Sept. 27, 2008
GAME 5: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Rogers Stadium (7,909) Ettrick, VA - 6:00 pm
Series vs. VSU: 5-15-2 (3 missing scores)
Series Streak: FSU leads 4-1 (2000-2006)
Last Meeting vs. Trojans: FSU, 30-3, 2006
Last Bronco Win: 30-3, 2006
Radio Broadcast: WFSS 91.9 FM
THE EVENT: "Family Weekend" Virginia State's Athletic Department invited all of its Trojan Student-Athletes family to the game.
THE SERIES: This will be the 26th match-up between the Broncos and the Trojans. The two institutions first met on the gridiron in 1924 in Ettrick, VA. It was reported that the Trojans won 8-0. VSU dominated the early beginnings of the series until Fayetteville State secured its first victory in 1992. It was a 35-15 victory on October 17, while FSU was celebrating its Homecoming. Since Head Coach Kenny Phillips took over the program in 2000, the Broncos are 4-1 against Virginia State University. Phillips and the Broncos defeated the Trojans in the last match-up 30-3 in 2006. The game was played at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, VA.
THE LAST MEETING: (Saturday. September 30, 2006- Fayetteville, NC)
Fayetteville State faced a hungry 0-4 Virginia State on the gridiron in Rogers Stadium in Petersburg, VA. 6,578 fans packed the stadium in hopes of the Trojans winning its first game of the season. Unfortunately, the Broncos improved to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the CIAA with a 30-3 stomping over VSU's homecoming activities.
Virginia State won the opening coin-toss but deferred to the second half to receive the ball. On its first possession, the Broncos drove the ball 73 yards on ten plays to go ahead by seven points. Celebrating the touchdown, officials penalized FSU for unsportsmanlike conduct and set Fayetteville State to kickoff from its 20-yard line. On the pursuing kickoff, Devon Wiggins returned the kick 47 yards from the VSU-18 to the Broncos' 35-yard line.
Prior to the game both teams were storied to have difficulties with moving the ball on offense. VSU's Lamar Blizzard hit Kenny Jones for 20 yards to bring VSU to the FSU 12-yard line. On third down and six yards for a first down, the Broncos caught Blizzard in the backfield after he had released a pass and was flagged for roughing the passer. The Trojans fizzled in three attempts for a touchdown from four yards out and settled for a 20-yard field goal on its first possession.
In the second quarter, Eric Lamoureux split the uprights with a 37-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the half. The score advanced the Broncos to 10-3.
After receiving the ball in the second half, Virginia State fumbled it on its second play of the drive. Geron Harper of FSU recovered it on the VSU 7-yard line. Amir Holding later walked the ball two yards into the endzone to extend the Bronco lead 17-3.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Fayetteville State was looking at the scoreboard at the five-yard line but failed to add points. The Broncos had driven the ball 51 yards in 11 plays but stalled at a fourth and one situation. Virginia State took over on downs but fumbled the ball once again with 13:39 remaining in the game on its 10-yard line. Gaining possession, FSU struggled moving the ball and settled for a 25-yard field goal by Lamoureux. Lamoureux hit another field goal for 28 yards with 6:40 on the clock to give the visitors a 23-3 lead.
On the following kickoff, Virginia State kept the ball in the air by throwing it four times for 81 yards to the FSU nine-yard line. On the seventh throw, Adrian Horton intercepted it on the six-yard line and returned it 94 yards for the winning score of 30-3. with 2:48 remaining in the game.
Virginia State lost all three fumbles in the game and threw two interceptions. The Broncos totaled 161 net rushing yards to the Trojans 35 yards. VSU threw for 177 yards but FSU finished the game with 289 total offense. Fayetteville State had one turnover for the game which was a fumble.
