North Carolina A&T beats Elon 13-10 on the biggest homecoming stage in school history. Freshman kicker Asher Holland drilled a 34-yard field goal with 2:18 left, and the Aggies forced a late fumble to close out the win before 22,401 fans at Truist Stadium, HBCU Gameday reported. The victory capped the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth, known as GHOE. A brief fight broke out after the final whistle.
How North Carolina A&T Beats Elon
Defense owned the first half. Neither offense reached the end zone, and Holland’s 25-yard field goal with 21 seconds left gave A&T a 3-0 halftime lead. Elon struck fast after the break. A muffed kickoff return set up a tying field goal. Then quarterback Kevin White lost a fumble, and Elon scored on a 2-yard run to take a 10-3 lead.
The Aggies answered with their best drive of the day. White ripped off a 39-yard run on third-and-three, and A&T marched 78 yards in 11 plays. White finished it with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jayvonne Dillard with 31 seconds left in the third quarter, and Holland’s extra point tied it at 10.
Holland won it. A&T moved 38 yards on eight plays late in the fourth, then faced fourth-and-one at the Elon 17 and sent out the kicker. His 34-yarder made it 13-10. Elon still had a chance. The Phoenix reached the A&T 18, but defender Tyrek Brown sacked quarterback Brady Stober and forced a fumble, and Cadricus Stanley recovered it with 44 seconds left.
The Numbers
White finished with 95 rushing yards and 98 passing yards, and he accounted for A&T’s only touchdown. The Aggies rushed for 168 yards and outgained Elon 266-201 despite three turnovers. The defense recorded four sacks. Elon’s Kamerin McDowell-Moore ran for 102 yards and a score.
A&T improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in Coastal Athletic Association play, its third straight win after a 1-5 start. It’s the program’s first victory over Elon since 2019. HBCU Legends’ power ratings list A&T at No. 8 in Division I.
The Day Around the Game
Homecoming morning started with the parade, and then thousands filled the tailgate lots, WGHP reported. It was also Halloween, which added to the festive mood. Many fans told the station that GHOE is an annual trip, and this year’s centennial brought multiple generations back to Greensboro.
The Postgame Fight
The finish wasn’t all celebration. After the game, the visiting team crossed to the home side of the field, and a brief fight started. Both teams left without further incident. Officials from both schools reviewed it jointly and resolved it, per HBCU Gameday. A&T Athletics Director Katreshia Louis-Verrett said, “College is a time to learn and grow.” She added that she was proud A&T “came out on top.”
A Governor, a Proclamation, and 100 Years
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein attended the game and issued a proclamation recognizing Oct. 31, 2026, as the 100th anniversary of GHOE, according to ABC11. “It’s a joyful honor to take part,” he said. He presented it to Chancellor James R. Martin II at halftime. The governor’s office estimated the celebration draws about 200,000 visitors and generates as much as $80 million for the region. It also noted that the state budget invests nearly $480 million across North Carolina’s five public HBCUs.
The tradition started in 1926. HBCU Buzz covered the road to the centennial, including the homecoming details and the sellout that took five minutes. Head coach Shawn Gibbs framed the weekend as the alumni’s, with the team’s job being to protect its home field.
An Off-Field Subplot
Away from the field, a dispute lingered. Shannon Sharpe said Nightcap’s live GHOE broadcast fell apart over fees and student restrictions. HBCU Buzz covered that dispute in its Sharpe and A&T story. The university hadn’t responded publicly in the coverage reviewed through Oct. 31.
NCA&T has momentum after a 1-5 start. The Aggies’ next stretch will show whether the three-game run is real. For North Carolina A&T State University and the wider HBCU news cycle, the story is simple: when North Carolina A&T beats Elon on GHOE 100, the week ends with a sold-out stadium and a win.
