GSC/Conference Carolinas Week Five Preview & Picks

October 3rd, 2025 3:00am

We are almost back to a full schedule this week - West Alabama’s game against Lincoln (Calif.) was unsurprisingly cancelled - including three Conference Carolinas matchups and a non-conference tilt between two perennial playoff teams looking to right a few early-season wrongs. It may look like a lopsided affair in many of these matchups, but rest assured there will still be plenty of opportunity for fireworks out of Super Region 2.

Last Week’s Results
Home team in bold
*denotes Conference Carolinas game

• No. 17 West Alabama 52, North Greenville 44 

• Chowan 30, Shorter 29*

• UNC Pembroke 31, Valdosta State 0

• Delta State 52, Erskine 0

Must-See Matchup

No. 4 West Florida (4-0) at Northeastern State (2-2) | Tahlequah, Okla. | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 2:00 p.m. | Audio | Stats | Video

After a week away from the field, West Florida is back at it again. This time, however, they’ll make the long trek to Oklahoma to face Northeastern State for the first time in program history. UWF survived a close call in its most recent game against North Greenville, escaping South Carolina with a narrow eight-point win on a controversial no-call as time expired in regulation. Nonetheless, the Argos rank among the nation’s elite in several categories on both sides of the ball, including scoring offense (T23 - 35.8 ppg), passing yards per game (T12 - 300 ypg), total defense (10th - 253.5 ypg), and rush defense (1st - 39.8 ypg). West Florida has a ton of playmakers, led by running back TJ Lane, who has 341 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns through four games.

Northeastern State, which is also well-rested after a bye week, built some confidence two weeks ago with a 70-12 win over an unaffiliated Westgate Christian University program that is in its second year of existence. It has been a rough go of late for the Riverhawks, a team that hasn’t posted a winning record since 2011, as they were giving up over 30 points per game prior to the game against WCU. The offense isn’t particularly talented, as they put up 78 yards per game on the ground, but have thrown for over 300 yards per contest (all stats do not include the inflated numbers from the Westgate contest), and the defense doesn’t impose much fear with just two sacks on the year.

West Florida might need to shake off a little rust from a long travel day, but the Argos will run away with this one and return to Pensacola with their perfect record intact.

My pick: No. 4 West Florida

Week 5 Schedule at a Glance
All times Eastern
*denotes Conference Carolinas game

Saturday, Oct. 4 

*Shorter (1-4, 0-1 CC) at Ferrum (1-3, 0-1 CC) | Ferrum, Va. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

Shorter enters Saturday’s contest fresh off a heartbreaking home loss to Chowan last weekend, totaling almost 250 rushing yards. However, two interceptions from quarterback Jeb Walls and 10 costly penalties proved to be the demise of the Hawks. Walls has struggled mightily through the air to begin 2025, throwing seven interceptions in just four games played, but he did score twice on the ground last week. Running back Lanear McCrary, Jr. continues to lead the offense with 321 rushing yards and four scores. Shorter’s defense is giving up 27.8 points and almost 350 yards per game to opponents, putting the offense in play-from-behind mode more often than not.

Ferrum is back after a bye week, hosting Shorter for its first Conference Carolinas home contest of the year. Last week, Ferrum ran into the buzz saw that has been UNC Pembroke in a 27-point loss; however, the Panther ground game was able to top 100 total yards, and the defense picked off two passes. Ferrum’s goal each week is to establish the run game, and although they average just 2.7 yards per carry, five of their six offensive touchdowns have come on the ground. Junior running back Jahylen Lee leads the charge with 220 total yards and 4.1 yards per carry on the year.

Both programs are looking for success, and it will be strength vs strength in this early-afternoon matchup. Shorter’s defensive line has 38 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, while Ferrum’s offensive line has paved the way for three 100-yard rushing performances through the team’s first four games. The Panthers may be able to control the clock and keep this a low-scoring affair, but the defense still has work to do to contain a Shorter team that has the ability to break a big play from time to time. 

