By Grant Ashworth, CAC Network

Week 10 delivered rivalry drama, a one-point escape, a statement from the Wayfinders and another dominant performance from Philadelphia Tech. It also gave the CAC its first four-star commitments, while the conference’s seven projected bowl teams continued racing toward the postseason.

Blue Ridge State 37, North Carolina 28

Under the lights in Pisgah, Blue Ridge State’s defense made sure its showdown with North Carolina was never as close as the final score suggested.

On UNC’s first play from scrimmage, the Tar Heels threw a pass behind the line of scrimmage. The pass was broken up, but because it traveled backward, the loose ball was ruled a fumble. No. 12 Webb scooped it up and returned it 59 yards for a Wayfinders touchdown.

That was only the beginning.

Blue Ridge built a 24-7 halftime lead before Kevin O’Connor forced another fumble on a North Carolina bubble screen late in the third quarter. Sassoon recovered it and raced 21 yards into the end zone, extending the Wayfinders’ advantage to 34-7 with 1:22 remaining in the quarter.

UNC scored 21 points in the fourth, but the comeback made the final margin more respectable without ever truly threatening Blue Ridge’s control of the game.

North Carolina outgained Blue Ridge 416-359, but the Wayfinders turned both UNC fumbles into defensive touchdowns. They also sacked Billie Edwards Jr. seven times.

Terry Fowler completed 14 of 24 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown while adding 65 rushing yards. Dom Wayne led the defense with 10 tackles and two pass breakups. O’Connor forced both fumbles, broke up two passes and recorded a tackle for loss. Glenn Morrison added two sacks.

Blue Ridge has now reached 3-3 in conference play and put itself firmly among the CAC’s bowl contenders.

Keweenaw Tech 33, Lake Charles State 21

Keweenaw Tech never trailed as the Owls improved to 5-1 in the CAC and kept pressure on undefeated High Plains Tech.

The Owls led 13-7 after the first quarter and 23-7 at halftime. Lake Charles scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, but never pulled within 10.

Keweenaw outgained the Trawlers 491-342, and neither team committed a turnover.

Vince Parker continued his Heisman-caliber season by completing 25 of 37 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Lake Charles finally contained Parker as a runner, but Emmett LeCount gave the Owls balance with 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns. JT Silvestro caught seven passes for 82 yards and a score.

Anthony Pryor led the Keweenaw defense with eight tackles, while six different Owls recorded a tackle for loss.

Mike Walter played an efficient game for Lake Charles, completing 28 of 33 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers. Bryce Abraham recorded 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Nicholas Godleveske collected 13 tackles and two pass breakups.

Parker remains in the Heisman conversation, although he dropped one position after a huge performance from Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer.

Lake Superior State 38, Acadia State 37

Lake Superior State survived a shootout against Acadia State, completing a late scoring drive to steal a one-point victory.

The Mainiacs led 14-7 after the first quarter and 21-17 at halftime. The Berserkers answered with 14 points in the third before mounting the decisive scoring drive with fewer than two minutes remaining.

Acadia outgained Lake Superior 547-464, with each team committing one turnover.

John McCourt threw for 414 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-39 passing, but his interception proved costly. Gage Lehan caught 10 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. Craig Silva delivered the game of his life, catching six passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard score.

Damon Kacyvenski recorded nine tackles and Matt Calloway added eight tackles and a pass breakup. Remarkably, the Mainiacs did not record a single tackle for loss.

Peyton Silvestro completed 21 of 33 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. Brian Henning powered the Berserkers’ rushing attack with 141 yards and two scores.

Nick Ricci finished with nine tackles, while Christian Albrecht recorded six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.

The win brought Lake Superior back to 3-3 in CAC play. Acadia fell to 3-4 despite producing 547 yards of offense.

High Plains Tech 20, Territorial State 17

High Plains Tech remained perfect in conference play, but Territorial State made the Storm earn every bit of their rivalry victory.

The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter before High Plains took a 13-7 advantage into halftime. Territorial tied it at 17 in the fourth, but the Storm answered with the winning score inside the final two minutes.

High Plains outgained Territorial 379-346 despite committing the game’s only turnover.

Howie Mundy completed 20 of 38 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Brendan Durant and Thomas Dishman each finished with 70 receiving yards and a touchdown.

John Whitehart continued terrorizing opposing backfields with two tackles for loss and a sack. WILL linebacker Josh Davenport led the Storm with 10 tackles.

High Plains is now 5-0 in the CAC and remains the conference’s final unbeaten team.

Philadelphia Tech 42, Daytona Beach Tech 13

Philadelphia Tech turned a 7-0 first-quarter lead into a 28-7 halftime advantage and never looked back.

The Iron Horses outgained Daytona Beach 427-328 and added 14 points in the fourth quarter to complete a 42-13 rout.

Kevin Wells delivered another steady performance, completing 18 of 28 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.

The biggest difference continues to be the return of Kevin Ness. The Iron Horses running back exploded for 114 yards and four touchdowns, giving Philadelphia an element it sorely missed earlier in the season.

Justice Nesbitt struggled through the air for Daytona Beach, finishing with 142 passing yards and an interception. He remained dangerous on the ground, rushing for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Derek Sweat led Philadelphia with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. Strong safety Jeff Daniels finished with six tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and two pass breakups.

TJ Daniels led Daytona Beach with six tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

Week 10 Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week: Craig Silva, WR, Acadia State

Six receptions, 122 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Silva accounted for three of Acadia’s five touchdowns and turned six catches into one of Week 10’s most explosive offensive performances.

Defensive Player of the Week: Jeff Daniels, SS, Philadelphia Tech

Six tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and two pass breakups.

Daniels helped hold Daytona Beach to 13 points while affecting the game at every level of the defense.

Recruiting Roundup: The CAC Lands Its First Four-Stars

Acadia State made conference history by signing the CAC’s first four-star commitment. Right end Kevin Judge, a 6-foot-6, 234-pound prospect, gives the Mainiacs a potential cornerstone on the defensive edge.

Daytona Beach Tech quickly added another landmark commitment, signing four-star wide receiver Greg Beiler. The 5-foot-11, 169-pound receiver gives the Daredevils a potential difference-maker for their offense.

Blue Ridge State also added another three-star prospect as the Wayfinders continued building their future roster.

Among the conference’s largest classes:

• Carolina State: 12 three-stars and nine two-stars
• Keweenaw Tech: eight three-stars and 13 two-stars
• Lake Superior State: six three-stars and 16 two-stars
• Territorial State: 22 two-stars

CAC Standings After Week 10

Seven of the CAC’s 12 teams are currently projected to reach bowl games.

Grant’s Week 11 Guesses

Grant’s Game of the Week: No. 24 York Tech at Lake Superior State

This is the strongest game on the Week 11 schedule.

York Tech returns from its idle week carrying a national ranking and legitimate championship aspirations. Lake Superior enters with momentum after knocking off Acadia and now gets an opportunity to shake up the conference race again.

The matchup becomes particularly interesting if Brian Henning can keep Lake Superior ahead of schedule on the ground. York cannot afford to look ahead, because the Berserkers just proved they can survive a high-scoring game against one of the CAC’s most productive passing attacks.

Grant’s Line: York Tech -2.5
Over/Under: 55.5
Grant’s Guess: York Tech 31, Lake Superior State 27

Lake Charles State at Blue Ridge State

Both teams face a short week before Thursday night in Pisgah. Blue Ridge’s defensive front just recorded seven sacks against North Carolina, but Lake Charles quarterback Mike Walter completed 28 of 33 passes against Keweenaw without throwing an interception.

The Trawlers must protect Walter and avoid giving Blue Ridge another short field. The Wayfinders have the momentum, the home crowd and a defense capable of changing a game without its offense touching the ball.

Grant’s Line: Blue Ridge State -3.5
Over/Under: 51.5
Grant’s Guess: Blue Ridge State 30, Lake Charles State 24

Carolina State at Daytona Beach Tech

Both teams desperately need this game. Carolina State returns from its idle week at 2-4 in conference play, while Daytona Beach must respond after being overwhelmed by Philadelphia Tech.

Justice Nesbitt’s running ability gives Daytona a path, but the Daredevils will need more consistency through the air. Carolina State should arrive rested and prepared to attack a defense that surrendered 42 points in Week 10.

Grant’s Line: Carolina State -4.5
Over/Under: 57.5
Grant’s Guess: Carolina State 34, Daytona Beach Tech 27

Keweenaw Tech at Coastal Carolina

The Owls step outside the CAC with an opportunity to strengthen both their bowl résumé and Vince Parker’s Heisman campaign.

Coastal Carolina may finally force Parker to win primarily from the pocket, but Week 10 showed that Keweenaw can lean on Emmett LeCount when Parker is contained as a runner.

Grant’s Line: Keweenaw Tech -1.5
Over/Under: 60.5
Grant’s Guess: Keweenaw Tech 35, Coastal Carolina 31

High Plains Tech at Acadia State

The CAC’s only undefeated conference team heads to Maine for one of its most dangerous remaining tests.

Acadia just produced 547 yards and 37 points in a loss. John McCourt, Gage Lehan and Craig Silva give the Mainiacs enough firepower to challenge anyone. The problem is an Acadia defense that failed to record a tackle for loss against Lake Superior.

High Plains keeps finding ways to close games. Until someone proves otherwise, the Storm deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Grant’s Line: High Plains Tech -2.5
Over/Under: 59.5
Grant’s Guess: High Plains Tech 34, Acadia State 31

Coronado Maritime at Sam Houston

Coronado returns from its idle week for a nonconference road game. At 4-4 in CAC play, this is an important opportunity for the Admirals to improve their postseason position without risking ground in the conference standings.

Grant’s Line: Sam Houston -1.5
Over/Under: 49.5
Grant’s Guess: Coronado Maritime 27, Sam Houston 24