By Grant Ashworth, CAC Network
The Continental Athletic Conference officially has a nationally ranked football team.
York Tech’s 34–17 victory over Temple propelled the Oystermen to No. 25 in the national rankings, making York the first CAC program to crack the Top 25.
That historic breakthrough headlined a Week 9 filled with offensive explosions. Keweenaw Tech survived Acadia State in a 45–42 thriller. Coronado and Lake Charles combined for 96 points. High Plains overwhelmed Philadelphia Tech after halftime. Lake Superior State scored 37 second-half points against Blue Ridge.
The CAC has spent its inaugural season trying to establish itself on the national landscape. York just planted the conference flag.
| Matchup | Final |
|---|---|
| Keweenaw Tech at Acadia State | Keweenaw Tech 45, Acadia State 42 |
| York Tech at Temple | York Tech 34, Temple 17 |
| Philadelphia Tech at High Plains Tech | High Plains Tech 42, Philadelphia Tech 24 |
| Daytona Beach Tech at Territorial State | Daytona Beach Tech 31, Territorial State 29 |
| Coronado at Lake Charles State | Coronado 49, Lake Charles State 47 |
| Blue Ridge State at Lake Superior State | Lake Superior State 58, Blue Ridge State 34 |
Acadia State landed the first punch, but Keweenaw Tech had just enough offense to withstand the Mainiacs’ final charge.
Acadia led 17–7 after the first quarter before Keweenaw scored 14 points in the second to take a 21–17 halftime advantage. The Owls eventually needed to survive an 18-point Acadia fourth quarter to secure the 45–42 victory.
Keweenaw outgained Acadia 606–383 despite committing two turnovers to the Mainiacs’ one.
Vince Parker continued his Heisman-caliber season by completing 38 of 49 passes for 420 yards. He also rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard scoring run.
Parker accounted for 519 yards of offense on his own.
Emmett LeCount carried 16 times for 75 yards and three touchdowns. J.T. Silvestro caught 12 passes for 162 yards, while Corbin Thomas added 10 receptions for 119 yards.
Henry Sternberger and Mike Reese each recorded 10 tackles for the Owls.
John McCourt was enormous for Acadia in defeat, completing 22 of 34 attempts for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Craig Silva caught eight passes for 102 yards. George Baum finished with four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown, while Gage Lehan caught seven passes for 85 yards and two scores.
Scott Hirschberger led the Mainiacs with 12 solo tackles. Gordon Arnoux added 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a sack. Matt Calloway recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble.
Keweenaw improved to 7–1 overall and 4–1 in the CAC. The Owls remain directly behind undefeated High Plains in the conference race.
York Tech has made CAC history.
The Oystermen jumped out to a 17–3 first-quarter lead against Temple and carried a 17–10 advantage into halftime. They added another 17 points after the break to complete a convincing 34–17 victory.
York outgained Temple 457–331 and did not commit a turnover.
Spencer Clemente completed 19 of 31 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. Devin Hicks powered the running game with 144 yards and two touchdowns, including a 33-yard scoring run.
Glenn Byrne recorded seven tackles and one tackle for loss. Cornerback Hunter Cook added eight tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup.
The victory lifted York Tech to No. 25 in the national rankings, making the Oystermen the first ranked team in conference history.
York entered the season as one of two programs fighting for control of Maine. Nine weeks later, the Oystermen are carrying the CAC banner onto the national stage.
Philadelphia Tech stayed with the conference leader for one half.
Then the Storm rolled through.
The game was tied 14–14 at halftime before High Plains outscored Philadelphia 28–10 over the final two quarters to secure a 42–24 victory.
High Plains accumulated 536 yards to Philadelphia’s 459. Neither team committed a turnover.
Howie Mundy completed 20 of 29 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 50 yards and another score.
Derek Peters led the Storm with 125 rushing yards. Richard Isaac added 81 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Emory caught six passes for 105 yards, while Brendan Durant produced seven receptions for 94 yards and two scores.
The High Plains defensive front helped break the game open. Kane North recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Defensive tackle John Whitehart added five tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Kevin Wells threw for 424 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-40 passing for Philadelphia. The Iron Horses could not establish any balance, however, with Kevin Ness held to 43 rushing yards.
Walter Stites caught eight passes for 118 yards. Martin Fisher contributed six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Levi Robinson led the defense with nine tackles.
