ELON – Landen Clark accounted for six touchdowns and Elon finished its 2025 season at .500 with a 55-17 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium. The Phoenix improved to 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the CAA while the Aggies fell to 2-10 and 2-6.

Clark threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 105 yards and two more scores. His second rushing touchdown broke Elon's single-season record with 11, surpassing the mark previously shared by John Taylor in 2004 and Jalen Hampton in 2022. The redshirt freshman capped his record-breaking performance with an 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Elon's offense produced 468 total yards and scored on eight of its first nine possessions. The defense forced three turnovers, recorded nine sacks and registered 13 tackles for loss.

The Phoenix needed just six seconds to take the lead on their opening drive. DJ James-Hamilton returned the opening kickoff 66 yards to the North Carolina A&T 29-yard line, and Clark connected with Landyn Backey on a 29-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage for a 7-0 advantage.

Elon extended its lead to 14-0 when Clark scored on a two-yard run with 11:21 remaining in the first quarter. The drive covered 16 yards in four plays after Hart III recovered a fumble at the A&T 16-yard line. Luke Barnes added a 27-yard field goal at the 4:00 mark, capping a 12-play, 43-yard drive that consumed more than five minutes.

North Carolina A&T got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Andrew Brown connected on a 34-yard field goal, finishing a seven-play, 62-yard drive. The Aggies cut the deficit to 3-17 at the 14:56 mark.

Clark and the Phoenix offense responded immediately. On the second play of Elon's ensuing possession, Clark hit Isaiah Fuhrmann in stride for a 76-yard touchdown pass. The score came at 13:50 and extended the lead to 24-3.

The Aggies answered with their lone touchdown of the first half. Nelson Layne connected with Michael Carlock-Williams on a 29-yard scoring strike, finishing an eight-play, 88-yard drive at the 4:26 mark. The touchdown brought North Carolina A&T within 10-24.

Elon closed the half with 10 unanswered points. Barnes added his second field goal of the game, a 27-yarder at 1:07, and Dan Frederick scored on a 19-yard run with 52 seconds remaining. The Phoenix took a 34-10 lead into halftime after scoring on two-play drives covering 28 and 8 yards.

North Carolina A&T opened the second half with another scoring drive. Layne found Carlock-Williams again, this time for a 31-yard touchdown with 11:18 left in the third quarter. The two-play, 36-yard drive trimmed Elon's advantage to 17-34.

The Phoenix responded with a methodical 14-play, 70-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes. Clark capped the march with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Fuhrmann at 5:32, pushing the lead to 41-17.

Clark connected with Zimere Winston for a 54-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter. The single-play scoring drive followed a failed fourth-down conversion by the Aggies and extended Elon's lead to 48-17.

Clark added his record-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter. On third-and-one from the Elon 14-yard line, he broke through the line and raced 86 yards to the end zone at 8:30. The three-play, 95-yard drive put the Phoenix ahead 55-17.

Fuhrmann finished with five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, recording his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season. The sophomore ended the campaign with 46 catches for 907 yards and nine touchdowns.

Frederick rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries, establishing a career high. It marked the first time since 2009 that two Elon players rushed for 100 yards in the same game, when Jamal Shuman and AJ Harris accomplished the feat against Presbyterian.

Backey caught three passes for 50 yards and one touchdown while Winston added one reception for 54 yards and a score.

The Elon defense held North Carolina A&T to 217 total yards. Kahmari Brown led the unit with eight tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The sophomore is now tied for Elon's career sacks record with 16.5 after just 23 games.

Brodie Carroll recorded a team-high 10 tackles while Asher Cunningham added seven stops. Hart III registered an interception and fumble recovery while Jake Louro contributed two sacks.

Barnes finished 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and converted all seven extra point attempts. The junior improved to 11-for-11 on field goals from inside 40 yards this season.

Layne completed 11 of 20 passes for 160 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for North Carolina A&T. He rushed 21 times for 33 yards but was sacked nine times for 78 yards in losses. Carlock-Williams caught two passes for 60 yards and both Aggies touchdowns.

North Carolina A&T managed just 57 net rushing yards on 35 attempts. The Aggies converted four of 14 third-down attempts and went 0-for-1 on fourth down.

Elon's 55 points were its most against a CAA opponent since joining the league in 2014 and matched its season high set against Davidson on September 6. The total tied for the Phoenix's highest output in a game since defeating Davidson 56-0 on September 5, 2009.

Top Performers

Landen Clark, Elon QB

- 10-of-24 passing, 231 yards, 4 TDs

- 14 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TDs

- Set single-season rushing TD record (11)

Isaiah Fuhrmann, Elon WR

- 5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs

- Fourth 100-yard receiving game of season

Dan Frederick, Elon RB

- 17 rushes, 101 yards, 1 TD

- Career-high rushing yards

Kahmari Brown, Elon DL

- 8 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks

- 2 forced fumbles

- Tied school career sacks record (16.5)

Michael Carlock-Williams, N.C. A&T WR

- 2 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TDs

GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T State University has found its new football leader in Shawn Gibbs, a familiar face returning to Aggieland to restore the program's winning tradition. The university's Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced Gibbs as the 23rd head coach in the program's history on Friday, marking a homecoming for a coach with deep roots in the Aggies' football legacy.

