Big South / OVC
Tennessee State improved to 2-1 on the season with its victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 35th annual Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis. UT Martin came back to defeat North Alabama for its first win of the year. In other action, Gardner-Webb narrowly missed a win at FBS Charlotte, while Lindenwood, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Charleston Southern suffered setbacks on Saturday.
Scores
Tennessee State 41, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 28
@UT Martin 43, North Alabama 28
@Charlotte 27,
Gardner-Webb 26
@Missouri State 28,
Lindenwood 14
@#18/19 Illinois State 51,
Western Illinois 34
@Northwestern 31,
Eastern Illinois 7
@Richmond 38,
Charleston Southern 0
TENNESSEE STATE 41, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 28 | BOX SCORE
Tennessee State erased an early 7-0 deficit and took the lead for good on Jalen Rouse's 3-yard TD run in defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 41-28 on Saturday. After UAPB got within three points to 17-14 at 10:11 of the second quarter, TSU rolled up 21 points for a 38-14 advantage early in the third period. Draylen Ellis was 20-of-33 passing for 228 and three touchdowns to lead the Tiger offense.
UT MARTIN 43, NORTH ALABAMA 28 | BOX SCORE
The University of Tennessee at Martin football team found its first win of the season in comeback fashion by surging past visiting North Alabama over the final three quarters to secure a 43-28 victory in the squad's home opener. The Skyhawks (1-2) fell behind in an early 18-0 hole in the first quarter before mounting a sizeable comeback and outscoring the visiting Lions by a 43-10 margin for the rest of the game. In total, UT Martin tallied 416 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers to key their comeback attack and move into the win column for the first time in 2024. For the second week in a row, UT Martin leaned on its run game to set the tone and Patrick Smith led the way. The newcomer tallied his second straight 100-yard rushing performance while finding the endzone twice in the victory. Smith tallied 15 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns – averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
CHARLOTTE 27, GARDNER-WEBB 26 | BOX SCORE
The Gardner-Webb football team dropped a heartbreaking 27-26 contest at Charlotte on Saturday evening inside Jerry Richardson Stadium. The Runnin' Bulldogs struck first in the opening quarter, traversing the field for 69 yards on 11 plays before a 30-yard field goal by Jay Billingsley gave Gardner-Webb the early 3-0 advantage. Defense was on full display for GWU as it wreaked havoc in the backfield the majority of the first half. After a pair of fumble recoveries turned into no points, Trevor Moffitt took the game into his hands, intercepting Charlotte's Deshawn Purdie while returning the rock 45 yards for the first defensive score of the year for Gardner-Webb.
MISSOURI STATE 28, LINDENWOOD 14 | BOX SCORE
The Lindenwood football team (0-3), fell to Missouri State (1-2), by a score of 28-14 on Saturday night in Springfield, Mo. Lindenwood opened the game with the ball and Steve Hall popped off a 32-yard run on the first play. The drive stalled, however. On the ensuing possession for Missouri State, the Bears found the endzone to take a 7-0 lead. Missouri State doubled its lead late in the first frame, going up 14-0 with just over two minutes remaining. They would take that advantage into the second quarter. Mo State extended the lead to 21-0 with a score on its first possession of the middle frame. Lindenwood finally found some offensive rhythm on its next drive, behind the legs of Hall. The St. Louis, Mo. native compiled 52 yards on the eight-play 79-yard scoring drive which was eventually capped off by a Nate Glantz rushing touchdown, Making the score 21-7. The defense followed the score with a stop as that unit continued to settle in. Neither team was able to score again before halftime, with Lindenwood trailing by two scores at the break.
#18/19 ILLINOIS STATE 51, WESTERN ILLINOIS 34 | BOX SCORE
The Western Illinois University football team put together its best effort in the season, going on the road and hanging around with nationally-ranked Illinois State for four quarters. The Leathernecks (0-3) gave the Redbirds all they could handle, but unfortunately fell short, falling to No. 18/19 Illinois State, 51-34 on Saturday afternoon in Normal. Western Illinois had a big day from several players as quarterback Nathan Lamb opened the game completing his first 10 passes. Lamb went 24-33 passing for 269 yards and a touchdown. Lamb also hurt ISU with his legs, rushing for three touchdowns and 59 yards on 15 carries. Lamb hooked up with a variety of targets, completing passes to nine different receivers. Matthew Henry was the biggest beneficiary, catching seven passes for 124 yards, both team highs.
