Nor'easter closes N.C. 12; ferries run emergency route to Rodanthe

ROCKY MOUNT — The Rocky Mount City Council meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, with two public hearings on the agenda. The meeting will be streamed live, with more on the city's YouTube channel.

The first hearing covers a resolution levying a 2% room occupancy tax for Rocky Mount District R. The tax would apply to gross receipts from lodging rentals, including hotels, motels, inns and similar accommodations within the city limits, according to the notice. It says a Rocky Mount TDA would be governed by a board appointed by the City Council. The hearing will be held in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 331 S. Franklin St., and the city invited citizens, business owners and lodging operators to attend.

The second hearing is on the city's proposed FY2028 Community Transportation Program application, which must be submitted to the N.C. Department of Transportation no later than Oct. 2. The request covers July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028. The program coordinates transportation programs operating in Rocky Mount and currently runs demand-response and subscription routes using vans and light transit vehicles. The notice says the local share amount is subject to state funding availability.

ROCKY MOUNT — The city has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for planned renovations at Stith-Talbert Park. The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced the grant Sept. 22, one of nine such awards to local parks and recreation projects across the state.

The award follows a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant the city received earlier for the same park. Together, the two grants provide $1 million for improvements.

"This is a great win for the City and, more importantly, for the residents who will benefit from the improvements at Stith-Talbert Park," City Manager Elton Daniels said. The city said details on the planned improvements and a project timeline will be shared as the project moves forward.

ROCKY MOUNT — The North Carolina Children's Museum is opening a new location at The Imperial Centre. Following City Council approval of the lease transfer, the museum will take over operation of the Children's Museum & Science Center, Arts Center and Community Theatre, according to the city.

"We are thrilled to work with the City of Rocky Mount to transform The Imperial Centre into the flagship campus of the North Carolina Children’s Museum," said Jamie DeMent Holcomb, the museum's CEO. With a major grant from the Barnhill family, the museum plans to rework the space for hands-on learning, exhibits, outdoor experiences and community engagement, and to collaborate with the Rocky Mount Event Center on events.

The museum plans to continue free admission on Sundays for Rocky Mount residents and offers reduced-price admission for qualifying families through Museums for All. Parks and Recreation Director Joel Dunn thanked the Imperial Centre employees, saying "Their contributions over the past two decades have created a strong foundation upon which this next chapter can be built."

NASHVILLE — State Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have charged five people after investigating a Sept. 6 single-vehicle crash involving underage people on Rose Loop Road in Nashville.

According to the State Highway Patrol, the vehicle carried four people, three under 21, including the driver. It crossed the centerline, hit a ditch and overturned several times, ejecting the driver and two backseat passengers. No one was wearing a seatbelt. The three ejected were taken to an area trauma center with life-threatening and serious injuries, and one passenger remained hospitalized at the time of the release.

Agents said the driver, 20-year-old Jeremy Russell Thompson Jr. of Rocky Mount, bought alcohol with a fake ID that day, drank it and provided it to underage people at a house party hosted by 20-year-old Hannah Carpenter. Her father, Blair Carpenter, was home and allowed the party, according to ALE. Before the crash, the group was doing doughnuts and burnouts in nearby intersections, the release says.

Those named in the list of people charged include Thompson; Desitny Olivia Deans, 19, of Spring Hope; Gavin Pickett Turner, 21, of Youngsville; and Blair Daniel Carpenter, 45, of Nashville. The Highway Patrol separately charged Thompson with driving while impaired, underage driving after consuming and two counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, among other charges.

RALEIGH — The Wake County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed Schedule of Values for the 2027 property revaluation at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Oct. 5. The board has reviewed the document, which outlines how county appraisers determine the market value of more than 460,000 residential and commercial properties.

The new values will reflect market conditions as of Jan. 1, 2027. The county has moved away from a four-year cycle: the next revaluation takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and future revaluations will happen every two years starting in 2029. Tax Administration staff began preparing for the 2027 revaluation in 2025.

"By updating values more often, the County’s assessed value will more closely align with market value and create a fairer, more predictable property tax system," said Wake County Tax Administrator Marcus Kinrade.

Revaluation updates a property's assessed value but does not set or change the tax rate, which is set by elected county and municipal officials as a dollar amount for every $100 of assessed value. A tax bill is the assessed value multiplied by that rate.

Answers to common questions, timelines and an overview video are at wake.gov/revaluation. Tax Administration runs a staffed call center at 919-857-3800, and questions can also go to taxhelp.wake.gov or revaluation@wake.gov.

