start to finish, featuring seven lead changes, with five occurring in the fourth quarter alone. Each time one team seemed to take control, the other would respond with a big play or crucial drive.

Campbell's defense, while giving up significant yardage, made key stops when it mattered most. Linebacker Jojo Pace led the unit with 10 tackles and a critical interception, while Jalen Brooks contributed eight tackles. Defensive lineman Elijah Hawk was a disruptive force, recording 1.5 tackles for loss, including one of Campbell's two sacks on the day.

The final moments of the game were filled with tension as Delaware State, trailing by three points, quickly drove to the Campbell 32-yard line with just seconds remaining. However, Michel Bergeron's 49-yard field goal attempt fell short, sealing the victory for the Camels.

This high-scoring affair showcased the offensive talents of both teams. Campbell's passing attack was particularly effective in the second half, accumulating 346 of their 457 total yards through the air. Delaware State, meanwhile, found success on the ground, rushing for 265 of their 517 total yards.

The game also marked a milestone for Campbell's receiving corps, as Brown and Wilkins became only the second pair of Camels to each surpass 100 receiving yards in a single game. The last time this feat was accomplished was in November 2022 against Bryant.

For Campbell, this victory improves their record to 2-3 and provides a much-needed boost of confidence as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season. Delaware State, despite the loss, can take solace in their offensive output and the individual performances of players like Adams and Sutton.

Up Next

Campbell hosts in-state FCS rival NC Central while Delaware State hosts Saint Francis.

BUIES CREEK – Lamagea McDowell delivered a standout performance, rushing for a career-high 114 yards and two touchdowns, propelling Campbell to a thrilling 34-28 Homecoming victory over Maine at Barker-Lane Stadium.

The win pushed the Camels to a 4-3 season record and an impressive 3-2 in CAA play. It was a historic day for Campbell, as they secured their first home CAA victory. On the other side, Maine found themselves at 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference games.

Campbell took control of the game early, building a commanding 28-7 halftime lead. McDowell played a pivotal role in this surge, finding the end zone twice during the first half. The Camels managed to score on four consecutive possessions after their opening drive had stalled.

Jalen Kelsey added to Campbell's lead with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Hajj-Malik Williams, extending the gap to three scores with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter.

However, Maine displayed resilience, mounting a comeback with touchdown receptions of 33 and 18 yards by Rohan Jones. These scores brought the Black Bears within striking distance, at 34-28, with just 6:12 left on the clock.

With Maine gaining momentum and Campbell's lead shrinking, the Camels needed a crucial play to secure the win. That play came in the form of an interception by Trevon Booker, who picked off Derek Robertson's second pass attempt with 2:51 left in the game. This key turnover allowed Campbell to hold on to their lead and emerge victorious.

The Camels' defense delivered a remarkable performance, limiting the Black Bears to -7 rushing yards, setting a school record for the fewest rushing yards allowed in a single game.

Campbell RB Lamagea McDowell Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

Lamagea McDowell had a standout day, rushing 26 times in his first career 100-yard rushing game, contributing 114 of the team's total 168 rushing yards. Hajj-Malik Williams orchestrated the passing game effectively, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-33 pass completions.

VJ Wilkins was a reliable target, making eight catches for 79 yards, while Chaney Fitzgerald added five receptions for 46 yards. Jalen Kelsey also contributed with two catches for 36 yards, including a touchdown.

The Campbell defense was led by CJ Tillman, who tallied 10 tackles and forced a fumble in the first half. Trevon Booker added five tackles to his name, along with the game-clinching interception.

Maine's Derek Robertson had an impressive passing day, throwing for 503 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 36-of-52 passes but also threw two interceptions. Joe Gillette was a standout receiver, recording six catches for 135 yards, while Rohan Jones and Jamie Lamson both hauled in two touchdown passes.

Kahzir Brown led Maine's defense with 10 tackles, including a sack, while Damon Matthews and Abdul Stewart added eight tackles each.

Campbell is set to embark on a challenging road trip for three of their final four regular-season games in 2023. They will travel to Richmond for the first time next week (October 28), followed by a visit to North Carolina on November 4 for their final nonconference matchup. The Camels will return home on November 11 for a showdown with top-10 ranked Delaware.

BUIES CREEK – Elon and Campbell both came into Saturday evening’s game looking for momentum before tackling a tough stretch of schedule during the middle third of the football season. Although rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia kept some fans away, Barker-Lane Stadium was still rocking as these two new in-state rivals met for the first time as conference foes. By the time the clock read all zeroes, Elon was able to hold off a valiant comeback attempt by Campbell and defeat the Camels 28-24 to go to 2-0 in CAA play.