High Plains improved to 7–1 overall and 4–0 in the CAC, remaining the conference’s only unbeaten team in league play.
Daytona Beach Tech trailed by one late in the game before kicking the winning field goal to escape Territorial State with a 31–29 victory.
The Daredevils led 7–0 after the opening quarter and 14–10 at halftime, but the Dealers continued applying pressure. Territorial eventually moved in front 29–28 before Daytona responded with the decisive kick.
Daytona outgained Territorial 396–380. Neither team committed a turnover.
Justice Nesbitt completed 16 of 22 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. He added 40 rushing yards and another score. Seth Littlejohn led the Daredevils with 108 rushing yards.
Gabe McAdam recorded nine tackles, while Tucker Capps finished with five tackles and a sack.
Territorial quarterback Erik Stevens completed 13 of 21 attempts for 193 yards and a touchdown. Taylor Schuening rushed for 103 yards and a score, including a 56-yard touchdown run. Pat Presley contributed 76 yards and another rushing touchdown.
Tim Hyde recorded eight tackles and one tackle for loss. Will linebacker Ben Hrynkiewicz added seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
Daytona improved to 4–5 overall and 2–3 in conference play. Territorial fell to 3–7 overall and 1–6 in the CAC.
Coronado and Lake Charles State combined for 1,049 yards, 96 points, and 11 passing touchdowns in one of the wildest games of the CAC season.
The game was tied 7–7 after the first quarter before Coronado surged ahead 28–14 at halftime. Lake Charles scored 21 points in the third quarter and eventually took a 47–42 lead, but the Admirals answered with the winning touchdown.
Coronado finished with 546 yards to Lake Charles’ 503. The Admirals overcame two turnovers against a Trawlers team that did not give the ball away.
Alex McQuiston completed 34 of 48 passes for 435 yards and six touchdowns, although he also threw two interceptions. Donnie Shelley caught nine passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Nick Stick added 11 receptions for 134 yards and two scores.
Evan Husman led Coronado with 11 tackles. Wade Daniels recorded four tackles, including two tackles for loss.
Mike Walters completed 27 of 39 passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns for Lake Charles. He also rushed for 17 yards and another score.
Nathan O’Grady delivered the week’s best receiving performance, catching 10 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Bryce Abraham recorded 11 tackles for the Trawlers. Pete McGee added five tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup.
Coronado improved to 4–4 in conference play. Lake Charles fell to 4–4 overall and 3–3 in the CAC.
For one half, Blue Ridge State and Lake Superior State appeared headed toward a classic.
Then the Wayfinders completely unraveled.
Payton Silvestro scored two rushing touchdowns to give Lake Superior a 14–0 first-quarter lead. Blue Ridge responded when Dom Wayne read a pass into the flat, intercepted it, and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown.
A strip sack and recovery by Blue Ridge’s No. 91 gave the Wayfinders excellent field position on Lake Superior’s next possession. Blue Ridge converted the opportunity, tying the game at 14.
The teams reached halftime tied 21–21.
On the first play of the third quarter, Colin Meinerz broke free for a 75-yard touchdown. Terry Fowler then fumbled, giving Lake Superior possession at the Blue Ridge 14-yard line. The Berserkers quickly capitalized to make it 35–21.
Fowler threw an interception on Blue Ridge’s following possession, giving Lake Superior the ball at the Wayfinders’ 36.
The Berserkers scored 27 points in the third quarter and 37 after halftime, transforming a competitive game into a 58–34 rout.
Blue Ridge lost three fumbles and threw one interception. Fowler completed 21 of 31 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, but his interception and two lost fumbles contributed to another disastrous second half.
He was replaced in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game.
Sophomore Daniel Gammon completed 7 of 10 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in relief. Trent Weinstein was held to 15 rushing yards.
Wayne finished with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception, and a 75-yard defensive touchdown.
Silvestro completed 20 of 27 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 46 yards and two scores. Meinerz finished with 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Holberg caught six passes for 115 yards.
Dylan Nielsen led Lake Superior with 13 tackles. Blaine Costanzo recorded three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.
Blue Ridge briefly appeared to regain momentum when Andy Pope returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Kyle O’Malley immediately erased it by returning the ensuing kickoff 102 yards for a Lake Superior touchdown.
The loss raises an unavoidable question in Pisgah: how long can Blue Ridge continue with Fowler if the turnovers and second-half collapses persist?
O’Grady caught 10 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns in Lake Charles’ 49–47 loss to Coronado.
Wayne recorded nine tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception, and a 75-yard touchdown return. His performance also earned Sun Belt weekly honors despite the Wayfinders’ loss.
⭐ Nathan O’Grady, Lake Charles State
10 receptions, 120 yards, three touchdowns
⭐⭐ Vince Parker, Keweenaw Tech
38-of-49 passing for 420 yards, plus 99 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
⭐⭐⭐ Alex McQuiston, Coronado
34-of-48 passing for 435 yards and six touchdowns
McQuiston’s six touchdowns presented a strong case for the second spot, but Parker receives the edge because his 519 total yards powered a victory with direct implications for the CAC championship race.
⭐ Dom Wayne, Blue Ridge State
Nine tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and a 75-yard touchdown return
⭐⭐ Blaine Costanzo, Lake Superior State
Three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup
⭐⭐⭐ John Whitehart, High Plains Tech
Five tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks
Vince Parker currently sits second in the Heisman Trophy voting and is projected to win the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and Davey O’Brien Award.
Gordon Arnoux and Dom Wayne hold the top two positions in the Dick Butkus Award projections. Andy Pope leads the Jet Award return-specialist voting.
Wayne is also appearing in broader national player-of-the-year discussions.
Carolina State continues to lead the CAC with 11 three-star commitments.
Keweenaw Tech has eight three-star and 11 two-star commitments. Lake Superior State follows with six three-star and 12 two-star prospects.
Coronado remains the only CAC program without a three-star commitment. The Admirals currently have six two-star players committed.
| Team | Conference |
|---|---|
| High Plains Tech | 4–0 |
| Keweenaw Tech | 4–1 |
| York Tech | 4–2 |
| Coronado | 4–4 |
| Philadelphia Tech | 3–3 |
| Blue Ridge State | 3–3 |
| Lake Charles State | 3–3 |
| Acadia State | 3–3 |
| Lake Superior State | 2–3 |
| Daytona Beach Tech | 2–3 |
| Carolina State | 2–4 |
| Territorial State | 1–6 |
High Plains remains in control, but Keweenaw and York are keeping the pressure on. Behind those three, four programs sit at 3–3 with little separation between them.
Grant’s projected line: Keweenaw Tech -6.5
Projected over/under: 72.5
Lake Charles just scored 47 points and lost. Keweenaw just allowed 42 points and won.
This game has every ingredient for another passing explosion. Lake Charles has enough firepower to test the Owls, but the Trawlers must find a way to contain Parker as both a passer and runner.
Grant’s guess: Keweenaw Tech 45, Lake Charles State 38
Grant’s projected line: Lake Superior State -2.5
Projected over/under: 64.5
McCourt and the Acadia passing attack pushed Keweenaw to the limit. Lake Superior enters after scoring 58 points and forcing four Blue Ridge turnovers.
The Berserkers get the slight edge at home, but another shootout is entirely possible.
Grant’s guess: Lake Superior State 34, Acadia State 31
Grant’s projected line: High Plains Tech -17.5
Projected over/under: 61.5
The rivalry gives Territorial something extra to play for, but High Plains has been the CAC’s most consistent team.
The Dealers must control possession and keep Mundy off the field to have a chance in Cheyenne.
Grant’s guess: High Plains Tech 41, Territorial State 23
Grant’s projected line: Daytona Beach Tech -1.5
Projected over/under: 58.5
Both teams enter at 4–5. Philadelphia can generate enormous passing totals, but the Iron Horses need more balance after Ness was held to 43 yards.
Daytona’s late-game execution gives the Daredevils a narrow advantage at home.
Grant’s guess: Daytona Beach Tech 31, Philadelphia Tech 28
Grant’s projected line: North Carolina -6.5
Projected over/under: 59.5
It will be a night game in Pisgah for Blue Ridge’s final nonconference matchup.
The Wayfinders have national-caliber playmakers in Wayne and Pope, but the offense cannot continue giving opponents short fields. Fowler’s turnovers and consecutive fourth-quarter benchings have created a legitimate quarterback storyline entering Week 10.
Grant’s guess: North Carolina 34, Blue Ridge State 27