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.

RALEIGH – It was homecoming under the lights at Carter-Finley
Stadium on Saturday during the Halloween weekend. The Wolfpack, fresh off a disappointing
loss at Miami the previous Saturday, looked for a treat in a rebound win
against Atlantic Division rival Louisville. The Cardinals, coached by North
Carolina native Scott Satterfield, looked for the trick in ending NC State's
seven-game home winning streak.

Going into the fourth quarter, Coach Satterfield thought he
had a basket of full-size chocolate candy bars with the home team seemingly asleep
with the light off. In the end, it ended up being a bucket of black licorice
for Louisville as the Wolfpack came alive in the fourth quarter, outscoring the
Cardinals 21-3, on their way to a 28-13 win.

In the spirit of Halloween, here are a few tricks and treats
from tonight's game.

Trick

After starting the game with two nine-play drives, the
second of which ended in a touchdown catch by Emeka Emezie, the Wolfpack
offense went stagnant over their next six drives, punting each time.

Treat

The Wolfpack finally woke up early in the fourth quarter,
with Devin Leary hitting Porter Rooks and Trent Pennix for two long passes, with
Pennix's reception resulting in the Pack's second touchdown of the night.

Trick

The Wolfpack defense got hit with two personal foul
penalties on a Louisville drive in the fourth quarter.

Treat

The defense rebounded and forced Louisville to kick a field
goal.

Trick

The Wolfpack only rushed for eleven yards through three
quarters.

Treat

Eleven NC State players recorded at least one reception on
the night.

Trick

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham led the Cardinals in rushing
and passing for the night.

Treat

The NC State defense stepped up when it mattered, stopping
the prolific dual-threat quarterback on a fourth-down twice in the fourth
quarter.

Notable North Carolinians

Drake Thomas (Heritage) – the sophomore linebacker had fifteen tackles, two sacks, and a pass breakup.

Emeka Emezie (Marvin Ridge) – the senior wide receiver had five
catches for ninety-one yards and a touchdown.

Trent Pennix (Sanderson) – the redshirt sophomore running
back came alive in the passing game, scoring the go-ahead touchdown early in
the fourth quarter.

Up Next

Both teams stay in Atlantic Division action next week as NC
State (6-2) travels to take on Florida State while Louisville (4-4) hosts Clemson.

WFU Head Coach Dave Clawson

What the Coaches are Saying

“With Louisville it is another opportunity to win a game against a really good football team. Obviously they have the defending Heisman Trophy winner. They have the No. 1 offense in the ACC. They average 550 yards per game and have the No. 1 scoring offense. Lamar Jackson is an incredibly dynamic player. He is the fastest guy on the field at all times no matter who they play. Some of the things he does are amazing. He throws the ball extremely well and reads coverages well. Bonnafon, the tailback, has really developed into a good back. For a guy who started at quarterback against us three years ago, he is becoming a good running back. He runs well and catches well and can make people miss. They have always had big receivers that can make plays. Their offensive line is big and physical. On defense, they have always had good players. They have a number of guys who are going to play in the NFL. They are probably coming off their best defensive effort. This is ACC football and every week you have to play your best game to have a shot. This week will be another big challenge for us.”

“I think he’s (WFU QB John Wolford) done a nice job of throwing touchdown passes. He’s been accurate on the passes. They do a good job of running the ball. They’re really active on the defensive front. Both defensive ends that we played against last year – both guys do a really good job of rushing the passer and defending the run. They move their inside guys a lot. They’re very experienced at linebacker. They’re guys we’ve played against for a number of years, so they’ve defended people well. People haven’t scored a lot of points on them. I think it’s going to be up to us to mix it up and be able to run it and throw it.”

Game Info

ACC places two in the top five for second consecutive season