Conference Carolinas Week One Preview & Picks

September 3rd, 2025 8:00am

The second week of action in Conference Carolinas football brings no shortage of intrigue as teams look to build on opening impressions and correct early miscues. UNC Pembroke aims to rebound from a hard-fought loss to regional power Wingate when they square off against a stout Fayetteville State defense, while Chowan looks to keep its offensive rhythm alive after a balanced opener against Elizabeth City State. Barton hits the road seeking redemption at West Virginia State, and North Greenville continues its climb for consistency behind its playmakers as other league newcomers begin to test their footing.

Last Week’s Results
*home team in bold

Virginia State 35, Barton 7
Chowan 28, Elizabeth City State 14
Catawba 45, Ferrum 13
Anderson 34, Shorter 7
Wingate 30, UNC Pembroke 21

Must-See Matchup

Since their first meeting in 2011, this series stands slightly in Delta State’s favor 5–3, with their latest thriller ending as one of the most dramatic finishes in recent history. Last October, the Crusaders secured a 47-45 victory in FOUR overtime periods over then-No. 24 Delta State on their home field.

This season’s early non-conference matchup - North Greenville left the Gulf South at the end of 2024 - features a DSU squad fresh off an upset of then-No. 24 Central Missouri last week at home where quarterback Cole Kirk threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns. On the other sideline, NGU boasts a new head coach in Nate Garner, but a familiar face under center as dual-threat signal caller Dylan Ramirez is back for this senior season in Tigerville.

This matchup blends history with urgency—Delta State looks to build on a statement-opening win, while North Greenville aims to prove that last season’s overtime magic wasn’t a fluke. Expect fireworks, gritty competition, and a pulse-pounding showdown in the second week of college football action.

My pick: No. 24 Delta State

Week 1 Schedule at a Glance
*all times Eastern

Saturday, Sept. 6

Barton opened the 2025 season at home but felt no advantage, falling to Virginia State in a lopsided 35-7 affair. The Bulldogs' once-prominent ground game amassed -3 yards on the day, while the defense gave way to 368 passing yards for VSU. West Virginia State also opened with a loss, suffering a 41-10 drubbing at the hands of regional power Carson-Newman last Saturday as the Yellows Jackets couldn’t stop the run on defense and allowed four sacks on offense.

This matchup will be decided in the trenches—Barton’s ability to generate a run game versus WVSU’s ability to keep its quarterback upright.

My pick: Barton

No. 22 West Alabama (1-0) at Chowan (1-0) | Murfreesboro, N.C. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

West Alabama Head Coach Scott Cochran, in his debut season, secured a 27–17 victory over Fort Valley State in the Labor Day Classic—a promising start that showcases his veteran leadership and the Tigers' refreshed identity. UWA racked up 201 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against FVSU, while the defense held Fort Valley to just 217 total yards. Chowan opened the 2025 slate with a two-touchdown win over Elizabeth City State as quarterback Maurice Smith, Jr. earned Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for 287 yards (22-for-33) and one touchdown while also catching a pass in the end zone.

This series hasn’t been close, with West Alabama winning both matchups by a combined 52-6 score behind an unstoppable ground game and dominant defense. Saturday will be no different.

My pick: No. 22 West Alabama

Erskine (0-0) at Anderson (1-0) | Anderson, S.C. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

Erskine opens the 2025 season as a Conference Carolinas member after suffering through a rough stretch as an affiliate member of the Gulf South, amassing a 1-8 overall record during the 2024 campaign. Last year, the Flying Fleet were outscored 41.3 to 12.3 on average and surrendered over 390 yards of offense per game to opponents. As for returning stars, Erskine has yet to post a 2025 roster, but leading rusher Rashad Luckey transferred away from the program, and starting quarterback Craig Pender was a senior last year.

The Anderson Trojans opened their 2025 campaign with a statement 34–7 road win at Shorter University, showcasing both offensive execution and defensive dominance. After falling behind early, Anderson responded with 34 unanswered points to control the game from the second quarter onward. Quarterback Tyler Wesley scored twice on the ground and threw a touchdown pass as well, while the defense stifled Shorter behind nine tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Anderson stays perfect to open the season with a chance to build some real momentum as their schedule gets more challenging as the weeks go on.

