CULLOWHEE – In a historic upset, Campbell defeated 17th-ranked Western Carolina 24-16 on Saturday at Whitmire Stadium, marking the Fighting Camels' first victory over a ranked opponent in program history. The win also gave new head coach Braxton Harris his inaugural triumph at Campbell's helm.

Photo credit: Dylan Ribott

Quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr. led the charge for Campbell, showcasing his arm talent with 306 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Fighting Camels' offense overcame a slow start, turning the tide after two turnovers in their first three possessions. They found their rhythm, scoring touchdowns on three of their next five drives and adding a Connor Lytton 30-yard field goal to build a 24-10 lead with 7:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Campbell's defense played a pivotal role in the victory, forcing an impressive five turnovers. This marked their most takeaways in a single game since September 18, 2021, when they collected 10 in a 72-0 win over Presbyterian. The defensive unit held Western Carolina without an offensive touchdown, limiting the Catamounts to 287 total yards.

VJ Wilkins proved to be Mascoe's favorite target, catching both of his touchdown passes and finishing with five receptions for 68 yards. Sincere Brown had a standout performance, crossing the century mark for the second consecutive game with 108 yards on four catches. On the ground, Mark Biggins shouldered the load, rushing for 81 yards on 23 carries.

Defensively, Jalen Brooks led Campbell with 12 tackles and an interception. Jonathan Melvin contributed six stops, including a sack, while CJ Tillman added six tackles with a tackle for loss. The secondary was particularly active, with Logan Livermon, Jojo Pace, and Lakeem Rudolph each recording interceptions.

Western Carolina's offense struggled to find consistency against Campbell's stout defense. Quarterback Cole Gonzales completed 18 of 35 passes for 172 yards but was intercepted four times. The Catamounts' ground game found little success, with Corey Reddick Jr. leading the team with just 52 yards on seven carries.

The game's dramatic conclusion saw Western Carolina mount a last-ditch effort to tie the score. With 37 seconds remaining, the Catamounts regained possession and drove to the Campbell 27-yard line. However, Gonzales' final heave into the end zone was batted down, securing the historic victory for the Fighting Camels.

This upset marks a significant milestone for Campbell's football program. Prior to this game, the Fighting Camels were 0-12 all-time against top-25 ranked opponents. The victory not only breaks that streak but also sets a new standard for the team under Coach Harris' leadership.

Looking ahead, Campbell will open their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play at Rhode Island on September 14. The Fighting Camels will then make their home debut on September 21, hosting Stony Brook in the first of six games at Barker-Lane Stadium. With this landmark victory under their belts, Campbell looks to build momentum as they venture into conference play and the remainder of their season.

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)

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.

GREENSBORO – Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns, helping North Carolina A&T erase an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat Campbell 45-38 on Saturday at Truist Stadium.

The Aggies moved to 5-3 on the year and 3-0 in Big South games, while Campbell suffered its first league loss, falling to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play as the teams combined for 1,101 yards, 566 for A&T and 535 for CU.

Six of A&T’s touchdowns came on plays of 35 or more yards, including 70 and 42-yard runs from Tuten, who ran for 123 yards in the second half. 

Wesley Graves’ six-yard score gave the Aggies a 45-38 lead with 8:54 to play. 

The Camels scored touchdowns on their first four drives, all in the first quarter, with QB Hajj-Malik Williams running for two and passing for two more, pushing Campbell to a 28-10 lead. 

After a scoreless second quarter, A&T outscored the Camels 20-3 in the third. 

Williams passed for a school-record 426 yards, completing 31-of-47 passes and two touchdowns, adding two more rushing scores. 

Austin Hite hauled in four catches for 103 yards, a career-high, including a 68 touchdown grab in the second quarter. Chaney Fitzgerald made nine catches for 53 yards, while Bryant Barr and Julian Hill both registered three catches with 88 and 80 yards. Hill added a touchdown catch, also rushing for a score.

Jalen Fowler completed 12-of-21 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns for the Aggies, while Zachary Leslie made four catches for 124 yards and two TDs. 

CJ Tillman posted eight stops for the Camels, including 1.0 tackle for loss, while Josh Johnson added seven tackles with 1.0 TFL and a pass breakup. D’Marcus Harrington also notched an interception to go along with three tackles. 

Tywayne Williams led the A&T defense with eight tackles, while Jacob Roberts tallied a third-quarter pick-6, adding two tackles. 

UP NEXT

Campbell wraps up a three-game road stretch, heading to new Big South member Bryant on November 5. The Camels return home for their home finale on November 12 against Gardner-Webb for the 2022 North Carolina East/West Barbecue Bowl and Senior Day. North Carolina A&T continues a three-game homestand, hosting Norfolk State next Saturday at 12 p.m.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM