Sept. 1, 2008
Final Stats
Durham, NC - The Broncos of Fayetteville State University traveled to the Bull City (Durham, NC) and pulled off what some may consider an upset. FSU was victorious over North Carolina Central University in the Labor Day Classic and opened their season with a 33-22 win inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Fayetteville State opened the contest receiving the ball, but turned the ball over on downs in their first offensive series. NCCU took advantage of the excellent field position and scored off a two-yard touchdown run by senior Jeff Toliver. The seven play, 37-yard drive lasted a little over three minutes and left 8:42 on the clock.
Sophomore running back Richard Medlin had a 33 yard return on the ensuing kickoff. Medlin put forth a solid performance for the day with 79 kickoff return yards and 94 yards rushing off 15 attempts. The Broncos squandered away the drive with their second turnover on downs. However, the defense forced a fumble and the offense put together a touchdown drive.
Junior defensive end Eric Conway's recovered fumble allowed the Broncos to cap off a six play, 21-yard drive with a touchdown pass. Senior quarterback Bryan Hardy made a three yard TD connection with fellow senior fullback Gavin Hardison. Freshman place kicker Bryant Connor would miss the extra point and the Eagles would maintain a 7-6 lead with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter.
The quarter would come to a close without a change in the score. N.C. Central put seven more points on the board in the second quarter. The Eagles handed the ball off to Toliver on the two yard line for his second touchdown of the contest. The score was the finishing touch to an eight play, 73-yard drive and put NCCU up 14-7.
Sophomore quarterback Benjamin Williams came in to take a few snaps under center to give the NCCU defense a different look. It paid off, because Williams threw a 25 yard touchdown strike to junior receiver Kendon Doe. FSU had a failed two-point conversion and faced a 14-12 deficit.
One of the key plays of the game for the Broncos happened right before the close of the first half. Senior linebacker Terrel Allen recovered a fumble off a completed pass by the Eagles. Allen laterals the ball to junior free safety Jeff Gowdy, who returned the pigskin 79 yards for a touchdown. Fayetteville State would go into the locker room at halftime with a 19-14 lead.
The Broncos entered the fourth quarter with a 26-14 advantage over N.C. Central. Sophomore cornerback John Hicks scooped up a botched punt for a 21-yard touchdown return. FSU put up yet another touchdown in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 33-14. Williams completed 12 of 16 passes and threw his second touchdown dart to senior receiver Darryl Barnett.
Stafford Brown would hit Wayne Blackwell for a meaningless touchdown and two-point conversion to make for the 33-22 final score. Although, NCCU had more total yards (339-257) and first downs (18-13), Head Coach Kenny Phillips improves his career record against N.C. Central to 5-4.
Fayetteville State will travel to Clinton, SC to take on Presbyterian College at 1:30 pm on Saturday, September 6th.
