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

RALEIGH – NC State put together a comprehensive performance Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium, defeating in-state FCS foe Campbell 56-10. The Wolfpack improved to 4-2 overall while the Fighting Camels fell to 1-5.

Quarterback CJ Bailey orchestrated the offensive showcase, completing 20 of 23 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns. His efficient afternoon included scoring strikes to four different receivers and helped NC State pile up 607 total yards of offense.

The game began competitively enough. After NC State's opening touchdown drive, Campbell responded immediately when Kamden Sixkiller found Mike Chandler II for a 13-yard touchdown pass at the 8:54 mark of the first quarter, knotting the score at 7-7. The two-play, 14-yard drive took just 46 seconds after Campbell recovered a muffed punt at the NC State 14-yard line.

That would be Campbell's final trip to the end zone. NC State answered on the very next play from scrimmage when Hollywood Smothers broke through the middle and raced 59 yards for a touchdown just 41 seconds later, putting the Wolfpack ahead for good at 14-7.

The Wolfpack scored on seven consecutive possessions spanning from late in the first quarter through the middle of the third. Bailey connected with Cody Hardy from 37 yards out to close the first quarter scoring at 21-7. The second quarter turned into a sustained offensive clinic, with NC State adding four more touchdowns.

Smothers caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bailey at 13:45 of the second quarter. Terrell Anderson hauled in a 34-yard scoring strike at 8:33. Running back Jayden "Duke" Scott punched in a 14-yard touchdown run at 2:28, and Justin Joly capped the first-half barrage with a 10-yard reception in the final minute before halftime. The Wolfpack took a 49-7 lead into the break.

The ground game complemented the passing attack effectively. Smothers finished with 123 yards on just four carries, averaging 30.8 yards per attempt. Scott added 89 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts. As a team, NC State rushed for 236 yards on 26 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt.

Campbell's offense struggled to generate sustained momentum after the opening quarter. The Fighting Camels managed just 188 total yards, 67 rushing and 121 passing. They converted only four of 16 third-down attempts and failed on both fourth-down tries. Campbell's time of possession advantage (33:00 to 27:00) reflected the Wolfpack's efficiency rather than any sustained offensive success from the visitors.

JJ Cowan led Campbell's rushing attack with 48 yards on 12 carries. Sixkiller completed 12 of 22 passes for 87 yards and the lone touchdown before giving way to backup quarterbacks Jalen Ferguson and Mike Chandler II. Trevor Wilson caught four passes for 18 yards to lead the receiving corps.

Scott added his second and third touchdowns in the third quarter, the latter a two-yard run at 6:06 that extended the lead to 56-7. With the outcome decided, both teams emptied their benches. NC State quarterbacks Lex Thomas and Will Wilson saw action in relief of Bailey, combining to complete five of 11 passes for 34 yards.

Campbell's only points of the second half came on a 46-yard field goal by Alex Crabb with 4:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, capping a four-play, 12-yard drive that began after Ravel Cato's interception gave the Fighting Camels possession at the NC State 41.

Defensively, NC State recorded two sacks for 18 yards and seven tackles for loss totaling 28 yards. Sabastian Harsh led the pass rush with 1.5 sacks for 12 yards. Kenny Soares Jr. paced the defense with nine total tackles (two solo, seven assists). The Wolfpack held Campbell to an average of 2.9 yards per play.

Campbell's defense forced two fumbles but recovered only one. The Fighting Camels recorded two tackles for loss and intercepted one pass, Cato's fourth-quarter pick that he returned 33 yards to set up the field goal. Tyrek Brown and Jojo Pace each finished with six tackles to lead the unit.

NC State's offensive balance proved overwhelming. The Wolfpack averaged 10.9 yards per pass attempt and 14.8 yards per completion. Bailey's touchdown passes covered 37, 16, 34, and 10 yards, spreading the scoring opportunities across the receiving corps. Anderson (50 yards), Noah Rogers (62 yards), and Keenan Jackson (43 yards) provided downfield threats that kept Campbell's defense stretched thin.

Campbell showed some resilience with a 10-play drive to open the second half, reaching the NC State 43, but turned the ball over on downs. Another eight-play, 34-yard possession in the third quarter also ended with a punt. But the Fighting Camels never seriously threatened after falling behind 14-7 early in the first quarter.

The victory gave NC State its fourth win of the season and snapped a two-game conference losing streak. For Campbell, the loss continued a difficult stretch that has seen the Fighting Camels drop four of their last five games since opening the season with a conference win.

Key Performers

NC State:

• CJ Bailey: 20-of-23 passing, 337 yards, 4 TDs
• Hollywood Smothers: 4 rushes, 123 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TD
• Jayden "Duke" Scott: 10 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TDs
• Noah Rogers: 3 receptions, 62 yards
• Terrell Anderson: 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

Campbell:

• JJ Cowan: 12 rushes, 48 yards
• Mike Chandler II: 2 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD
• Kamden Sixkiller: 12-of-22 passing, 87 yards, 1 TD
• Kenny Soares Jr. (NC State): 9 tackles

BUIES CREEK – Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens threw for 427 yards and four touchdowns, but it was wide receiver James Tyre's surprising 61-yard touchdown pass that sealed a wild 42-35 victory over Campbell on Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium.

