DURHAM – Shaw had a choice.

Kick the extra point and keep playing.

Or end it.

The Bears chose the latter.

After Livingstone scored first in overtime Saturday afternoon, Shaw answered with an Alexander Marsh touchdown pass to Jeffrey McDonald Jr. and then kept its offense on the field. Fabian Diggs powered in the two-point conversion, giving the Bears a dramatic 28-27 victory over their in-state CIAA rival at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

Shaw improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play, while Livingstone fell to 2-3 and 2-2. 

The finish provided a fitting conclusion to an afternoon in which neither team could pull away.

Livingstone struck first when Javen Parker finished a 65-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter.

Shaw finally answered midway through the second when Marsh found Cobie Bates for a 54-yard touchdown. A missed extra point left the Blue Bears ahead, and Jason Zapata's 44-yard field goal later sent Livingstone into halftime leading 10-6.

Shaw emerged from halftime with an answer.

Trey Thorpe capped a 69-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Bears their first lead, 12-10. But Livingstone responded with perhaps its biggest play of regulation.

Facing third-and-two, Tikey Hayes broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown, putting the Blue Bears back in front 17-12.

That lead lasted less than two minutes.

Thorpe ripped off a 48-yard run on Shaw's ensuing possession, and Jerry Eaton eventually scored from two yards out. Marsh connected with McDonald on the two-point conversion to make it 20-17. 

Livingstone had one more answer.

The Blue Bears put together an 11-play drive early in the fourth quarter and appeared to score when Andrew McClain reached the end zone, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown. Livingstone ultimately settled for Zapata's 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 8:37 remaining. 

Neither team scored again in regulation.

Livingstone got the football first in overtime and methodically worked its way toward the goal line before Maliq Staten scored from one yard out. Zapata's extra point gave the Blue Bears a 27-20 advantage.

Shaw needed considerably less time.

The Bears scored in only two plays, with Marsh finding McDonald for a 13-yard touchdown.

Then came the decision.

Rather than kick to extend the game, Shaw put the offense back on the field needing two yards to win it.

Diggs got them.

His successful two-point conversion ended the game immediately and set off a Shaw celebration after nearly four hours of football.

The statistics reflected just how evenly matched the two North Carolina programs were.

Livingstone actually outgained Shaw 448-431 and ran 85 offensive plays to the Bears' 59. The Blue Bears also held the football for more than 34 minutes and converted 11 of 20 third downs.

Shaw, however, was far more explosive, averaging 7.3 yards per play compared with Livingstone's 5.3. 

Thorpe led the Bears with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while Marsh completed 16 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Bates turned his two receptions into 101 yards and a score. 

Hayes led Livingstone with 90 rushing yards, including his 55-yard touchdown, while Brandon Edinburgh Jr. threw for 231 yards.

For 60 minutes, there was almost nothing separating the two teams.

So when Shaw finally had an opportunity to decide the game with one play from two yards away, the Bears didn't leave the outcome for another overtime.

They went for two.

And they got it.

HICKORY – Mars Hill's defense kept Lenoir-Rhyne off the scoreboard for more than three quarters Saturday night, helping the Lions remain unbeaten with a 15-7 victory at Moretz Stadium.

Mars Hill improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Lenoir-Rhyne fell to 2-2 and 1-1. 

The Lions limited Lenoir-Rhyne to just 16 rushing yards, recorded seven sacks and intercepted quarterback Wells Bettenhausen twice. Mars Hill finished with a 438-312 advantage in total offense, including 127 yards on the ground. 

The defense made its presence felt immediately. Caden Hilemon intercepted Bettenhausen on Lenoir-Rhyne's opening possession, ending a drive that had reached the Mars Hill 38. 

After a scoreless first quarter, Mars Hill finally broke through with a 12-play, 83-yard drive. Lukas Kachilo helped move the Lions to the Lenoir-Rhyne 6 before Matthias Newsome kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 7:38 remaining in the half.

Mars Hill struck again late in the second quarter. Beginning at its own 8, the Lions traveled 92 yards in six plays. A 61-yard completion from Kachilo to JT Way flipped the field before Kachilo found Christopher Morrison Jr. for a 21-yard touchdown and a 10-0 advantage. 