RALEIGH — The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve two legal documents — the articles of incorporation and the transfer agreement — that will allow WakeMed to take the next steps to combine with Atrium Health. WakeMed had asked for the changes so it could proceed with regulatory reviews.

The board had paused the vote, originally scheduled for May 4, to gather information and public comment. Along the way, commissioners received more than 3,000 emails, heard 210 public comments and attended multiple community feedback sessions.

"We weighed the opportunities and challenges this hospital combination poses, and ultimately, a majority decided that it is in the best interest of our community," said Board Chair Don Mial.

Under the amended articles, the commission continues to appoint eight members of the 14-member WakeMed Board of Directors, and those appointees must live in Wake County. The transfer agreement restates WakeMed's commitment to maintain or improve the level of healthcare services it provides, including indigent and community care.

The WakeMed campus on New Bern Avenue was once the county hospital, and the county transferred it to the nonprofit WakeMed Corporation in 1997. Since then, the county's role has been limited to appointing directors, and it is not considering contributing any funding, property or assets as part of the combination. The 1997 agreement provides that the hospital could revert to the county if it ever stopped operating as a nonprofit community general hospital open to the public and providing indigent care.

RALEIGH — Wake County has awarded more than $750,000 in opioid settlement funds to four community partners for youth-focused prevention, education and early intervention services. The county says the work is meant to spot mental health and substance use concerns early and connect young people to support before a crisis escalates. The Wake Weekly also reported on the awards.

El Futuro will launch a Latino youth and family substance use prevention and early intervention initiative. NAMI Wake will expand its Young Minds Collective. SouthLight Healthcare will run a Youth Diversion and Early Intervention Program for ages 12–25. UCA WAVES will provide overdose prevention training, peer support and health education for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, including Asian refugees.

"By investing in programs that prioritize prevention, education and early intervention, we’re ensuring that children, teens and families have trusted places to turn before challenges become crises," said Wake County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings.

Wake County is receiving approximately $70 million over an 18-year period from national opioid settlements, plus a one-time payment of $331,532.88 from the McKinsey & Co settlement. Its funding plan for FY26 and FY27 allocates more than $19 million. Details are at wake.gov/opioidsettlement, and anyone struggling can call or text 988.

RALEIGH — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority $10,000,000 to expand its terminal, according to USAspending.gov. The award's period of performance began Friday, Sept. 11.

The project expands Terminal 2 by 181,000 square feet, including the ticketing lobby, baggage handling and security checkpoint areas, and will accommodate more passengers and allow access to a broader fleet mix, according to the award description.

Other federal awards in Wake County listed on USAspending.gov in September include three Department of Health and Human Services grants to Mucommune LLC: $1,860,006 and $1,163,587 for non-hormonal contraceptive work, and $1,006,467 for CAR-T cell research for lupus. Civatech Oncology received $1,205,017 for a skin cancer radiation bandage.

North Carolina State University received $1,150,000 for the Southern IPM Center and $800,000 to study inbreeding in dairy cattle from the Department of Agriculture, and $496,174 to monitor an oyster restoration project in Pamlico Sound from the Department of Commerce. The Wireless Research Center of North Carolina received $1,031,000 for radio frequency test equipment.

WILSON — NC 42 is closed to traffic in both directions between Firestone Pkwy and Whitley Rd E in Wilson County for construction, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation's DriveNC site. DriveNC lists all lanes closed on that stretch.

The closure began Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 a.m. and is scheduled to end Monday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m., according to DriveNC.

WILSON — The N.C. Department of Transportation has listed maintenance work on four segments of I-587 in Wilson County, according to DriveNC. All shoulders are closed on I-587 Eastbound near mile marker 41 and on I-587 Westbound near mile marker 42.

All shoulders are also closed on the ramps from I-587 Eastbound and Westbound to Downing Rd. The work starts Monday, Sept. 28, at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to end Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m., according to DriveNC.

WILSON — The City of Wilson has a solicitation open for a project listed as "COW Barnes St Building Alterations," according to city and county bid pages compiled by this paper.

The city is also taking bids on an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Pilot. Deadlines for both solicitations are posted on the agency page.

GOLDSBORO — Two more stretches of eastbound US 70 in Wayne County go under construction at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation's DriveNC. All lanes will be closed on US 70 eastbound from US 70 East to North Carolina Street, and the left lane will be closed on US 70 eastbound from southbound I-795 to US 117 Bypass South. Both are scheduled to end May 15, 2028.

They join closures that began Sept. 1. DriveNC shows all lanes closed on US 70 eastbound from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway to West Grantham Street, and the left lane closed on US 70 eastbound from US 70 East to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. Both are also scheduled to run until May 15, 2028.