The Catamounts (2-3) built a commanding 35-10 lead early in the third quarter before watching Campbell (1-4) mount a furious comeback that brought the Camels within seven points twice in the fourth quarter. Just when it appeared Campbell might complete the rally, Tyre, a former high school quarterback, delivered the decisive blow with 4:19 remaining.

After Campbell had cut the lead to 35-28 on Stevie Keener's 26-yard touchdown reception, Western Carolina needed just two plays and 39 seconds to restore its two-score advantage. Dickens found Tyre for 14 yards on first down, then Tyre took an end-around reverse and launched a perfect strike downfield to Painter Richards-Baker, who outran the Campbell secondary for the 61-yard score.

"That play put us back in control when we needed it most," could have been said about Tyre's heroics, as the Suwanee, Georgia native finished with six catches for 101 yards receiving while adding 47 return yards on two punts for a game-high 148 all-purpose yards.

The victory marked Western Carolina's second straight win and first-ever triumph in the series against Campbell. More importantly, it showcased the Catamounts' offensive balance under Dickens, who completed passes to 11 different receivers while adding 35 rushing yards.

Western Carolina dominated the first half, racing to a 28-3 lead behind Dickens' precision passing. The redshirt sophomore found tight end Brayden Blackmon for 17 yards in the second quarter, then connected with Marcus Striggles for 32 yards and David Hulbert for 9 yards to build the commanding advantage.

The early momentum began with defense turning into offense. After Campbell turned the ball over on downs at Western Carolina's 35-yard line on the game's opening drive, the Camels appeared poised to capitalize when they forced a three-and-out. Instead, Hasaan Sykes intercepted Kamden Sixkiller at the Campbell 12-yard line, setting up Camury Reid's 1-yard touchdown plunge at 10:37 of the first quarter.

Campbell managed just three points in the first 31 minutes, settling for Alex Crabb's 32-yard field goal after missing a 41-yarder earlier in the second quarter. But the Camels showed their resilience with a 12-play, 83-yard drive capped by Sixkiller's 12-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime, cutting the deficit to 28-10.

The third quarter began ominously for Campbell when James Tyre returned a punt 47 yards to the Camels' 34-yard line, leading to Patrick Boyd Jr.'s 10-yard touchdown reception that extended Western Carolina's lead to 35-10 with 11:11 remaining in the period.

What followed was a dramatic Campbell revival. Mike Chandler II, who threw for 79 yards on just two completions while adding 19 rushing yards, scored on a 10-yard run and connected with Trevor Wilson for the two-point conversion, trimming the lead to 35-18.

The fourth quarter belonged to Campbell's comeback attempt and Western Carolina's clutch response. Crabb's 21-yard field goal made it 35-21 with 13:12 remaining, then Sixkiller found freshman Keener for his first career touchdown reception, a 26-yard strike that brought the Camels within 35-28 with 4:58 on the clock.

Sixkiller, who finished 18-of-45 for 205 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception, added 55 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His mobility kept drives alive throughout Campbell's second-half surge, though he also lost a fumble that Western Carolina recovered.

After Tyre's touchdown pass restored the two-score lead, Campbell refused to quit. Sixkiller orchestrated an eight-play, 65-yard drive culminating in his second rushing touchdown with 2:11 remaining, setting up a dramatic finish.

The Camels' onside kick was recovered by Richards-Baker, giving Western Carolina possession at its own 47-yard line. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Campbell 38 with under two minutes remaining, the Catamounts turned to Tyre again. The versatile receiver hauled in his sixth catch of the day for the crucial first down, allowing Western Carolina to run out the clock.

Defensively, Western Carolina was paced by linebacker Jordan Thompson, who recorded 11 tackles including 2.5 for loss and a sack. The performance matched his career high and marked his second double-digit tackle game. Caleb Fisher contributed four tackles with two for loss and a sack-fumble, while the Catamounts totaled nine tackles for loss as a team.

Campbell's defense, led by Kalen Villanueva's 11 tackles, created pressure with Justin Garza recording a strip sack among the Camels' two forced fumbles in the second half. However, Western Carolina's balanced offensive attack proved too much, as the Catamounts accumulated 564 total yards with 488 coming through the air.

Beyond Tyre and Richards-Baker, Western Carolina received significant contributions from several receivers. Freshman Michael Rossin caught three passes for 88 yards, while Malik Knight added four receptions for 76 yards. Reid, coming off a four-touchdown performance the previous week, managed 43 rushing yards on 11 carries to complement his early scoring run.

For Campbell, Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox emerged as the leading receiver with five catches for 124 yards, establishing a career high in a Campbell uniform. The Camels' ground game generated 153 yards on 37 attempts, with Naieem Kearney contributing 46 yards and Ethan Lawrence adding 30 yards on just five carries.

