Greensboro Snaps 12-Year Losing Streak Against Quakers in Defensive Battle

GREENSBORO – Greensboro College ended a dozen years of frustration against crosstown rival Guilford with a 21-7 victory Saturday night at Armfield Athletic Center, claiming their first Gate City Soup Bowl triumph since 2012. The win moves the Pride to 1-0 while dropping the Quakers to 0-1 in what proved to be a defensive slugfest that featured more punting yards than either team's offensive output.

The game exploded into action just 12 seconds after kickoff when freshman Sincere McIntyre fielded Asher Frisbee's opening kick at the Greensboro 5-yard line and raced 95 yards untouched for a touchdown. The electrifying return, which came after a brief weather delay, immediately silenced what had been a raucous Guilford crowd and set the tone for an evening that would see the Pride control the game's crucial moments.

Guilford responded with their most sustained drive of the night, marching 60 yards in eight plays to tie the game at 7-7. The drive featured quarterback Caleb Robles connecting with Shane Shapiro for 14 yards on third-and-10, then finding DeHart for seven yards before Sullivan picked up a first down with a five-yard rush. The Quakers capped the drive when Robles punched it in from eight yards out with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.

The offensive fireworks ended there, as both teams struggled to move the ball consistently throughout the remainder of the first half. Greensboro managed just 53 total rushing yards on 31 attempts, averaging a meager 1.7 yards per carry. Starting quarterback Chase Altis completed 9 of 18 passes for 47 yards but was sacked six times and threw an interception.

Guilford fared slightly better on the ground, accumulating 119 rushing yards on 35 carries for a 3.4-yard average, but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. The Quakers' best chance to take the lead came as the first half expired when they drove to the Greensboro 26-yard line, only to see Adriano De Castro's 43-yard field goal attempt sail wide left.

The second half belonged to Greensboro's defense and the timely insertion of senior quarterback Josh Sims. After Guilford was forced to punt from deep in their own territory, Greensboro took over at the Guilford 28-yard line with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. Sims, who had replaced the struggling Altis, immediately provided a spark by finding Kyjuan Westmoreland for 14 yards on the drive's first play.

The Pride methodically moved down the field, with Westmoreland contributing a one-yard rush and Mitrend Curry losing two yards on consecutive plays before Sims found his target. Facing third-and-8 from the Guilford 8-yard line, Sims rolled left and delivered a perfect strike to Karee Dykes in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Guilford's offense, which had managed just 225 total yards through three quarters, couldn't respond to the mounting pressure. The Quakers were particularly hampered by their inability to convert on third downs, finishing just 5-of-18 on the night compared to Greensboro's 5-of-14 mark.

The Pride put the game away with a methodical seven-play, 56-yard drive that consumed 4:27 of the fourth quarter. Sims, who finished 7-of-12 for 109 yards and two touchdowns, showed poise in the pocket despite heavy pressure from Guilford's pass rush. The drive culminated when Sims found sophomore tight end Matt Kidd for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:05 remaining, extending Greensboro's lead to 21-7.

Guilford made one final attempt to get back into the game, but junior safety Jay Law sealed the victory by intercepting Luke Hyatt's pass with 1:13 remaining. Law, who recorded two interceptions and four total tackles, returned the pick 20 yards to the Guilford 46-yard line, allowing Greensboro to run out the clock with a pair of kneel-downs.

The defensive statistics told the story of the evening's battle in the trenches. Guilford's Travis Burton terrorized Greensboro's offensive line, recording eight tackles and 3.5 sacks, while teammate Nick Iannone led all players with 10 tackles and added four quarterback hurries. Despite the pass rush, Burton and Iannone couldn't generate enough stops when it mattered most.

Greensboro's defense, anchored by senior linebacker Frank Walker's eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, bent but didn't break when it counted. The Pride forced two interceptions and limited Guilford to just 106 passing yards on 32 attempts. Kalil Marcus added six tackles while Caden Jeter contributed three tackles and a sack.

The offensive numbers reflected the defensive nature of the contest, with neither team reaching 250 total yards. Greensboro finished with 209 total yards while Guilford managed 225, though the Quakers' advantage was largely negated by their two turnovers compared to Greensboro's one.

Dykes led Greensboro's rushing attack with 26 yards on 11 carries while also catching three passes for 30 yards and the crucial third-quarter touchdown. For Guilford, Josh Campbell paced the ground game with 39 yards on nine carries, while Shapiro's five receptions for 44 yards represented the Quakers' most consistent offensive threat.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Greensboro, which had endured eight consecutive losses to Guilford dating back to their last win in the series in 2012. The triumph also represented the Pride's first 1-0 start to a season since that same 2012 campaign, providing early momentum for what the program hopes will be a breakthrough year.