NORTHWESTERN 31, EASTERN ILLINOIS 7 | BOX SCORE
Eastern Illinois played with Big Ten member Northwestern for nearly 30 minutes on Saturday night before eventually falling 31-7 at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. EIU and Northwestern traded scores with Cam Porter scoring with 1:22 left in the opening quarter to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead. EIU knotted the game at 7-7 with 10:37 to play in the first half as Pierce Holley hit Eli Mirza for a 13-yard strike. Tre'jon Lewis stuffed the Wildcats next drive coming through the middle to block a 42-yard field goal attempt by Northwestern. The Wildcats returned the favor with 1:47 left in the half blocking a 36-yard field goal attempt by the Panthers. Northwestern capitalized on the blocked kick driving the length of the field and scoring with 14-seconds left in the half with 32-yard run by Joseph Himon II to lead 14-7 at the break.
RICHMOND 38, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 0 | BOX SCORE
Richmond notched their first win of the season in a complete performance over Charleston Southern in front of the Spiders' packed home crowd for Family Weekend on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 38-0. After just one first down combined through the first five possessions between the two squads, the Spiders put a pair of drives together to get on the board. The back-to-back touchdown drives by them were followed by a pick six thrown by CSU to quickly find themselves with a 21-0 lead. The score was carried into the halftime break as well as neither team for the remainder of the first. One of the storylines of the game came in the first half with transfer quarterback Rob McCoy Jr. going down with an injury. Following this, Zolten Osborne took over the reigns on the next possession for his first action of the season and since a season-ending injury during the 2023 season.
CAA
Villanova 14, Towson 13
Box Score
Jaylan Sanchez caught a pair of touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 6-yard grab late in the third quarter, as Villanova (3-0, 1-0 CAA) edged Towson (1-2, 0-1 CAA) in the opening CAA game for both squads.
Towson took an early 7-0 lead as quarterback Sean Brown, making his Tigers’ debut, hit Carter Runyon with a 30-yard TD pass. Sanchez had a 20-yard scoring grab to even the game at the half. The Tigers went back ahead on a 41-yard Keegan Vaughan field goal before Sanchez made his second TD catch. Vaughan’s 23-yard field goal pulled Towson within one with 11:23 left, but a 48-yard field goal hit the upright and a 37-yard attempt drifted wide right in the final 1:13.
For Towson, Brown finished 20-of-36 for 233 yards, while Devin Matthews rushed for 135 yards on 14 carries. For Villanova, Isaiah Ragland rushed for 141 yards and Connor Watkins threw for 116 yards and two scores.
Monmouth 51, Maine 22
Box Score
Derek Robertson passed for 390 yards and four touchdowns as Monmouth (1-2, 1-0 CAA) earned a 51-22 road win at Maine (1-2, 0-1 CAA) in the CAA opener for both teams. Hawks’ receiver Josh Derry made seven receptions for a career-high 227 yards and 2 TD’s, highlighted by a 94-yard strike in the fourth quarter.
Monmouth sprinted out to a 20-0 first-quarter advantage on a 4-yard TD run by Sone Ntoh followed by scoring passes from Robertson to Jack Neri (11 yards) and Marcus Middleton (25 yards). The Black Bears answered with a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD by Trevin Ewing, but Monmouth got a 2-yard TD run from Ntoh and a 56-yard TD pass to Derry early in the third period to take control. Jaharie Martin ran for 46 yards and a TD for Maine.
Delaware 42, North Carolina A&T 13
Box Score
Delaware (2-0, 1-0 CAA) scored points on six of its first eight drives and piled up 526 yards of offense to claim a 42-13 win at North Carolina A&T (1-2, 0-1 CAA) in the conference opener for both teams. Blue Hens’ quarterback Ryan O’Connor threw for 325 yards and a TD and added 47 yards and a TD on the ground.
UD got rushing touchdowns from Marcus Yarns, Jo’Nathan Silver and Quincy Watson on its first three drives to take an 18-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Aggies pulled within eight after a 70-yard pick six by Aaron Harris and trailed 21-13 at the half. The Blue Hens put the game away with two long scoring drives in the third quarter as O’Connor found the end zone on a 23-yard run and Watson had a 17-yard TD rush. Dillon Trainer made eight tackles for a UD defense that held A&T to 264 yards. A&T quarterback Kevin White passed for 145 yards, while Mack David II tallied 13 tackles and 1.5 TFL’s.
Rhode Island 21, Campbell 9
Box Score
Quarterback Devin Farrell threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third to lead Rhode Island (2-1, 1-0 CAA) past Campbell (1-2, 0-1 CAA), 21-9, in the conference opener for both squads. Farrell threw for 140 yards and picked up 45 on the ground.
The Rams went up 7-0 in the first quarter on a 9-yard TD catch by Greg Gaines, but the Camels got a 34-yard Connor Lytton field goal to close within 7-3 at half. Farrell broke loose for a 27-yard scoring run on the opening drive of the third quarter and hit Marquis Buchanan on a 25-yard TD pass later in the period. Campbell tried to rally as reserve quarterback Mike Chandler II connected on an 8-yard TD pass to Sincere Brown with 6:30 remaining, but the Rams’ defense stopped the Camels down the stretch. Fredrick Mallay had 11 tackles for the URI defense and AJ Pena added 10 stops and two sacks. CJ Tillman had 11 tackles and a sack for Campbell.