The defense then added points of its own.

Russell Barnett and Sammuel Rwibuka combined for a sack before JyMire Wright dropped Bettenhausen again, pinning Lenoir-Rhyne near its goal line. On fourth-and-21, a failed punt attempt resulted in a safety, sending Mars Hill into halftime ahead 12-0. 

Newsome's 22-yard field goal late in the third quarter extended the lead to 15-0.

Lenoir-Rhyne finally broke through with 7:00 remaining when Bettenhausen connected with Shermon Davis for an 86-yard touchdown, cutting the margin to 15-7. It was the Bears' only scoring play of the night. 

The Bears got one final opportunity, driving from their own 3 to the Mars Hill 27 before an interception ended the threat with 21 seconds remaining. 

Kachilo completed 20 of 41 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Guinade caught eight passes for 127 yards, while Way added 82 yards on three receptions. Rayvon Durant led the rushing attack with 89 yards on 10 carries. 

Bettenhausen threw for 296 yards, but Mars Hill's pass rush repeatedly disrupted the Bears. Barnett recorded 2.5 sacks, Wright had two and Rwibuka added 1.5. Jamarion Farrior led the Lions with 11 tackles and a sack. 

Mars Hill's defense ultimately made a 15-point night stand up, keeping the Lions perfect through three games.

Fayetteville State football rallies past Shaw 33-20 in 2026 season opener

FAYETTEVILLE, NC — Fayetteville State spent the opening half chasing Shaw. By the end of the night, the Broncos had turned special teams and defense into the difference in a 33-20 season-opening win Saturday at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium.

Shaw built a 12-0 lead and appeared to have Fayetteville State on its heels, but the Broncos flipped the game before halftime with two unusual scoring plays. Fayetteville State’s first points came after a blocked extra-point attempt, which Terrell Ford ran back 100 yards for a defensive two-point conversion. Late in the second quarter, the Broncos added another two points when Shaw’s punt attempt went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the Bears’ lead to 12-11 at the break.

Those plays changed the feel of the opener. Shaw controlled much of the early action, but Fayetteville State stayed within reach without needing its offense to carry the full comeback. Once the Broncos found rhythm after halftime, they scored 16 points in the third quarter and took control.

Shaw struck first when Trey Thorpe scored on a 10-yard run, giving the Bears a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point. The Bears extended the margin in the second quarter on Alexander Marsh’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Keyshaun Powell. But the conversion attempt turned into Fayetteville State’s first momentum swing, with Ford’s return making it 12-2 instead of 13-0.

Fayetteville State’s offense then produced its first touchdown late in the half. Jamir Dismukes led an 11-play, 60-yard drive and finished it with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Parker with one minute left in the second quarter. John Hernandez-Vargas added the extra point, and the Broncos trailed only 12-9.

Shaw’s next possession moved backward, and the Broncos cashed in again without the offense touching the ball. The Bears were backed up near their goal line when the punt attempt resulted in a safety with 25 seconds left, sending Fayetteville State into halftime down by a single point.

Fayetteville State took the lead for good on the opening possession of the third quarter. Braylon Vinson, who led the Broncos with 88 rushing yards on 21 carries, capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Hernandez-Vargas’ extra point made it 18-12, giving the Broncos their first lead.

The Broncos kept building from there. Dismukes broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, stretching the lead to 24-12. Hernandez-Vargas later added a 34-yard field goal, pushing the margin to 27-12 after Fayetteville State’s third scoring drive of the quarter.

Dismukes finished 14 of 20 for 144 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also rushed for 56 yards and a score on 10 carries, helping Fayetteville State finish with 292 total yards. Marcus Fleming led the Broncos’ receivers with three catches for 43 yards, while Unique Kelly added four receptions for 41 yards.

Shaw made one last push in the fourth quarter with a long, methodical drive. Landon Melton finished a 19-play, 75-yard march with a three-yard touchdown run, and Marsh completed the two-point try to Antrel Gibson to cut Fayetteville State’s lead to 27-20 with 7:26 remaining.