Gibbs, 49, brings an impressive coaching pedigree to the position, most recently leading Fort Valley State University to consecutive eight-win seasons and a Florida Beach Bowl victory in 2023. His return to NC A&T comes after an 11-year stint with the program where he played a crucial role in establishing the team's reputation as "Running Back U."

During his previous tenure with the Aggies, Gibbs was instrumental in the team's success, helping the program secure Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships in 2014, 2015, and from 2017-2019. He notably coached several standout players, including NFL star Tarik Cohen, who became the MEAC's all-time leading rusher and the only player in conference history to win offensive player of the year three times.

"It is a dream come true for me to accept the position as head football coach at North Carolina A&T State University," Gibbs said. "My family and I are thrilled to return home to Greensboro, a community with such a special place in our hearts."

The coaching position comes with significant challenges. Gibbs replaces Vincent Brown, who managed only two wins in two seasons, and is tasked with rebuilding the program's competitive edge. His track record suggests he's up to the challenge, having posted an impressive 22-9 record at Fort Valley State and demonstrating a talent for developing exceptional running backs.

Gibbs' coaching experience spans two decades, including notable stints at Grambling State University and his alma mater, North Carolina Central University. A standout running back in his own right, Gibbs rushed for 1,687 career yards during his playing days and holds his high school's rushing record with 4,655 yards.

An introductory press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18, at 11:30 a.m. in the A&T campus Student Center, where fans and media will get their first comprehensive look at the program's new direction under Gibbs' leadership.

Hilton expressed confidence in the hiring, stating, "It is obvious he finds a way to get the best out of his players. Coach Gibbs understands the challenge ahead and has great enthusiasm and passion for North Carolina A&T."

As the Aggies look to reclaim their former glory, all eyes will be on Gibbs to see if he can translate his successful coaching history into a revival of the program's winning ways.

DURHAM – North Carolina Central overwhelmed North Carolina A&T in a lopsided 66-24 victory Saturday night at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The Eagles improved to 2-2 on the season, while the Aggies fell to 1-2.

NCCU quarterback Walker Harris led the offensive onslaught, completing 15 of 22 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. Running back J'Mari Taylor contributed significantly, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, including a 66-yard scoring run in the first quarter that gave the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish.

The game started with a bang as NC A&T's Aaron Harris returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. However, NCCU quickly responded and built a commanding 40-12 lead by halftime.

NCCU's defense played a crucial role in the victory, forcing four turnovers. Mekhi Bigelow, Jaylen Bowden, and Cameron Williams each intercepted passes from NC A&T quarterbacks. The Eagles also scored on a blocked punt recovered by Trey Goodridge and an 11-yard fumble return by Malcolm Reed.

For NC A&T, quarterback Justin Fomby struggled, completing just 12 of 26 passes for 153 yards and two interceptions. The Aggies' ground game was led by Shimique Blizzard, who rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

The Eagles dominated in total yardage, outgaining the Aggies 512 to 327. NCCU was particularly effective on third downs, converting 8 of 13 attempts compared to NC A&T's 4 of 18.

Next Week

North Carolina Central hosts Norfolk State in the MEAC opener while North Carolina A&T travels to Orangeburg, SC to play South Carolina State in nonconference action.

GREENSBORO – The Campbell Camels and North Carolina A&T Aggies finished their first season in the Coastal Athletic Association with a matchup in Greensboro on Saturday afternoon. The Camels jumped out to a 28-0 lead before holding on to defeat the Aggies, 28-14. With the win, the Camels finish .500 in conference play in their first season in the CAA while the Aggies finished winless in the CAA.

How it Happened

The game kicked off with the Campbell Camels taking an early lead in the first quarter. Jalen Kelsey made a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hajj-Malik Williams, followed by a successful PAT kick by Williams. Shortly after, Tai Goode scored another touchdown for the Camels, catching a 9-yard pass from Williams, with another successful PAT kick by Williams.

In the second quarter, the Camels extended their lead with Hajj-Malik Williams catching a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Fitez, followed by a successful PAT kick by Caleb Dowden. Lamagea McDowell also rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, with another successful PAT kick by Dowden. However, the Aggies fought back with Eli Brickhandler rushing for a 1-yard touchdown, followed by a successful PAT kick by Owen Daffer. In the fourth quarter, Wesley Graves scored a 3-yard touchdown pass from Alston Hooker, with another successful PAT kick by Daffer, making the final score 28-14 in favor of the Campbell Camels.

On the Ground

The Campbell Camels' rushing attack was led by Lamagea McDowell who rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries, scoring one touchdown. NaQuari Rogers also contributed significantly with 64 yards on 13 carries. The team had a total of 187 rushing yards. On the other side, the Aggies' rushing game was spearheaded by Shimique Blizzard who rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries. Eli Brickhandler and Wesley Graves also made notable contributions with 27 and 26 yards respectively. The Aggies ended the game with a total of 142 rushing yards.