Stony Brook 27, Fordham 21
Box Score
Brandon Boria’s 6-yard TD run with 12:37 remaining helped Stony Brook (2-1) rally for a 27-21 victory at Fordham. The Seawolves’ defense was excellent, recording five sacks and two interceptions while limiting the Rams to 257 total yards.
Fordham took advantage of a pair of pick sixes to go ahead 21-17 midway through the third quarter. Boria’s TD run capped an 80-yard drive to put SBU on top by three, and Enda Kirby added a 41-yard field goal with 8:34 remaining. The Seawolves’ defense took over from there as Rushawn Lawrence intercepted a pass to stop a Rams’ drive and SBU made a late 4th-down stop. Freshman quarterback Malachi Marshall threw for 268 yards, while Lawrence led the defense with five tackles, 2.5 TFL’s, a pair of sacks and the interception.
Richmond 38, Charleston Southern 0
Box Score
Richmond (1-2) posted its first shutout since the 2022 season, allowing just 131 total yards in a 38-0 triumph over Charleston Southern. Jeremiah Grant recorded two of the Spiders’ three sacks and UR intercepted two passes, highlighted by a 76-yard pick six from Jabril Hayes.
Quarterback Kyle Wickersham was 10-of-12 passing for 128 yards, including a 39-yard TD strike to Nick DeGennaro. He also ran for a score in the first quarter to give UR an early lead. Zach Palmer-Smith ran for 80 yards and 2 TD’s as the Spiders piled up 213 yards on the ground. Along with the performances by Grant and Hayes, UR got six tackles and a TFL from Carter Glassmyer and Camden Byrd.
Hampton 37, Norfolk State 7
Box Score
Hampton (2-1) turned in a dominant performance on both sides of the ball and cruised past rival Norfolk State, 37-7, in the Battle of the Bay. The Pirates, who built a commanding 30-0 lead after three quarters, piled up 466 yards of offense while holding the Spartans to 104.
Hampton got short TD runs from Chris Zellous and Tymere Robinson to take a 16-0 halftime advantage and the same two players found the end zone again in the third quarter to put the game away. Zellous finished 20-of-25 passing for 185 yards and ran for 60 yards, while Elijah Burris picked up 77 rushing yards. Hampton’s defense held NSU to 58 yards passing and 46 rushing, while recording 8.0 TFL’s and 3.0 sacks. Jordan White made a team-high six tackles.
William & Mary 28, Wofford 21
Box Score
Bronson Yoder’s 1-yard TD run with 3:40 remaining capped a 91-yard drive as William & Mary (2-1) defeated Wofford, 28-21. The Tribe defense stopped two Terriers’ late-game drives to seal the victory.
W&M took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive of the game as Malachi Imoh scored on a 2-yard run and was tied 14-14 at the half following a 19-yard TD run by Yoder in the second quarter. Quarterback Darius Wilson put W&M back on top on a 5-yard run to close the third quarter, but Wofford evened the contest once again before Yoder’s game-winning TD. Yoder finished with 142 yards on the ground while Wilson passed for 185 yards. Jonathan Hammond paced the W&M defense with eight tackles, 2.5 TFL’s, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
New Hampshire 45, Stonehill 6
Box Score
Seth Morgan passed for 387 yards and a school-record tying six touchdowns to lead New Hampshire (2-1) past Stonehill, 45-6. Wildcats’ receivers Caleb Burke (3 rec., 134 yds., 2 TD’s) and Joey Corcoran (5 rec., 129 yds., 3 TD’s) both topped the 100-yard mark.
Morgan hit Corcoran with scoring passes of 11 and 56 yards in the first quarter and added a 53-yard strike to Burke and a 19-yarder to Colby Ramshaw to make it 28-6 at halftime. In the third quarter, he added TD tosses of 68 yards to Burke and 32 yards to Corcoran to put the game away. The Wildcats’ defense held Stonehill to 252 yards and recorded four sacks.
Western Carolina 24, Elon 17
Box Score
Elon (1-2) built a 14-3 third-quarter lead, but Western Carolina battled back for a 24-17 victory. Phoenix quarterback Matthew Downing passed for 285 yards and a TD and TJ Thomas ran for 101 yards, including a 60-yard scoring run.
A 58-yard TD catch by Chandler Brayboy put Elon ahead early and the 60-yard burst by Thomas made it 14-3 after the opening drive of the third quarter. The Catamounts went ahead by three with 3:48 remaining and then blocked a game-tying field goal attempt and returned it 55 yards for a TD with 1:15 to go. Kahmari Brown had five tackles, 2.5 TFL’s, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble for the Elon defense.