Separate maintenance work runs from 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, according to DriveNC. The right lane is closed on the ramps from US 70 Bypass West to NC 581, from US 70 East to NC 581, from US 70 Bypass East to US 13 North and from US 70 Bypass West to US 13. The right lane is also closed on US 70 Bypass westbound near SR-581 and eastbound near Wayne Memorial Drive, and all shoulders are closed on US 70 Bypass westbound near US 13 North.

Two longer closures continue elsewhere in the county. DriveNC lists all lanes closed on US 13 in both directions from West New Hope Road to Saulston Road, a project that began June 1 and is scheduled to end Oct. 1, 2029. Davis Mill Road is closed in both directions from Black Creek Road to Turner Swamp Road through Feb. 1, 2027.

GOLDSBORO — The Goldsboro News-Argus reports that the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair begins Thursday, Oct. 1.

DriveNC lists a fair and festival event on US 117 in both directions from US 117 Alternate to O'Berry Road, with all lanes affected. The listing starts at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, and is scheduled to end at 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for sun and a high near 91 on Thursday, Oct. 1, and a high near 92 on Friday, Oct. 2, with a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. The chance of rain rises to 35% on Saturday, Oct. 3.

GOLDSBORO — Wayne County has two jobs out to bid, according to the city and county bid pages. Bids for Genoa Gravity Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 1 close at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, and proposals for 2026 landfill roads paving close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.

The city of Goldsboro is seeking state and federal lobbying consultant services and a golf course pump station system. Deadlines for both are posted on the city's bid page.

GREENVILLE — A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation starts intermittent lane closures Monday, Sept. 28, at the intersection of 5th Street and Memorial Drive. Crews will begin with utility relocation, drainage installation and various intersection upgrades.

The main piece of the job is an additional left-turn lane from eastbound 5th Street onto Memorial Drive, which NCDOT says will increase queuing capacity and help reduce traffic delays.

Crews will work primarily during the day, with occasional night work as needed to accommodate local traffic and businesses. The work depends on the weather and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027. NCDOT asks drivers to follow work zone signs, allow extra travel time and use alternate routes when possible.

Elsewhere in Pitt County, according to DriveNC, all lanes of Old Creek Road will be closed in both directions between Northcreek Drive and Tram Lane for maintenance from 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. Construction brings intermittent lane closures on southbound Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Hospital Drive and Moyewood Drive, scheduled through July 29, 2027. Construction on Allen Road between US 13 and Stantonsburg Road affects all lanes and is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2029.

GREENVILLE — Kolenya "KZ" Thomas was sworn in as chief of the Greenville Police Department during a ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 2, becoming the first woman to hold the position, the city announced.

Thomas had no ambition to go into law enforcement until she was recruited while working at a local grocery store more than 20 years ago, according to the city. She has served as a patrol officer and detective and in several supervisory posts, including West Zone commander, commander of both the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Administrative Services Bureau, and deputy chief.

"This department has shaped so much of who I am," Thomas said. "Now, having the opportunity to lead the men and women I served alongside these last couple of decades is so humbling and deeply meaningful to me."

Thomas holds master's and bachelor's degrees in criminal justice from East Carolina University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 280th Session. She is president of the Pitt County Law Enforcement Executives Association and teaches criminal justice as an adjunct college instructor.

GREENVILLE — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Pitt-Greenville Airport Authority $3,873,191, about $3.9 million, according to USAspending.gov. The period of performance began Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The grant covers a new 1,100-foot paved service road, not for public use, to give designated personnel and vehicles an alternate path to the new apron, and a new 1,150-foot north apron taxilane providing airfield access to a non-exclusive hangar development and an aircraft tie-down area. It also pays for new drainage and detention areas to manage runoff. The award describes each piece as bringing the airport into conformity with current standards.

The airport is also reconstructing 15,585 feet of perimeter fence required under federal regulations that has reached the end of its useful life. This grant funds phase 3, the construction of 750 feet.

Other recent federal awards in Pitt County, according to USAspending.gov, include three Department of Health and Human Services grants to East Carolina University: $685,159 to study in utero metformin exposure and offspring growth, $512,882 for Alzheimer's disease research and $223,957 to study the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. ECU also received a $209,337 Department of Agriculture award.

Pitt Community College has a $427,415 National Science Foundation award, with work starting Thursday, Oct. 15, to prepare quality control bioanalytical lab technicians for careers in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device production and product quality. Its goals include increasing enrollment, retention and graduation in the college's associate degree program in biotechnology.