But Fayetteville State’s defense had the final answer. With Shaw trying to drive late, Zyking Patillo intercepted Marsh and returned it for a touchdown with 1:38 left. Hernandez-Vargas’ extra point attempt was missed, but the defensive score gave the Broncos a 33-20 lead and effectively sealed the opener.

Shaw finished with 216 total yards and was held to 7-of-22 passing. Marsh completed seven of 20 passes for 81 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Thorpe led the Bears with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Fabian Diggs added 41 yards on eight attempts.

Fayetteville State’s defense repeatedly put Shaw behind schedule, recording seven sacks and holding the Bears to 5 of 16 on third down. Osirus Rhodes and Joseph Woodard each finished with six tackles, while Christopher Gordon had five tackles and one sack.

The Broncos also overcame 13 penalties for 123 yards, relying on special teams, a sharp third quarter and Patillo’s late defensive touchdown to start the season with a CIAA win. For a program picked third in the conference preseason poll, it was not a clean opener, but it was the kind that showed how many ways Fayetteville State can change a game.

CULLOWHEE – Mercer needed a 37-yard field goal from Reice Griffith with 90 seconds remaining to survive a record-breaking performance from Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens and claim at least a share of the Southern Conference championship with a 49-47 victory Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.

Dickens threw for a SoCon single-game record seven touchdown passes to five different receivers, finishing 33-of-49 for 551 yards in a back-and-forth shootout that saw the lead change hands multiple times in the fourth quarter. But Griffith's late field goal and a missed 33-yard attempt by Western Carolina's Marcus Trout as time expired allowed the Bears (8-1, 7-0 SoCon) to escape with the victory and secure the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

The Bears trailed 47-46 with 3:13 remaining after Western Carolina's James Tyre caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Dickens. Mercer responded with a six-play, 45-yard drive that consumed 1:43 before Griffith connected on his second field goal of the game to put the Bears ahead for good.

Western Carolina (6-4, 5-1 SoCon) had one more chance. Dickens completed passes of 14 yards to Patrick Boyd Jr., 19 yards to Tyre and 20 yards to Malik Knight to move the Catamounts to the Mercer 15-yard line. After three running plays netted just four yards, Western Carolina elected to attempt the field goal rather than try for the first down. Following a Mercer timeout, Trout's kick missed wide right as time expired.

The two teams combined for 1,167 yards of total offense, including 994 through the air, with 10 combined passing touchdowns. Dickens connected with 11 different receivers, while freshman Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 23 of 39 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns.

Mercer scored on its opening possession of the second half to take a 25-21 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by CJ Miller, who finished with 91 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. The Bears extended their advantage to 32-21 with 5:12 left in the third quarter when Atkinson found Kendall Harris for a 24-yard touchdown pass, Harris' second scoring catch of the game.

Western Carolina answered immediately. Knight caught a 23-yard pass to start the ensuing drive, and three plays later hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 32-27. But Miller responded with his third rushing touchdown, a 26-yard run with 24 seconds left in the third quarter, to push Mercer's lead back to 39-27.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Catamounts' passing attack. Knight opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown reception just 49 seconds into the period, pulling Western Carolina within 39-34. Mercer answered on its next possession when Atkinson connected with Adjatay Dabbs for an 81-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 46-34 with 13:25 remaining.

Western Carolina needed just three plays to respond. After an incompletion and a two-yard loss, Dickens found Jai Boyd for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:13 left, cutting Mercer's advantage to 46-41. The Catamounts forced a three-and-out, then needed just three plays to take the lead. Boyd Jr. gained one yard on first down before Dickens hit Tyre for the go-ahead 42-yard touchdown with 3:13 remaining.

Mercer faced second-and-22 from the Western Carolina 28 after a pass interference penalty wiped out what would have been a go-ahead touchdown pass to Harris. Atkinson completed passes of 10 and negative-two yards to Miller before Griffith's field goal attempt.

The game began as a defensive struggle by comparison to its eventual outcome. Western Carolina took the opening kickoff and needed nine plays to cover 65 yards, with Dickens finding Michael Rossin for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 11:40 left in the first quarter. Mercer answered with a five-play, 68-yard drive capped by Miller's seven-yard touchdown run.

