As the fall season ushers in a crisp chill to the air, the stage is set for a classic showdown in college football. On Saturday, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears and the Wingate Bulldogs will renew their age-old rivalry in a game that promises high stakes and gridiron drama. For most seasons, Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate meet at the end of the season with much on the line, and this year's matchup is no different. With a win on Saturday, the Bears can secure a spot in the SAC (South Atlantic Conference) Championship Game on November 11 and earn at least a share of the Piedmont Division championship for the second consecutive season. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, still have a chance to grab a share of the Piedmont Division title, but they need a win against Lenoir-Rhyne to keep their hopes alive. Wingate is looking to play spoiler and replicate last year's upset when they defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 24-21 in Hickory. On October 29, 2022, Shaw Crocker connected with Trevor Grant for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:29 left, sealing the game with a game-clinching score.

In what promises to be a defensive battle, both teams boast two of the top defenses in Division II football. Lenoir-Rhyne enters the game with the nation's second-ranked scoring defense, allowing a mere 8.5 points per game, with almost every opponent being held to 10 points or fewer. Wingate's defense is equally formidable, conceding just 13.6 points per game, earning them the seventh spot in Division II rankings. In terms of yardage, Wingate allows 256.5 yards per game, ranking 14th nationally, while Lenoir-Rhyne is just as impressive, allowing 207.6 yards per game, placing them fourth. National recognition has also come Lenoir-Rhyne's way, as they are currently ranked at No. 7 in both the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) national poll and the D2Football.com poll. This marks the 34th time in the NCAA era that the Bears have earned a top-10 ranking. The Bears boast an impressive 55-12 record when playing as a nationally ranked team, with a 25-6 record on the road as a ranked squad.

The Lenoir-Rhyne-Wingate rivalry extends back over a decade, with both teams being consistent powerhouses in the South Atlantic Conference. Since 2010, these two institutions have dominated in overall wins, SAC wins, NCAA appearances, NCAA wins, and Jacobs Blocking Trophy winners. Furthermore, they have excelled in producing academic All-Americans. Lenoir-Rhyne holds 105 overall wins since the 2010 season, while Wingate has secured 97. In SAC play, the Bears lead with 75 victories, while the Bulldogs have 64. Lenoir-Rhyne has made six NCAA playoff appearances with eight wins, while Wingate has five appearances with four wins. This game will mark the 39th all-time meeting between these two programs, with Lenoir-Rhyne leading the series 24-14. The Bears had a five-game winning streak against Wingate before last year's 24-21 defeat. The last loss for Lenoir-Rhyne at Wingate was a lopsided 49-6 defeat in 2016. Lenoir-Rhyne has won the past three matchups at Irwin Belk Stadium, with the last two victories coming by a combined 48 points. As the Bears and Bulldogs prepare to step onto the gridiron once again, fans can expect a fiercely competitive matchup with historic implications. With defensive prowess, national rankings, and a rich history between these teams, this renewal of the Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate rivalry promises to be a must-watch event for college football enthusiasts.

Duke at Louisville: In an upcoming college football showdown, No. 20 Duke is set to face off against No. 18 Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and ESPN broadcasting the game live. This marks the fourth meeting between the two schools, with Louisville currently leading the series 3-0, including a resounding 62-22 victory in their last encounter in 2021. Notably, this game is the first time both programs are nationally ranked when they face off. Duke has had a challenging schedule this season, taking on its fourth nationally-ranked opponent in eight games, and they hold a 1-2 record against top-25 teams. The Blue Devils also face back-to-back top-20 opponents for the first time since 2013. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Elko, Duke has excelled in the turnover battle, accumulating 129 points from turnovers in 20 games. Coach Elko's record at Duke is an impressive 14-6 in his first 20 games, making it the second-best start for a head coach in the school's history. Duke's football team stands out in the ACC, ranking highly in both scoring offense and defense. Graduate running back Jordan Waters has been a scoring machine, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Tre Freeman leads the team in tackles, making significant contributions. The upcoming clash between Duke and Louisville promises an exciting contest between two nationally ranked teams, setting the stage for an action-packed game that college football fans won't want to miss.