GREENVILLE — Pitt County is seeking qualifications from design-build contractors to plan, design, permit and build a new clinic of about 1,600 square feet at 4550 County Home Road, the same address the county lists for the Pitt County Animal Shelter. The county has set a project budget of $550,000 and expects substantial completion no later than December 2027.

Submissions are due by 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, to Ken Brann, director of building services, at 1717 W. 5th Street. Brann can be reached at (252) 902-3190 or ken.brann@pittcountync.gov for questions or the complete request.

The county calendar lists Wednesday, Sept. 30, as the last day of half-price pet adoption fees at the shelter.

The city of Greenville has two open solicitations, according to the city's bid page: House Setup and House Development Services Phase II, closing at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, and janitorial services for the Greenville Aquatics & Fitness Center, closing at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville City Council has approved voluntary annexations along Richlands Highway. WCTI reports that the council approved six voluntary annexations along the highway, and WITN reports that the council voted to annex county land for commercial development.

The city had called a public hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 815 New Bridge Street, on petitions filed under G.S. 160A-31. The notice says each property is contiguous to the city limits.

According to the city's notice, the petitions include 1.10 acres owned by Roy P. and Katherine S. Heath at 2814 and 2806 Richlands Highway; 0.88 acres belonging to the Potter heirs at 2802 Richlands Highway; 4.86 acres owned by Sherra LLC at 2792 and 2780 Richlands Highway; 3.15 acres owned by Veritas Retail Partners LLC at 2688, 2674, 2668 and 2658 Richlands Highway and 107 Bridgett Lane; and 1.64 acres on Richlands Highway held by Yopp, Sikes and Richards, trustees.

The same meeting was set to include a public hearing on the city's 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, which lists what the city accomplished with Community Development Block Grant money spent from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The Neighborhood Improvement Services Department can be reached at 910-938-5286.

The council's next session on the city calendar is a workshop meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Meeting Rooms A and B at City Hall. It is open to the public.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville has replaced its utility billing software, which dated to 1997, and anyone who pays online or is a new customer must register in the new system. Every customer received a new account number, shown on the new bills going out in September and emailed to customers with addresses on file. Old account numbers, usernames and passwords do not work in the new customer portal at jacksonville-myacct.unityprod.net.

The city says automatic payments set up with Paymentus that were scheduled by Sept. 20 went through as usual, but after the 20th those payments will not be processed, and customers must set up a new recurring payment in the portal. Older accounts set up for bank drafts in the office, not through Paymentus, will keep drafting. People who pay through their bank's bill-pay service need to update it with the new account number.

According to the city, the software did not change utility rates, balances should carry over to the new system and no late fees should result from the conversion. The city has temporarily suspended routine disconnections during the first part of the transition, though customers still owe all charges.

Customers can still pay by mail or in person using the stub from the new bill with the new account number written on the payment. Paying by phone is still possible, but the old automated phone system is down while a new one is set up. Utility Billing can be reached at 910-938-5248 or waterbilling@jacksonvillenc.gov.

JACKSONVILLE — Early voting for the 2026 general election runs from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31 at five sites across Onslow County, according to the county. The Daily News also reports that early voting begins Oct. 15.

Sites will be open 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. All sites are closed Sundays.

Same-day registration is available only at early voting locations. The Onslow County Board of Elections suggests voters check their registration, look over a sample ballot and pick the voting method that suits them.

JACKSONVILLE — A section of the phase 2 trail at Big Branch Bike Park is open for riding while utility work goes on near the original trails, Onslow County said Sept. 22. The original trails and parking lot remain closed.

The open section is an out-and-back trail, so riders will meet two-way traffic, and it has blind turns and narrow stretches. The county says that once the park fully reopens and this phase is finished, the trail will become a loop connecting to the main parking area and other trailheads.

The City of Jacksonville is building a new force main sewer line through Burton Park and parts of the bike park. Clearing and construction began Dec. 9, 2024, which closed the phase one portion of the park.

NEW BERN — Several stretches of road along U.S. 70 in Craven County are closed to all traffic for construction, some scheduled into the fall of 2027, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation's DriveNC listings. DriveNC does not give a reason for the work.

Since Saturday, Sept. 19, SR 1155, the U.S. 70 Westbound Service Road, has been closed in both directions from Williams Road to the Advanced Auto Parts driveway, scheduled to reopen at noon Sunday, Sept. 19, 2027. A second listing that started the same day closes the service road from Williams Road to the DECOY Apparel driveway and affects a lane of westbound Williams Road from U.S. 70 Westbound to Old Cherry Point Road, plus a lane of Old Cherry Point Road at Williams Road. That work is scheduled to end at 1 p.m. Sept. 19, 2027.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m., DriveNC lists all lanes closed on the service road from Airport Road to East 70 Fuel Market, on a U.S. 70 access point from Town Pawn to Mallard Oil Grills & Fireplaces, and on U.S. 70 Westbound access points from Pender Street and from Oak Street to U.S. 70 W. Those closures are scheduled to end at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2027.