Western Carolina regained the lead early in the second quarter when Dickens threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Boyd Jr., making it 14-7. But Mercer scored the next nine points, including a safety when Jordan Swain sacked Dickens in the end zone, followed by a six-yard touchdown pass from Atkinson to Harris that gave the Bears a 15-14 lead.

Dickens responded with his third touchdown pass of the half, a 25-yard strike to Rossin that capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive and gave Western Carolina a 21-15 lead with 5:25 left in the second quarter. Mercer drove to the Western Carolina seven but settled for Griffith's 24-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining in the half, leaving the Catamounts ahead 21-18 at halftime.

The teams traded punts to open the second half before Mercer took over at its own 25 following a touchback. The Bears needed just five plays to score, with Miller capping the 75-yard drive with his second touchdown run. After Western Carolina punted, Mercer recovered a fumble at the Catamounts' 35-yard line. Four plays later, Atkinson hit Harris for the 24-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 32-21.

Knight finished with five receptions for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns for Western Carolina. Boyd Jr. caught seven passes for a career-best 93 yards and a score, while Rossin had three catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Tyre finished with three receptions for 78 yards and his 11th touchdown catch of the season, the most in the SoCon.

For Mercer, Dabbs led all receivers with four catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. Harris caught six passes for 73 yards and two scores, while Miller added three receptions for 57 yards to go with his rushing total, giving him 148 yards of total offense.

Samaurie Dukes led Western Carolina with a career-high 13 tackles, while Hasaan Sykes added 10 stops. Micah Nelson, Ken Moore Jr. and Caleb Fisher each recorded a tackle for loss. The Catamounts registered eight quarterback hurries, including two each by Jordan Thompson and Justin Wallace.

Julian Fox paced Mercer's defense with 13 tackles, and Drew Clare added 10 stops plus a fumble recovery. The Bears recorded four sacks from four different players, with Swain's safety coming on his sack in the second quarter. Kaleb Hutchinson recorded Mercer's only interception, picking off Dickens at the goal line as time expired in the first half.

The victory gives Mercer at least a share of the 2025 SoCon regular-season championship with one game remaining. The Bears clinched the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA FCS playoffs by securing the tiebreaker over Western Carolina, the only team that can match their conference record. Mercer hosts Chattanooga next Saturday.

Western Carolina hosts East Tennessee State next Saturday in its regular-season finale on Senior Day.

Top Performers

• Taron Dickens, WCU: 33-of-49 passing, 551 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT (SoCon single-game record for TD passes)
• Braden Atkinson, Mercer: 23-of-39 passing, 443 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT
• Malik Knight, WCU: 5 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
• CJ Miller, Mercer: 21 rushes for 91 yards and 3 TDs; 3 receptions for 57 yards
• Adjatay Dabbs, Mercer: 4 receptions, 147 yards, 1 TD
• Kendall Harris, Mercer: 6 receptions, 73 yards, 2 TDs
• Patrick Boyd Jr., WCU: 7 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
• Samaurie Dukes, WCU: 13 tackles
• Julian Fox, Mercer: 13 tackles

WINGATE – Wingate defensive end Elijah Barnes crashed through the line on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime, sacking Khamoni Robinson and forcing a fumble that Tyson Brown recovered to preserve a 38-37 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at Irwin Belk Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the South Atlantic Conference, extending their winning streak to four games. Lenoir-Rhyne fell to 5-5 and 4-3 in league play. The victory marked Wingate's fourth consecutive win over the Bears.

After both teams scored touchdowns in overtime, Lenoir-Rhyne coach Doug Socha elected to attempt a two-point conversion rather than kick the extra point for a second overtime period. Robinson dropped back to pass, but Barnes broke through for the game-ending sack.

"It was a hard fought emotional game today," Socha said. "We had some missed opportunities and needed one more play."

The game reached overtime after Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes engineered a nine-play, 74-yard drive in the final 1:53 of regulation. Holmes completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Estronza with 19 seconds remaining to tie the score at 31-31.