The statistical battle revealed Western Carolina's efficiency advantage. While Campbell controlled possession for 36:40 compared to Western Carolina's 23:20, the Catamounts averaged 8.1 yards per play versus Campbell's 5.1. Western Carolina also converted more effectively on third downs (2-of-11) than the raw numbers suggest, as several big plays eliminated third-down situations entirely.

Special teams played a significant role throughout the contest. Beyond Tyre's crucial punt return, Western Carolina's Stephen Brantley averaged 49.4 yards on five punts, while Campbell's Aiden Bonde averaged 46.1 yards on seven attempts. Crabb's field goal accuracy (2-of-3) kept Campbell within striking distance during the comeback bid.

The victory positions Western Carolina for Southern Conference play, having completed its nonconference schedule with momentum. The Catamounts will travel to face Wofford next Saturday in their first game outside North Carolina this season, while Campbell prepares for a challenging road test against NC State in Raleigh.

Key Performers:

• James Tyre (WCU): 6 catches, 101 yards, 47 punt return yards, 1 TD pass
• Taron Dickens (WCU): 26-40, 427 yards, 4 TD passes
• Painter Richards-Baker (WCU): 5 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD
• Jordan Thompson (WCU): 11 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
• Kamden Sixkiller (Campbell): 18-45, 205 yards, 1 TD pass, 55 rush yards, 2 rush TDs
• Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox (Campbell): 5 catches, 124 yards

Campbell QB Kamden Sixkiller Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough

Key Statistics:

KINGSTON, RI – Rhode Island turned a 17-14 halftime deficit into a commanding victory, outscoring Campbell 17-3 in the second half to win 31-20 on Friday night at Meade Stadium in the CAA opener for both teams.

The ninth-ranked Rams (1-0, 1-0 CAA) controlled the game's flow after intermission, scoring on three consecutive possessions to pull away from the visiting Camels (0-1, 0-1 CAA).

Rhode Island struck first when quarterback Devin Farrell connected with tight end Kevin Schaeffer for a 31-yard touchdown pass just 1:53 into the contest, capping a four-play, 75-yard opening drive.

Campbell answered with 17 consecutive points, capitalizing on Rhode Island miscues to seize control. The Camels tied the game 7-7 when Kamden Sixkiller found JJ Cowan for a one-yard scoring pass following a Rhode Island fumble that gave Campbell possession at the URI 3-yard line.

The Camels expanded their advantage early in the second quarter on a methodical 16-play, 90-yard drive that consumed 8:39 and ended with Mike Chandler II's six-yard rushing touchdown. Campbell added to their lead moments later when Alex Crabb converted a 29-yard field goal after recovering another Rhode Island fumble.

Rhode Island cut into the deficit before halftime when running back Antwain Littleton Jr. punched in a two-yard touchdown run, completing an eight-play, 75-yard drive that made it 17-14 at the break.

The third quarter belonged to the kickers, with Crabb extending Campbell's lead to 20-14 on a 40-yard field goal before Rhode Island's Garth White answered with a 36-yarder to narrow the gap to 20-17.

The momentum shifted decisively in the fourth quarter. Littleton Jr. gave Rhode Island its first lead since early in the game with a one-yard plunge that finished a 13-play, 66-yard drive, putting the Rams ahead 24-20 with 12:02 remaining.

Rhode Island delivered the knockout blow just 35 seconds later when Farrell found wide receiver Marquis Buchanan for a 46-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the Rams' next possession, extending the lead to 31-20.

Farrell completed 15 of 28 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, spreading the ball effectively throughout Rhode Island's receiving corps. Buchanan led all receivers with 167 yards on six catches, while Greg Gaines added 45 yards on six receptions.

Littleton Jr. anchored the ground attack with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, helping Rhode Island control the line of scrimmage in the second half.

Campbell's offense showed flashes but couldn't sustain drives consistently after halftime. Sixkiller completed 17 of 33 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown while adding 21 rushing yards. The Camels' receiving attack was balanced, with Randall King catching five passes for 52 yards and Spencer Jones hauling in four receptions for 55 yards.

Campbell WR Randall King (Photo Credit: Brian Foley)

Chandler II contributed both as a runner and passer, rushing for 29 yards and a touchdown while completing 1 of 3 passing attempts.

Defensively, Rhode Island generated consistent pressure in the second half, recording two sacks and eight tackles for loss. Leisaan Hibbert topped the tackle chart with eight stops, while Rohan Davy and Case Mankins each recorded six tackles and a sack.

Campbell's defense was paced by linebacker Logan Livermon, who recorded nine tackles. Safety Jojo Pace added six tackles, including one for loss, and forced a fumble that helped fuel the Camels' first-quarter scoring surge.

The Rams controlled field position and time of possession, holding the ball for 28:55 compared to Campbell's 31:05, but made their possessions count when it mattered most.

Campbell will look to rebound next Friday when they travel to face East Carolina, while Rhode Island prepares for its next CAA matchup.