My pick: Anderson

Ferrum (0-1) at Virginia Military Institute (0-1) | Lexington, Va. | 1:30 p.m. | Stats | Video

In an Old Dominion matchup, Ferrum takes on Division I foe Virginia Military Institute after both sides opened with losses last week. The Panthers kicked off their 2025 campaign at Catawba with a 45–13 setback, managing just 249 yards of offense, compared to 495 by the Indians. Ferrum did notch a touchdown courtesy of a fumble recovery in the end zone, and kicker Jon Davis provided consistency with two field goals and an extra point.

VMI opened its season against Navy in a tough FBS matchup, falling 52–7. Quarterback Collin Shannon went 16-for-25 for 197 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Owen Sweeney produced a bright spot with 5 receptions for 126 yards and VMI’s lone touchdown. The Keydets also struggled defensively against Navy’s potent run game, allowing 556 yards on defense.

Despite last week’s setback for both teams, VMI has the edge in size and experience compared to a Ferrum team transitioning to the Division II level

My pick: Virginia Military Institute

Fayetteville State (0-1) at UNC Pembroke (0-1) | Pembroke, N.C. | 6:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

This Week 1 matchup is the Two Rivers Classic — Fayetteville State’s defensive bulldog mentality facing off against UNC Pembroke’s proven ring of returning talent and leadership. Fayetteville State fell in a low-scoring defensive battle against Benedict to open the season, while Pembroke was on the losing end of an in-state matchup with playoff contender Wingate.

Pembroke leads the all-time series 9-2 overall and are a perfect 5-0 at home, however, Fayetteville State did come away with a four-point win (35-31) last year on its home field. Look for the Braves to push the tempo a bit more than they did last week as quarterback Tre Martin provided a spark in a split role under center, completing 11-of-19 pass attempts for 162 yards and a touchdown while contributing 54 rushing yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.

My pick: UNC Pembroke

Shorter (0-1) at Savannah State (0-1) | Savannah, Ga. | 6:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

The final game on tap for the weekend in Conference Carolinas features another non-conference, in-state tilt, this time between Shorter and Savannah State in the Peach State as both sides look to rebound from rough opening weeks.The Hawks gained just 174 yards of offense and surrendered seven sacks in a loss to Anderson, while Savannah State committed four turnovers, including three lost fumbles, in a 41-14 route at the hand of Edward Waters.

It’s tough to tell if the Tigers were just working out early season kinks or if it was a sign of things to come in the future, but SSU showed signs of life with a 14-point first quarter. The trouble is that Savannah State went scoreless for the final three quarters and gave up 41 points to the opposition. Shorter was in just as much trouble defensively in their season opener, giving up 34 points and 220 rushing yards to the Trojans.

Both sides seem to still be figuring it out on both sides of the ball to start 2025, but I’ll give SSU the edge in front of a Saturday night home crowd.

My pick: Savannah State

Players to Watch

Malik Brown, UNC Pembroke, So., WR – Brown introduced himself to League foes in a big way last week, catching four passes for 93 yards and a score against Wingate. Pembroke will need the speedy wideout to make big plays against a stout Fayetteville State defense on Saturday.
Dylan Ramirez, North Greenville, Sr., QB – My personal pick for Conference Carolinas’ Offensive Player of the Year, Ramirez is the unquestioned leader for NGU and will have to rely on both his arm (6,932 career passing yards, 45 touchdowns) and legs (651 career rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) to guide an offense expected to put up points in bunches.
Maurice Smith, Jr., Chowan, Grad., QB – Smith showed why he is a star when he is on the field last week, passing for 287 yards (22-for-33) and a score while also rushing for 29 yards and catching a three-yard touchdown pass. Chowan’s test gets much tougher this week against a West Alabama team known for defense and toughness.

Conference Standings

Team	Conf.	Overall	Streak
Chowan	0-0	1-0	W1
Erskine	0-0	0-0	...
North Greenville	0-0	0-0	...
Barton	0-0	0-1	L1
Ferrum	0-0	0-1	L1
Shorter	0-0	0-1	L1
UNC Pembroke	0-0	0-1	L1