The Trawlers erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit, the Fighting Azaleas stunned Illinois in their debut and the CAC collected seven victories during a dramatic opening weekend.
By Grant Ashworth | CAC Network
Week 0 offered the first glimpse of a new CAC season. If opening weekend was any indication, nobody should expect a quiet one.
Lake Charles State authored the weekend’s biggest comeback by scoring 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Augusta State introduced itself with an overtime victory over Illinois. Daytona Beach Tech also survived overtime, while Lake Superior State, Territorial State and York Tech delivered emphatic wins.
Altogether, CAC programs won seven of their 11 Week 0 games.
Lake Charles State 35, James Madison 24
For three quarters, Lake Charles State appeared headed toward an opening-week loss. James Madison led 10–7 at halftime and extended its advantage to 24–7 entering the fourth quarter.
Then the Trawlers erupted.
Lake Charles scored 28 unanswered points during the final period, transforming a 17-point deficit into a 35–24 victory.
Quarterback Mike Walter completed 15 of 26 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Kinoi supplied 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Nathan O’Grady caught four passes for 83 yards and a score.
The defense helped slam the door once the comeback began. Levi Stewart recorded four tackles for loss, and right edge Rob Spillman added two sacks.
Augusta State 38, Illinois 31 (OT)
Augusta State’s first game in program history produced its first victory, although the Fighting Azaleas were forced to earn it twice.
Augusta carried a 28–14 lead into the fourth quarter before Illinois scored 17 points to force overtime. The Fighting Azaleas responded by stopping Illinois during the extra period and scoring on their ensuing possession to complete a 38–31 victory.
Mitch Webb threw for 333 yards and a touchdown on 23-of-40 passing, although he was intercepted twice. Madison Elway rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown but lost two fumbles. Noah Bothering led the receiving corps with 94 yards and a touchdown.
Augusta recorded only one tackle for loss defensively, but its biggest stop arrived when the game demanded it.
Not bad for day one.
Daytona Beach Tech 34, Appalachian State 31 (2OT)
Daytona Beach Tech entered the fourth quarter leading 21–17, but a late Appalachian State score eventually forced overtime. The teams combined for 10 points across two extra periods before the Daredevils secured a 34–31 victory.
Justice Nesbitt completed 17 of 32 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Seth Littlejohn added 93 rushing yards, while Trent McPherson caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Daytona Beach’s defense intercepted Appalachian State four times. Chuck O’Shaugunessy contributed nine tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception.
Lake Superior State 41, Coastal Carolina 15
Lake Superior State seized control early, built a 24–7 halftime lead and cruised through the second half of a dominant 41–15 victory.
The Berserkers accumulated more than 500 yards of offense behind a prolific performance from Bryson Cantrell. The quarterback completed 34 of 45 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Austin Holberg caught 10 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Gabe Huey added 113 receiving yards.
Tony Wesovic led the defense with six tackles and an interception.
Territorial State 45, Georgia State 21
Territorial State opened a 24–7 halftime lead and never allowed Georgia State back into the game.
Eric Stevens was exceptionally efficient, completing 28 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor Schuening rushed for 65 yards and two scores, while Pat Presley contributed 89 yards and another touchdown.
Matt Grupe finished with 86 receiving yards and a touchdown. Tight end Johnny Edds made five catches for 53 yards and two scores.
Kyle Orlovsky led the defense with three tackles, an interception and two pass breakups.
High Plains Tech 31, Liberty 23
High Plains Tech took a 21–14 lead into halftime and withstood Liberty’s nine-point fourth quarter to secure a 31–23 victory.
Howie Mundy delivered one of the weekend’s biggest statistical performances, throwing for 481 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-46 passing.
Brendan Durant caught 12 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. Conner Emory added seven receptions for 128 yards and two scores, while Barry Bogger recorded seven catches for 104 yards. Derek Peters rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Kane North led the Storm’s defensive effort with two tackles for loss and two sacks.
York Tech 37, North Dakota State 6
York Tech led North Dakota State 17–6 at halftime before scoring 20 unanswered points after the break.
Spencer Klemente completed 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. Devin Hicks rushed for 86 yards and a score as the Oystermen controlled the game and kept the Bison off the scoreboard throughout the second half.
Tulane 34, Philadelphia Tech 31
Philadelphia Tech nearly erased a double-digit deficit, but its fourth-quarter comeback fell three points short.
Tulane led 24–14 at halftime before the Iron Horses scored 10 points during the final period. Kevin Wells completed 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 63 rushing yards.
Kevin Ness rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Levi Robinson recorded 12 tackles and one tackle for loss, while Bobby Costanzo added two tackles for loss.
Florida International 38, Acadia State 32
Acadia State entered halftime trailing 24–10 and attempted to rescue the afternoon with a 15-point fourth quarter. The Mainiacs’ comeback ultimately ran out of time in a 38–32 loss.