Wingate needed just three plays to score in overtime. Xavier Pugh carried for five yards, then Holmes found Jaylen Himes for 10 yards to set up Pugh's 10-yard touchdown run. Caleb Bonesteel converted the extra point for a 38-31 lead.

Robinson answered with a six-yard touchdown run on Lenoir-Rhyne's possession, setting up the decisive two-point attempt.

Holmes completed 23 of 36 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns while adding 50 yards on the ground. Himes caught eight passes for 134 yards and two scores, while Xavier Jackson hauled in five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. Pugh contributed 71 rushing yards and a score along with three catches for 42 yards.

Robinson finished 21 of 30 for 283 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for two more scores. Alex Boyd recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 103 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.

Songa Yates tied a career high with nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown, moving into a tie for seventh place on Lenoir-Rhyne's all-time list with 17 career touchdown receptions. Zion Agnew added five catches for 86 yards and a score.

Lenoir-Rhyne jumped ahead early when Robinson connected with Agnew for a 47-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, capping an eight-play, 75-yard march. The Bears extended their lead to 14-3 when Robinson found Yates for a 52-yard scoring strike on their second possession.

Wingate responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Bonesteel's 24-yard field goal. Holmes completed passes of 23 yards to Himes, 12 yards to Pugh and 10 yards to Estronza during the drive.

The Bears appeared poised to build a commanding lead in the second quarter when they drove inside the Wingate five-yard line. But the Bulldogs' defense held on fourth-and-goal from the two, forcing a turnover on downs.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back Desmond Greene intercepted Holmes on Wingate's ensuing possession, his fourth interception of the season. The turnover set up Robinson's seven-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 21-3 advantage with 1:45 left in the half.

The Bulldogs cut into the deficit before halftime when Holmes hit Himes for 53 yards on the first play of a drive, then connected with him again for a nine-yard touchdown. That made it 21-10 with 1:19 remaining in the second quarter.

Brayden Cresimore's 44-yard field goal as time expired in the half, Lenoir-Rhyne's longest of the season, extended the Bears' lead to 24-10.

Wingate seized momentum in the third quarter with two touchdown drives. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bulldogs took over at their own 40 and drove 60 yards in six plays. Holmes connected with Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown on third-and-three to make it 24-17.

Following another Lenoir-Rhyne punt, Holmes led a six-play, 64-yard scoring drive. He completed a 19-yard pass to Jackson, then gained 11 yards on a scramble to reach the red zone. Holmes found Himes for an 18-yard touchdown that tied the game at 24-24 with 4:05 left in the third quarter.

Chris Harris gave Wingate prime field position late in the third when he sacked Robinson, forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Lenoir-Rhyne 33. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize.

Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back John Royal intercepted Holmes on third-and-six from the 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter and returned it 52 yards to the Wingate 28. Boyd's five-yard touchdown run six plays later put the Bears ahead 31-24 with 10:58 remaining.

James Ussery intercepted Holmes later in the fourth quarter to give Lenoir-Rhyne possession at its own 41, but the Bears couldn't convert the turnover into points. Ussery finished with a career-high 13 tackles and an interception.

Wingate forced consecutive three-and-outs in the final minutes to set up the game-tying drive. Holmes completed passes of 26 yards to Pugh and 26 yards to Jackson during the march, getting the Bulldogs inside the 10 with 30 seconds left before finding Estronza for the tying score.

Wingate held a 507-453 advantage in total offense. The Bulldogs converted seven of 13 third-down attempts, while Lenoir-Rhyne succeeded on nine of 14. Wingate scored on four of five red zone trips compared to two of four for the Bears.

Jaquan Edwards led Wingate's defense with 10 tackles, while Anthony Dangerfield and Tory Kelly added nine and eight tackles respectively. Harris finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, the forced fumble and fumble recovery. Jonathen Cross contributed six tackles with a tackle for loss, half a sack and a pass breakup.

Tate O'Bryan set a career high with 76 receiving yards for Lenoir-Rhyne. Greene finished with seven tackles and an interception.

The game marked Lenoir-Rhyne's highest-scoring output of the season.