Three North Carolina teams have qualified for the 2022 NCAA
FCS Championship Playoffs.

Eleven teams automatically qualify for this year's playoffs
via conference affiliation. An additional thirteen teams earned at-large bids
selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The complete 24-team bracket was
announced at 12:30 on Sunday, November 20, on ESPNU. The FCS Playoffs will
conclude with the national championship in Frisco, Texas on Sunday, Jan. 8,
2023.

Gardner-Webb (6-5) secured their first-ever berth in the playoffs
with a win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon, finishing a perfect
5-0 in conference play and securing their first Big South Conference title since
2003. The Runnin’ Bulldogs and head coach Tre Lamb will travel to take on
Eastern Kentucky (7-4), representing the ASUN-WAC partnership.

Davidson (8-3) represents the Pioneer League after St.
Thomas was declared ineligible for the playoffs. The Wildcats are making their
third straight appearance in the FCS playoffs under coach Scott Abell. The
Wildcats and Abell are looking for their first postseason tournament victory
and will travel to take on Richmond (8-3) from the Colonial Athletic
Association.

Elon (8-3), also from the Colonial Athletic Association,
earned an at-large bid in this year’s playoff. The Phoenix, led by Tony Trisciani, are making their
fourth overall appearance in the FCS playoffs and first since 2018. Coach
Trisciani and the Elon squad will look to secure their first-ever FCS playoff
win on the road at Furman from the Southern Conference.

Schedule – All games will take place on Saturday, November
26, and are televised on ESPN+.

Elon at Furman – 12pm

Davidson at Richmond – 2pm

Gardner-Webb at Eastern Kentucky – 5pm

A full bracket can be found here: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/fcs/2022.

DAVIDSON – It was the opener of the 2021 Pioneer Football
League slate for the Davidson. Opposing the Wildcats were the Toreros of San
Diego, a traditional league power who desperately wanted to avenge the pandemic-forced
spring 2021 season which saw Davidson knock off the four-time defending Pioneer
League champs to claim the conference championship for the first time ever. It
was Davidson who would take the day, as the Wildcats held off a late rally to
defeat the Toreros 28-16 at Richardson Stadium.

Davidson had what seemed to be a great start to the game,
forcing a three-and-out and taking over after a punt. The momentum was short-lived, however, and a bad pitch on the Wildcats' second play from scrimmage saw
the ball hit the turf, recovered by the San Diego defense. Two plays later,
Emilio Martinez ran in from thirteen yards out to give the visitors an early
7-0 lead.

The Wildcats went into full ball control mode later in the quarter,
though, marching eighty-three yards on sixteen plays on a drive that ended the
first quarter and began the second. By the time junior Dylan Sparks scored on a
one-yard run, Davidson had chewed off nearly nine minutes of clock and kept a
potent Torero offense on the sidelines.

It was the San Diego special teams that made the biggest
play in the second quarter, though. After coming up short on a run, the Toreros
chose to punt from midfield. The punt rolled down towards the goal line and was
batted out of bounds inside the one-yard line. The San Diego defense stepped up
on the next play, tackling the Davidson ball carrier in the end zone for a
safety and 9-7 lead. After the ensuing free kick, the Toreros sought to extend
their lead with a field goal, but the kick bounced off the right upright.

Davidson started the second half with eight straight rushing
plays before Louis Calosimo was able to find Eli Turner, Jr. lurking behind the
defense, and the two connected on a thirty-one-yard pass to get the Wildcats
inside the five-yard line. Two plays later, Mark McCurdy went around the left
side for the Davidson touchdown and the Wildcats had the lead for the first
time on the afternoon. Davidson had a chance to extend the lead later in the
quarter, but a bad snap on a field goal attempt gave the ball back to the Toreros
and saw the score stay at 14-9 going into the final quarter.

San Diego refused to give up and came within five points
after an eleven-yard touchdown pass from Mason Randall to Michael Carner. The
Toreros had another chance late in the quarter but was stopped on fourth down
by the tenacious Davidson defense. Looking to put the game on ice, Louis
Colosimo found Eli Turner, Jr. on a twenty-five-yard slant route for a
touchdown to cap the scoring, and Jordan Burrell picked off a late pass to seal
the deal for Davidson.