My pick: Shorter

*North Greenville (1-3, 1-0 CC) at Chowan (2-2, 1-0 CC) | Murfreesboro, N.C. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

North Greenville has taken on three Top 25 opponents in the season’s first four weeks and shown resilience and grit despite the setbacks. Last weekend, against a West Alabama program known for its defensive prowess, the Trailblazers put up 44 points and 506 total yards of offense, including a 405-yard, four-touchdown performance from senior quarterback Dylan Ramirez. Ramirez completed a pass to nine different receivers, including two touchdowns to Aiden Brantley, who had the best game of his young career. NGU’s lack of size in comparison to UWA was evident in the trenches as the Tigers put up 191 rushing yards compared to just 101 for North Greenville, and the secondary was unable to limit big plays as UWA averaged 36.4 yards per completion through the air.

Chowan escaped a trip to Georgia with a narrow 30-29 victory over Shorter to open conference play, using a one-yard touchdown run from quarterback Maurice Smith, Jr. to go ahead with just over four minutes to play. Smith put up 281 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game while also chipping in 47 yards and a score on the ground. The difference maker on Saturday was receiver Jakobe Lane who had 4 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown while also three kickoffs for 127 yards, including an 81-yard return in the second quarter that set up a short scoring drive. The Hawks’ downfall was, and continues to be, its run defense as CU surrendered 248 yards on the ground to Shorter, and the unit is giving up 232.5 rushing yards per game to opponents.

The gauntlet that was the first month of play for North Greenville is over, and I expect this program to take off from here, starting with a road trip north to face a familiar foe. NGU is a perfect 5-0 all-time against Chowan, and I have a feeling that record will remain perfect after they spoil the CU Homecoming festivities this weekend.

My pick: North Greenville

*No. 24 UNC Pembroke (4-1, 1-0 CC) at Erskine (0-4, 0-0 CC) | Due West, S.C. | 1:30 p.m. | Stats | Video

Welcome to the Top 25, Braves! Following a 31-0 drubbing of Valdosta State last weekend - VSU hadn’t been kept scoreless since 1991 (!) - UNC Pembroke enters the Top 25 rankings. The Braves had just 325 yards of total offense, and quarterback Tre Robinson turned the ball over twice, but the Pembroke defense held VSU to 20 yards rushing and forced three interceptions of their own in a dominant showing. UNCP is holding the opposition to just 17.8 points and 295.8 yards per game through five weeks, ranking them among the nation’s top units in both categories.

Erskine opens Conference Carolinas play looking for its first win, licking its wounds after a 52-0 road loss to Delta State a week ago. The Flying Fleet are being outscored by an average of 28 points per game as the defense is surrendering 41.75 points and 495.5 total yards of offense per game thus far, while the offense has mustered just 311.8 yards per game and turned the ball over nine times in four games.

Pembroke’s rise up the ranks should continue this week as they are clearly the superior program entering Saturday’s short trip to Due West. Don’t be surprised if the Braves pitch a second straight shutout on the road.

My pick: No. 24 UNC Pembroke

Delta State (4-1) at Barton (0-4) | Wilson, N.C. | 2:00 p.m. | Audio | Stats | Video

Delta State made the most of last week’s “get right” game against Erskine, posting a shutout and getting back to form with 588 yards of total offense, including 290 yards on the ground. On the flip side, Delta State’s defense added to its impressive 2025 numbers, which include 37 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and six takeaways, all while limiting opposing offenses to just 14.6 points per game. Lineman Alex Larry is a problem for every offensive line he faces, totaling 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks already. 

The Bulldogs are still looking for their first win after a rough stretch to open the season, dropping all four contests by an average of almost 24 points per game. Running back Jackson Parrish has been the lone bright spot on offense, rushing for 238 yards and four touchdowns, which accounts for over 50% of Barton’s 404 total rushing yards as a team. Inefficient quarterback play - Trevor Nored and Al Lee are a combined 58-for-104 (55%) for just 606 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions - has kept BC out of the endzone for much of the year. The defense isn’t much better, as the unit - aside from Keno Jones' 60 total tackles (15 per game) - is surrendering 481.8 yards per game to opposing offenses, including three games of allowing 35 points or more.