Idaho 41, UAlbany 13
Box Score
Myles Burkett threw for 290 yards and a touchdown, but it was not enough as UAlbany fell 41-13 at 5th-ranked Idaho. Levi Wentz made five receptions for 114 yards, including a 19-yard TD grab.
The Great Danes (1-2) got a 25-yard field goal from John Opalko late in the first quarter to pull within 6-3, but the Vandals scored 35 unanswered points to go up 41-3 in the third quarter. Opalko added a 33-yard field goal before Burkett connected with Wentz on the scoring pass. Dontae Lunan paced the UAlbany defense with 11 tackles and 2 TFL’s.
Holy Cross 43, Bryant 22
Box Score
Bryant (1-2) opened a 16-7 first-quarter lead, but Holy Cross rallied for a 43-22 win. Bulldogs’ quarterback Jarrett Guest passed for 141 yards and 2 TD’s and ran for a team-hjgh 67 yards.
After getting on the board with a 20-yard Lucas Bisazza field goal, Bryant took a 10-7 advantage on a 10-yard TD catch from Landon Ruggieri. A 7-yard blocked punt return for a score by Chris Yates put the Bulldogs up by nine, but the Crusaders tallied 28 consecutive points. Bryant got a 12-yard TD catch from Fabrice Mukendi in the fourth quarter.
MEAC
Howard 35, Morehouse 21
Wagner 30,
Delaware State 7
Ohio Univ. 21,
Morgan State 6
Hampton 37,
Norfolk State 7
North Carolina - Chapel Hill 45,
North Carolina Central 10
Georgia Southern 42,
South Carolina State 14
Howard 35, Morehouse 21
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Redshirt senior quarterback Jaylon Tolbert (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) threw a career-high four touchdowns and the defense played its best game of the season as the Howard University football team defeated Morehouse College (MC) in the HBCU NYC Classic at MetLife Stadium in front of 31,174 spectators.
With the win, the Bison (2-1) won their second straight contest while the Maroon Tigers remain winless (0-3).
Tolbert, starting for the injured quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins (Las Vegas), was especially sharp in the early going, engineering an 11-play, 53-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock, ending with a three-yard scamper from fifth-year wideout Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.), 7-0.
RECAP | BOX SCORE
Wagner 30,
Delaware State 7
DOVER, Del. - Delaware State fell 30-7 to Wagner at home Saturday afternoon.
The Seahawks improved to 2-1 on the season while the Hornets dropped to 1-2.
Jaden Sutton totaled 92 yards to lead the Hornets' ground attack in the game, picking up 11.5 yards per carry along the way. Marqui Adams also tacked on 36 yards on the ground.
NyGhee Lolley hauled in three catches for 49 yards.
RECAP | BOX SCORE
Ohio Univ. 21,
Morgan State 6
ATHENS, Ohio — Despite a valiant effort in the opening half that kept them within striking distance, the Morgan State Bears were ultimately unable to overcome Ohio on a sunny Saturday at Peden Stadium. The Bobcats capitalized on the Bears scoring lull, extending their lead and ultimately securing a 21-6 victory on their home turf.
It was only Morgan's second loss of the season. The Bears' other loss came on the road against the Towson Tigers, 14-9, last Saturday. Morgan is now 1-2 overall this season.
RECAP | BOX SCORE
Hampton 37,
Norfolk State 7
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team struggled to get things going offensively on Saturday against Hampton, falling 37-7 in the Battle of the Bay at William "Dick" Price Stadium.
Norfolk State wideout Jahee Blake made the first touchdown catch of his collegiate career in the loss, hauling in a 26-yard toss from quarterback Jalen Daniels.
Pirates quarterback Chris Zellous completed 20-of-25 passes for 185 yards, while running back Elijah Burris totaled 77 yards on the ground. Sophomore linebacker AJ Richardson paced Norfolk State on defense, totaling 12 tackles while Terique Miles added 10.
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North Carolina - Chapel Hill 45,
North Carolina Central 10
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University football team held tough for three quarters Saturday evening at Kenan Stadium, but North Carolina pulled away late to a 45-10 win.
N.C. Central dropped to 1-2 on the year, while the Tar Heels improved to 3-0.
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Georgia Southern 42,
South Carolina State 14
STATESBORO, Ga. - Despite the outcome, South Carolina State racked up 318-yards total offense on the evening but managed to come up short in a 42-14 decision to host Georgia Southern Saturday (Sept.14) at Allen E. Paulson.
"Our guys played hard, and I was proud of our effort despite the score, "said head coach Chennis Berry. "We must clean some things up moving forward and we will. The goal is to get better each week and we still have some work to do."
Senior quarterback Eric Phoenix produced a solid performance throwing connecting 24-of-38 for 206-yards and one interception. Phoenix also finished with a game-high 8 carries for 63-yards (7.9 ypc).
RECAP | BOX SCORE