Beyond the scoreboard, the 24th Annual Gate City Soup Bowl achieved its primary community mission, collecting over 11,000 canned goods and non-perishable food items for local food banks. The annual food drive has become a cornerstone of the rivalry, ensuring that regardless of the on-field outcome, the Greensboro community benefits from the crosstown showdown.

The statistical oddity of the evening was the total punting yardage of 370 yards between both teams, which exceeded either the combined passing yards (262) or rushing yards (172) for the game. Greensboro's Guy Galardi III averaged 34.5 yards on six punts, while Guilford's McKinley Reavis punted seven times for a 23.3-yard average.

Key Performers:

• Sincere McIntyre, Greensboro: 95-yard kickoff return touchdown
• Josh Sims, Greensboro: 7-of-12, 109 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Jay Law, Greensboro: 2 interceptions, 4 tackles
• Frank Walker, Greensboro: 8 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
• Travis Burton, Guilford: 8 tackles, 3.5 sacks
• Nick Iannone, Guilford: 10 tackles, 4 QB hurries

BREVARD – Brevard scored four touchdowns in the first quarter en route to a 42-9 victory over Greensboro in Saturday's USA South conference matchup.

Junior quarterback Ethan Beamish led Brevard (3-1, 3-0 USA South) with 310 passing yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Zackary Orr twice for scores. The game held special significance for Orr, who broke Brevard's all-time career receiving record, surpassing former record-holder Bubba Craven. Orr finished with 122 receiving yards, bringing his career total to 1,591 yards.

The Tornados struck quickly when Beamish found Cooper Hogan for a 64-yard touchdown on their opening drive. After forcing a three-and-out, Brevard extended their lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Orr. Running back Jadien Deaton added to the first-quarter surge with a 70-yard touchdown run, followed by Orr's second touchdown reception of 56 yards.

Greensboro (1-4, 1-2 USAS) got on the scoreboard in the second quarter with Thomas Chapman's 21-yard field goal. Brevard responded when Chancellor Lee-Parker scored on a 16-yard run, pushing the lead to 35-3 at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Brevard added its final touchdown on Beamish's 31-yard pass to Reggie Taylor II. Greensboro scored their lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter on Quinton Solomon's 23-yard run.

Brevard's defense limited Greensboro to 287 total yards and forced two turnovers. Adam Chaney and Baylee Ramey led the Tornados' defense with eight tackles each, while Robert Dorsey recorded one and a half sacks and forced a fumble.

For Greensboro, Jayden Morrison completed 8 of 18 passes for 55 yards, while Jaquavius Weldon led the rushing attack with 28 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Ziere Ray recorded nine tackles and one and a half sacks in the losing effort.

The win keeps Brevard undefeated in conference play, while Greensboro drops to 1-2 in USA South competition.

GREENSBORO – In the 23rd annual Soup Bowl, Guilford College's defense put on a masterclass performance, forcing five turnovers and shutting out crosstown rival Greensboro College in a 14-0 victory at Pride Field on Saturday. This win marks Guilford's eighth consecutive triumph in the rivalry series, improving their all-time record against Greensboro to 16-8.

The Quakers' defense set the tone early and maintained their dominance throughout the game. They held Greensboro to a mere 3.8 yards per play and prevented the Pride from running a single play in Guilford territory during the entire second half. This shutout is the third in the history of the Soup Bowl rivalry, with the previous two occurring in 2016 and 2014.

Eli Davis led Guilford's defensive effort with a career-high eight total tackles. Malik Hargrove, a transfer who previously played for Greensboro in 2021 and 2022, contributed six total tackles, including five solo stops, one tackle for a loss, and one sack. Avery Garner was a force in the backfield with 1.5 sacks among his 2.5 tackles for a loss.

The turnover battle heavily favored Guilford, with Tristan Bailey and Jaylan Richardson each intercepting Greensboro passes. Richardson, in particular, had a standout game with two interceptions. The Quakers' defense also forced and recovered a fumble, although the player responsible for this turnover was not specified in the game report.

Offensively, Guilford relied heavily on their ground attack, accumulating 198 net rushing yards. The Quakers employed a committee approach in their backfield, with Josh Campbell, Evan Sullivan, and Malik Woodard all recording double-digit carries. Campbell led the group with 73 yards on just ten carries, including a crucial late touchdown. Woodard served as the primary back, gaining 72 yards on 20 attempts and adding one reception for 17 yards, which resulted in the game's only receiving touchdown.

Photo Credit: Bryce Johnson (Guilford Athletics)

The scoring opened early in the game when Guilford capitalized on their first turnover. Tristan Bailey's interception on Greensboro's third play from scrimmage set up the Quakers in Pride territory. Despite two false start penalties, Guilford's offense persevered. The drive culminated in a short swing pass from Brown to Woodard, who tip-toed down the sideline for an untouched touchdown, putting Guilford up 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Surprisingly, the scoreboard remained unchanged for over 53 minutes of game time. Guilford had several opportunities to extend their lead, including two drives that reached inside Greensboro's five-yard line, but they couldn't convert these chances into points.