Delta State got its groove back last week, and another easy win should be on the horizon this week when they return to the Carolinas.

My pick: Delta State

Lenoir Rhyne (2-3) at Valdosta State (2-2) | Valdosta, Ga. | 4:00 p.m. | Audio | Stats | Video

Lenoir-Rhyne has had a tough go of late, opening the season against a host of Top 25-worthy teams and coming up short on several occasions. The Bears are led by dual-threat quarterback Kahmoni Robinson, who, despite missing time with an injury, has 938 passing yards and eight touchdowns as well as 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns, in 3 ½ games of action. As good as the LR secondary is (allowing just 190 passing yards per game), the defense has a penchant for giving up the big play on the ground, as opponents are averaging over 180 rushing yards per game and five yards per carry thus far.

All the news has been about Valdosta State being shutout last week - an occurrence that hadn’t been seen since 1991(!) - and rightfully so. The offense looked dreadful against UNC Pembroke, as the inept passing game allowed the UNCP defense to load the box and limit star running backs Corey Reddick, Jr., and Eric Watts. Reddick, Jr. paces the Blazers with 44 carries for 255 yards and four scores, while Watts has 31 carries for 212 yards and three touchdowns. However, quarterbacks Harris Boyd and Jameson Holcomb have combined for 838 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Lenoir-Rhyne’s record is indicative of a strong schedule to start 2025, while Valdosta State hasn’t shown much consistency through four games. I think L-R can survive the test of a rowdy crowd in Valdosta and hand the Blazers a second straight loss.

My pick: Lenoir-Rhyne

BYE WEEK: No. 15 West Alabama (game originally scheduled against Lincoln (CA) has been postponed)

Gulf South Players to Watch

• Nick Clark, Delta State, r-Fr., RB – Clark runs angry and it shows, racking up 286 yards and six touchdowns on the ground already for the Statesmen. With his average yards per carry at 4.3, Clark is eligible to break a big play anytime he touches the ball and Saturday’s contest against a Barton defense with plenty of holes provides opportunity for Clark to shine.

• Rance Conner, Valdosta State, Sr., DB – The 2024 All-GSC performer is back at it again this year, shutting down opposing receivers with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass break ups and two interceptions. Valdosta State needs to turn things around in a hurry and with an inconsistent offense trying to figure things out, it will be on the defense to keep the Blazers alive.

• Kevin Roberts, West Florida, So., DL – Roberts is figuring it all out in his second season for the Argos, already collecting 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble for a defense that ranks as one of the best units in the country. Roberts has a great chance to add to those numbers Saturday against a Northeastern team not known for its size up front. 

Conference Carolinas Players to Watch

• Ian Ashworth, Ferrum, Sr., DB – Ashworth has had a strong start to his first Division II season, totaling 20 tackles for the Panthers, including nine stops in the season-opener at Catawba. Ferrum has an opportunity for its first Conference Carolinas win this weekend against a Shorter team that has given up the ball several times through the air, providing Ashworth a chance to add to his five career interceptions.

• Reggion Bennett, North Greenville, r-Jr., RB – Bennett has yet to find the end zone this season, but he leads Conference Carolinas with 70.5 yards per game while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The Hartsville, S.C. native is poised to break out in a big way as he faces off against a Chowan defense that is giving up almost 300 yards per game on the ground and has allowed a whopping 16 rushing touchdowns through four games.

• Tre Robinson, UNC Pembroke, So., QB – Pembroke is garnering national attention after a strong start to 2025 and the young signal caller is a big reason why. Despite a few miscues - four interceptions in five games - Robinson is handling the spotlight well with 932 passing yards and nine touchdowns while adding 215 yards and four more scores on the ground. Pembroke’s offense should continue to light it up this weekend against Erskine and continue to stay on top of the Conference Carolinas standings.

Conference Carolinas Standings

Gulf South Conference Standings