Up Next

Both teams are staying in Pioneer League play as Davidson (2-1,
1-0) travels to Florida to take on the Hatters of Stetson University while San
Diego (0-4, 0-1) hosts league newcomer St. Thomas.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – For the first time in 52 years Davidson football ended in the postseason, falling to fourth-seeded and nationally ranked number eight Jacksonville State in the first round of the FCS Championship Playoffs Saturday at JSU Stadium, 49-14.

“Very proud of our guys for being here. We weren’t satisfied with that … Our expectations are to become a program that can each-and-every year compete at a level in the playoffs,” said head coach Scott Abell. “This year was a measuring stick for us. We certainly understood the challenge. 

The Wildcats were in it for much of the first half, dominating time of possession with nearly 22 minutes in control. 

After falling behind 7-0 early, Davidson did what they’ve been able to do all year and manipulated a clock-eating drive of nearly eight minutes, ending with junior Coy Williams's seventh scoring scamper of the year.

On the ensuing Gamecock possession, Wildcat senior corner Jaylon Bolden made a beautiful play down the Davidson sideline, intercepting JSU’s Zion Webb for his second pick of the season. But the ‘Cats were unable to capitalize on the scoreboard. 

Trailing 14-7 late in the second quarter, JSU scored twice in seven seconds, capitalizing on a Davidson special team’s miscue to gap the ‘Cats 28-7 at the break. 

Jacksonville State took the second-half kick and quickly broke it open, scoring in just 1:16, a 55-yard Webb to Pat Jackson hook up. The Gamecocks added another late in the third, and again early in the fourth to push their lead out to 49-7.

Despite the deficit and with time running out, Davidson played until the final whistle, utilizing every bit of their opportunity. Senior quarterback Tyler Phelps threw his seventh touchdown pass of the season with 2:49 left to junior tight end Jackson Sherrard, 49-14 Gamecocks.

“It means everything to the program. To be here and to play today, it was surreal. Definitely a good end to the career for sure,” said Phelps.

On the final JSU possession, Davidson went out swinging. Sophomore Brian Jacobs forced a fumble recovered by senior James Boyle, giving their offense one last shot at the end zone. Jacobs led the team with six tackles, four solos. 

“We knew we’d be here. It was just a matter of time. It was a process,” said junior linebacker Jalen Jefferson, who finished with four tackles.

The Wildcats were the first team to break 100 yards rushing against Jacksonville State in 10 tries, churning out 202 yards on the ground. Williams’ led the way with 62 yards on 16 carries, while Dylan Sparks gained 55 on 19 carries. Phelps completed 7 of 15 passes for 59 yards, connecting with junior Jalen Staples four times. Davidson finished with 41:59 of possession, but it was JSU’s big plays that proved the difference, using a balanced rushing (222 yards) and passing (239) attack.

“Overall, so proud of our guys. We’re really excited about our future … every rep was a rep for our future. The momentum that we finished with will carry us into the offseason,” said Abell.

Story courtesy of Davidson Athletics Communications

DAVIDSON – Davidson punched their ticket to the Division I FCS Championship, earning the Pioneer Football League’s automatic qualifier, announced by the league Thursday.

Following the news of Saturday’s canceled game against Stetson, Davidson finishes the 2021 spring regular season 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the PFL. The Wildcats hold at least a share of the conference title, but due to head-to-head tie-breaking procedures, Davidson earned the league’s automatic qualifier into the Division I FCS Championship Playoff. If San Diego wins Saturday against Valparaiso, the two will serve as Co-Champions, while a loss gives the 'Cats the outright title. 

Regardless, Davidson has clinched its first postseason berth in 52 years - the first for the ‘Cats since the 1969 season when they won the Southern Conference and went on to play in the Tangerine Bowl.

“Though I’m disappointed in not playing our season finale, I’m incredibly proud of our team and program. Winning the first PFL championship and earning our first automatic bid to the FCS playoffs is an awesome accomplishment for this team and program,” said head coach Scott Abell.

The bracket for the upcoming playoffs will be released during the FCS Selection Show on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Apr. 18