The Quakers finally broke through again late in the fourth quarter. After back-to-back carries of 12 and 25 yards by Campbell, the junior back punched it in from two yards out with just 1:50 remaining in the game, sealing the 14-0 victory for Guilford.

This win not only keeps the Soup Bowl trophy firmly in Quaker hands but also gives Guilford a 1-0 start to their season. The Quakers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their home opener against Methodist on Saturday, September 14th, under the lights at Appenzeller Field.

GREENSBORO - In the latest edition of the annual Gate City Soup Bowl, the Guilford College Quakers took on the Greensboro College Pride on Saturday night at the Armfield Athletic Center. The Quakers managed to hold the Pride to just eight points in the second half, while scoring 27 points themselves, thanks to a strong rushing attack. With a final score of 36-21, this marks the seventh consecutive victory for Guilford in this series.

The game started off with Greensboro taking an early lead with a 31-yard pass from Alec Williams-Carr to Deaven Hawkins, followed by an Alex Mora kick, putting them ahead 7-0. Guilford responded with a 2-yard run by Joseph Brown Jr., but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 7-6. Guilford then took the lead with a 41-yard field goal by Burke Nettles, ending the first quarter with a score of 7-9.

In the second quarter, Greensboro regained the lead with a 9-yard pass from Alec Williams-Carr to Anthony Hreiz, but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 13-9. The third quarter saw Guilford take control of the game with a 64-yard pass from Bailey Baker to Parker DeHart and a 2-yard run by Bailey Baker, both followed by successful kicks by Burke Nettles, bringing the score to 13-22.

In the fourth quarter, Guilford continued to dominate with a 1-yard run by Cory Casilac and an 11-yard pass from Bailey Baker to Jay Daniels, both followed by successful kicks by Burke Nettles. Greensboro managed to score one more touchdown with a 4-yard run by Leonard Greer and a successful two-point conversion pass from Leonard Greer, but it was not enough to catch up. The game ended with a final score of 21-36 in favor of Guilford.

Both teams are on the road next week as Guilford travels to take on Methodist and Greensboro faces Averett.

With ESPN's College Gameday in Charlotte this weekend, the "Battle of the Carolinas" highlights what is an exciting opening weekend of college football in North Carolina. The Duke's Mayo Classic will see the North Carolina Tar Heels and the South Carolina Gamecocks battling Saturday night in Bank of America Stadium.

While the Tar Heels and Gamecocks don’t play each other often enough to sustain a heated rivalry like UNC has with Duke and NC State, this game is still an opportunity for both teams to set their teams on a trajectory toward success in 2023 while also getting a chance to represent their respective states. The game encompasses so much more than just football, it’s a chance to celebrate the history and culture of both North and South Carolina.

One key player to watch in this game is North Carolina’s sophomore quarterback Drake Maye. Maye is one of college football’s top returning players this fall and is heavily involved in early Heisman projections.

This game promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle between two talented teams. Fans from both states will be eagerly watching to see who comes out on top in this year’s “Battle of the Carolinas.”

Other Big Games

East Carolina at Michigan: East Carolina opens its season at No. 2 Michigan. Under fifth-year head coach Mike Houston, East Carolina closed the 2022 season winning five of its last seven games before finishing with an 8-5 overall record. The Pirates became bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season and earned their 10th bowl victory in program history with a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl. Saturday’s game against Michigan will mark the third time the Pirates have faced a team ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Associated Press poll.

Gardner Webb at Appalachian State: The Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs head up the mountain to take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. App State, which is 9-1 against FCS teams since its FBS transition in 2014, is facing a ranked FCS team for the first time since the Mountaineers’ final SoCon season in 2013. This game will kick off at 3:30 and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Greensboro at Guilford: Greensboro College plays against crosstown rival Guilford College in the 23rd edition of the Gate City Soup Bowl Saturday at 7. Fans are encouraged to wear crimson as it is the football team’s BLEED CRIMSON game. Fans who bring three canned goods received free admission into the game, as part of a canned food drive to benefit Second Harvest and Greensboro Urban Ministries.

Coaches for the 2016 NCCA East-West All-Star Games and the NC-SC Basketball

Classic have been selected. The East-West All-Star Games will be played next July in Greensboro, and the Carolinas Basketball Classic will be played in March.

East-West Football

East-West Basketball

East-West Soccer

North Carolina-South Carolina Basketball

The North Carolina Coaches Association has named the coaches for the 2014 North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star basketball games and the East-West All-Star basketball, soccer, and football games.

North Carolina-South Carolina Basketball

East-West Basketball:

East-West Soccer

East-West Football