Elder Street is closed in both directions from Elder Street to the U.S. 70 Westbound access point, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and scheduled to end at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2027. On the eastbound side, a U.S. 70 Eastbound access point from U.S. 70 E to Brown Drive has been closed since June 18 and is scheduled to reopen at 12:40 a.m. Friday, June 18, 2027.

NEW BERN — The Craven County Board of Commissioners will hold its regular evening meeting Monday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Administration Building, 406 Craven St., according to the county's calendar.

The county has posted a public hearing notice for a Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, for the same time and place. The calendar listing does not say what the grant would pay for.

The county also posted a regular Board of Commissioners meeting agenda on Monday, Sept. 21.

NEW BERN — All lanes of NC 101 are closed in both directions from Geiger Avenue to Outer Banks Drive for emergency road work that began at 10:02 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, according to DriveNC. The work is scheduled to end at 10:03 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2.

Starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, DriveNC lists maintenance on southbound NC 101 from Crocker Road to Roosevelt Boulevard, with the right lane closed until 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5.

W. Camp Kiro Road is closed in both directions at U.S. 70 E for construction beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, and scheduled to end at 5:01 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.

In the north end of the county, Beaver Dam Road remains closed in both directions from NC 118 to Wall Road in Craven and Pitt counties. The construction, which began June 8, is scheduled to end at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.

RALEIGH — NC State beat in-state opponent Appalachian State 41-31 on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Carter-Finley Stadium, according to NC State's official schedule, leaving the Wolfpack at 2-2. The school said the game was the 29th straight sellout at Carter-Finley, and the teams were even at the 9-minute mark of the fourth quarter. WRAL reports that Duke Scott and NC State held off an App State comeback.

On the first play of the deciding drive, CJ Bailey hit Keenan Jackson for a 19-yard gain, NC State's release said. Scott then ran for 44 of his game-high 148 rushing yards on the drive, including the final 16 for his second touchdown, and the 9-play, 75-yard drive gave the Wolfpack the lead for good. Kanoah Vinesett added a 35-yard field goal after that.

Bailey also ran for a 5-yard touchdown and threw scoring passes to Ashton Locklear and Jackson. For App State, Malachi Singleton ran for one touchdown and threw for two. "CJ throws a bomb to get us momentum and we just start going and once we get rolling it's hard to stop us," Scott said.

The win followed a loss at Vanderbilt. "I'm proud of our guys the way they responded all week in practice," Head Coach Dave Doeren said. NC State hosts Louisville on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3:30 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.

DURHAM — Duke beat William & Mary 62-7 on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium to improve to 4-0, according to Duke's official schedule. Duke Athletics announced Sunday, Sept. 27, that the Blue Devils had entered the Top 25 poll.

Walker Eget threw touchdown passes to Jayden Moore and Jared Richardson, and Dan Mahan threw scoring passes to Kavon Simmons, Jaivon Solomon and Brody Keefe, according to Duke's scoring summary. Nate Sheppard, Jayvian Tanelus and CJ Givers each ran for a touchdown, and Cosme Salas kicked field goals of 32 and 39 yards. William & Mary scored on a 6-yard pass from Winston Watkins to Jack Reuter.

Duke's earlier wins came against Tulane, 17-3; at Illinois, 31-27; and against Stanford, 35-7.

Duke plays at Georgia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 10, seeking its second 5-0 start in the past three seasons, something the school said the Blue Devils have not done since 1936-38. Kickoff time and television network have not been set.

GREENVILLE — East Carolina beat N.C. Central 42-9 on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, according to ECU's official schedule. The Pirates had won 20-17 at Old Dominion on Sept. 19, which the school called its first win of 2026, after losses to Alabama and App State.

Engleman had touchdown runs of 5 and 88 yards and caught an 8-yard scoring pass from Emory Williams, according to ECU's scoring summary. Williams also threw touchdown passes to Michael Allen and Kanen Hamlett, and Ayden Duncanson returned an interception 20 yards for a score. N.C. Central scored on a 39-yard field goal by Riley Daniels and a 10-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins to Nasim Cosby.

Duncanson was named American Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21, the school said. ECU next hosts Rice on Saturday, Oct. 10, at a time to be announced.