Both teams’ offenses came out with to good plays to get to midfield but had miscues that ended their opening drives. Campbell got a brief jolt of energy when VJ Wilkins’s great catch and run to get the Camels into Elon territory, but the drive fizzled out and the Camels were forced to settle for a 32-yard Caleb Dowden field goal to get on the scoreboard for the first time for the evening and the lone score of the first quarter. The bright spot was quickly overshadowed when Campbell linebacker Antoine Sampah was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury. The Camels' defense certainly missed his presence as the Phoenix were able to drive deep into Campbell territory and take the lead on a ten-yard rushing touchdown by Jalen Hampton.

Campbell had stopped Elon and was about to force a long FG try, but a personal foul penalty extended the drive and gave the Phoenix a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Jalen Hampton dragged several Campbell defenders into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. The next Elon drive was a repeat as another unnecessary roughness penalty gave Elon a first down in Campbell territory and Elon was able to score two plays after the penalty. Christian Da Silva took a ball around the left side of the line and was brought down at the one-yard-line and Jalen Hampton punched it in on the next play for his third score of the quarter.

Elon came out of the half determined to extend their lead and even gambled on a fourth down at the Campbell thirty-yard line to keep the momentum going, but a pass missed its mark and was picked off by Campbell’s Monchovia Gaffney. The Camels took over and went to work and a catch and run by Chaney Fitzgerald got the Camels into the red zone. After an intentional grounding call and sack pushed the Camels back, Hajj-Malik Williams looked to make up for his miscues on the previous two plays and scooted twenty-two yards for Campbell’s first touchdown of the evening. The celebration was short-lived, however, as the Camels found themselves in the same position as earlier drives with a personal foul penalty extending an Elon drive that was capped off with a Jalen Hampton rushing touchdown two plays later. Hampton’s fourth touchdown of the game gave the Phoenix a 28-10 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Camels refused to give up in the final quarter and CJ Tillman’s forced fumble was recovered by Cam Booker, giving the home team a sign of life. When Hajj-Malik Williams hit VJ Wilkins in the endzone, the Camels faithful erupted. The ensuing two-point conversion was good and the Camels, desperate for the comeback, found themselves down ten with eight minutes left. The Campbell defense stepped up on the next drive, forcing an Elon punt. The Camels offense was quick on the draw on the ensuing possession, moving eighty-seven yards in six plays. Brandon Fitez’s spectacular grab gave the ball to the Camels deep in Elon territory and a pass interference call in the end zone set the Camels up at the two-yard line with six-and-a-half minutes left in the game. NaQuari Rogers’s two-yard touchdown on the next play made it a one-score game, but a missed PAT attempt kept it a four-point affair. Although the Campbell defense was able to give the ball back to the offense for one last chance at victory, the clock was not on the Camels’ side as time ran out before the Camels could find the end zone one last time.

Standout Players

Jalen Hampton led all rushers with 169 yards while rushing for four touchdowns. Hajj-Malik Williams was 33 of 44 for 367 yards and a touchdown. VJ Wilkins led all receivers with ten receptions and 114 receiving yards. Defensively, Bo Sanders and Monchovia Gaffney each had an interception for their respective squads while leading their squads with ten tackles apiece.

What They Said

Elon Coach Tony Trisciani on how his team played offensively: “I was real happy with how came we out of the gate and played. We knew we had to assert ourselves upfront. We knew that that's where we needed to win, especially with weather like this, it would be important wanted to run the football.” On defense, “I thought we did a good job getting to the quarterback position to force him to make some decisions and the get ball the perimeter.”

Campbell Coach Mike Minter on his team’s penalties: “You basically have all your penalties are personal fouls. And all of their points come off of those penalties. And so that's the one thing that sticks out to me in that ball game, you know, third and long and we’ll get a personal foul, third and long, we get a personal foul, third down, we get a personal foul. That's just sickening when you look at it. So we gotta learn from that and understand you know who refereeing the game and understand what type of game is gonna be.” On his team’s finish to the game: “We look at, you know you got a chance for the five-minute drill and we had the five-minute drill going on again. They were able to convert a couple of first downs and kind of ran the clock down a little bit and we just didn't have enough time on the clock. But you just can't start the way we started. We spot them twenty-one points and it's 21-3 and then now you decide to play football, you can't do that.”

Up Next

Both teams face tough matchups next week with ranked teams as Elon (2-2, 2-0) hosts #5 William and Mary while Campbell (2-2, 1-1) heads to Durham to face 18th-ranked North Carolina Central for another in-state contest.