John McCourt completed 23 of 42 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns but was intercepted twice. Logan McClung carried nine times for 91 yards.
Craig Silva caught seven passes for 113 yards, while Colin Scioli recorded six receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
UNLV 31, Keweenaw Tech 25
UNLV scored 17 points in the second quarter to establish a 17–14 halftime lead and held off Keweenaw Tech throughout a closely contested second half.
Vince Parker threw for 221 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 19-of-28 passing. Emmett Lecount rushed for 94 yards, while Kirk Calloway finished with 70 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Right edge Ethan Eldrenkamp led the Owls defensively with eight tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
LSU 42, Coronado Maritime 14
Coronado Maritime faced the weekend’s most unforgiving assignment and struggled to generate offense against LSU.
The Tigers built a 28–0 halftime advantage and cruised to a 42–14 victory. Alex McQuiston completed nine of 18 passes for 123 yards and two interceptions.
Caleb Ksiezarczyk provided the brightest performance for the Admirals, finishing with six tackles and four pass breakups.
Durant caught 12 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown during High Plains Tech’s 31–23 victory over Liberty.
Despite Coronado’s loss at LSU, Ksiezarczyk distinguished himself with six tackles and four pass breakups against an elite opponent.
| Winner | Score | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles State | 35 | James Madison | 24 |
| Tulane | 34 | Philadelphia Tech | 31 |
| Daytona Beach Tech | 34 | Appalachian State | 31 |
| Augusta State | 38 | Illinois | 31 |
| Lake Superior State | 41 | Coastal Carolina | 15 |
| Florida International | 38 | Acadia State | 32 |
| UNLV | 31 | Keweenaw Tech | 25 |
| Territorial State | 45 | Georgia State | 21 |
| High Plains Tech | 31 | Liberty | 23 |
| York Tech | 37 | North Dakota State | 6 |
| LSU | 42 | Coronado Maritime | 14 |
The only missing component for the final website version is the Week 1 schedule, which I’ll need for the upcoming-games section, Game of the Week and Grant’s Guess.
Week 1 brings the season’s first all-CAC matchups, an immediate rivalry game and a major opportunity for High Plains Tech to make a national statement against No. 8 Texas A&M.
| Time (ET) | Matchup |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Lake Superior State at Keweenaw Tech |
| 12:00 PM | FCS Southeast at York Tech |
| 12:00 PM | FCS Southeast at Hilo State |
| 12:00 PM | FCS Southeast at Philadelphia Tech |
| 12:00 PM | FCS Southeast at Lake Charles State |
| 12:00 PM | High Plains Tech at No. 8 Texas A&M |
| 2:00 PM | North Carolina at Blue Ridge State |
| 2:15 PM | Daytona Beach Tech at Acadia State |
| 3:30 PM | FCS Southeast at Carolina State |
| 3:30 PM | FCS Southeast at Territorial State |
| 5:45 PM | Augusta State at Coronado State |
The conference race begins with one of the CAC’s fiercest rivalries.
Lake Superior State enters Week 1 after overwhelming Coastal Carolina 41–15 behind Bryson Cantrell’s 400-yard performance. Keweenaw Tech fell short against UNLV, but Vince Parker threw three touchdown passes and gave the Owls every opportunity to win.
Now the two programs meet in Mackinaw City with rivalry bragging rights and an early conference victory at stake.
Lake Superior demonstrated the more complete attack in Week 0, but rivalry games rarely follow the clean trajectory suggested by the previous week’s results. Keweenaw must slow Cantrell and prevent Austin Holberg and Gabe Huey from controlling the game through the air. The Berserkers, meanwhile, must account for Parker’s connection with Kirk Calloway after the receiver caught two touchdowns against UNLV.
CAC Network projected line: Lake Superior State −3.5
Projected over/under: 61.5
Keweenaw will respond with a better performance at home, but Lake Superior’s passing attack offers too many answers. Cantrell delivers another big afternoon, and the Berserkers survive a fourth-quarter push from the Owls.
Grant’s Guess: Lake Superior State 34, Keweenaw Tech 30
After throwing for 481 yards against Liberty, Howie Mundy takes the CAC’s most explosive passing attack into one of the most difficult environments in the country. High Plains has an opportunity to earn the conference’s first signature national upset of the season.
The Wayfinders make their season debut against an in-state power. Blue Ridge State sat out Week 0, meaning its first live test arrives against North Carolina with immediate regional bragging rights available.
Daytona Beach brings a 1–0 record and a defense fresh off four interceptions into the conference opener. Acadia State returns home looking to rebound after its fourth-quarter rally against FIU fell short. This matchup should reveal whether the Daredevils’ Week 0 defensive disruption is sustainable and whether the Mainiacs can clean up the turnovers that undermined John McCourt’s three-touchdown performance.