Through the Air

In the passing game, Hajj-Malik Williams of the Campbell Camels completed 15 out of 20 passes for a total of 188 yards, throwing two touchdowns. Brandon Fitez also completed a pass for 24 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Kelsey was the standout receiver for the Campbell Camels with 39 yards and a touchdown from 4 receptions. VJ Wilkins also had a good game with 71 yards from 3 receptions. For the Aggies, Alston Hooker completed 11 out of 15 passes for a total of 159 yards, throwing one touchdown. Eli Brickhandler also contributed with 16 yards from 5 completed passes. Amonte Jones led the receiving game with 49 yards from 4 receptions. Ger-Cari Caldwell and Damond Harmon also made significant contributions with 52 and 31 yards respectively.

Defensive Standouts

The Campbell Camels' defense was led by CJ Tillman, who had 10 total tackles, including 5 solo and 5 assisted. He also had 0.5 sacks for a loss of 4 yards. Monchovia Gaffney and Trevon Booker also made significant contributions with 6 total tackles each. The team had a total of 3 sacks for a loss of 20 yards and 1 forced fumble. On the other side, the North Carolina A&T Aggies' defense mirrored the Camels' stats. CJ Tillman led the Aggies' defense with 10 total tackles, including 5 solo and 5 assisted, and 0.5 sacks for a loss of 4 yards. Monchovia Gaffney and Trevon Booker each contributed 6 total tackles. The Aggies' defense also had 3 sacks for a loss of 20 yards and 1 forced fumble. Both teams showcased their defensive strengths in the game, contributing to the intense competition on the field.

In a highly anticipated college football matchup, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, riding a triumphant three-game winning streak, are set to face the undefeated James Madison Dukes. This clash is not just another game; it's a chance for App State to make a statement on the grand stage of ESPN's College GameDay, featuring the Mountaineers for the second consecutive season. After last year’s broadcast, Boone erupted as the Mountaineers defeated Troy on a last-minute Hail Mary, but the euphoria was short-lived as JMU handed App State a 32-28 defeat the following week. Memories of that loss linger as the Mountaineers aim to rewrite history on the turf of Bridgeforth Stadium. The Mountaineers have historically been a thorn in the side of AP Top 25 teams with seven of the Mountaineers’ last eight games against ranked teams ending in one-score games. App State is 2-2 in their last four games against the AP Top 25

Quarterback Joey Aguilar, thrust into the spotlight after replacing the injured Ryan Burger, has been a revelation. With 26 touchdown passes in 10 games, Aguilar ranks among the best in the Sun Belt and the Group of Five. His ability to lead the offense will be crucial against a formidable JMU defense. Running back Nate Noel, despite battling an injury, achieved a milestone by surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards. His explosive plays, exemplified by a 61-yard touchdown run against Georgia State, make him a key offensive weapon for the Mountaineers. Defensively, App State has shown resilience, limiting opponents in recent victories over Marshall and Georgia State. The Mountaineers aim to build on this momentum, ensuring that their 2023 losses, all decided in the closing seconds, become a thing of the past.

Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T: As the 2023 college football season reaches its conclusion, the Campbell Fighting Camels (4-6, 3-4 CAA) gear up for their final showdown against North Carolina A&T (1-9, 0-7 CAA) at Truist Stadium in Greensboro, N.C., with kickoff slated for 1:00 p.m. As Campbell concludes its inaugural CAA season, the team finds itself on the brink of making history. With a chance to secure a fourth victory in conference play, the Fighting Camels aim to join the ranks of Old Dominion, the only other program to achieve this feat in their first CAA season back in 2011. The team's current 3-4 record in the conference is a testament to their competitive spirit. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, a standout performer, enters the final game of his Fighting Camel career as the program's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions. Williams, completing 71% of his passes, has orchestrated the offense with 243.4 passing yards per game and 17 touchdowns. His connection with a diverse group of 17 receivers has been a key feature of the Campbell offensive arsenal. North Carolina A&T, also in its inaugural CAA season, enters the finale on a six-game losing streak. Despite a challenging season, the Aggies showcase talent in running back Kenji Christian, who leads the team with 709 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and linebacker BJ Turner, who boasts 85 tackles, including 12 for loss.

NC State vs Virginia Tech: The upcoming clash between the NC State Wolfpack and the Virginia Tech Hokies, marking the 52nd meeting in a historic rivalry dating back 123 years, is steeped in tradition and significance. With only seven matchups since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, the Wolfpack aims to build on their recent victory. Notable connections, including current Wolfpack assistant coaches Brian Mitchell and Charley Wiles with extensive tenures at Virginia Tech, add intrigue. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong, familiar with the Hokies from his time at Virginia, brings a dynamic element to the contest. Defensive strength, highlighted by Virginia Tech's Sacksburg reputation and NC State's resilience, sets the stage for an intense battle. As both teams vie for supremacy in the ACC, this matchup promises gridiron excitement and the continuation of a college football saga.

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