Oct. 10, 2009

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - The numbers weren't pretty for Fayetteville State in its 29-28 win over Western Division rival Shaw on Saturday .

The Broncos (4-3, 3-1 CIAA) gave up 488 total yards of offense, 237 rushing and 251 passing, to the Bears.

Ultimately, however, FSU and head coach Kenny Phillips were only concerned about one number - the final score.

With 4:08 left in the fourth quarter and FSU trailing by one, Shaw set up to punt from its own 18-yard line.

On the snap, the ball soared over the head of Bears' punter Vincent Pacifico into the end zone for a safety.

The error helped give the Broncos their fourth win over Shaw (5-2, 2-2 CIAA) since 2003 and their first win at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium this season.

"The left side of our attack team had their center rattled," senior safety Jeff Gowdy said. "He wasn't even focusing on what he was supposed to be doing. In actuality our attack caused that snap because we blocked that one earlier for a touchdown."

Added Phillips: "Like I say all the time, if you can predict what happens before that snap, you'd be a heck of a football coach."

Entering the contest, Phillips said that limiting turnovers would be a key for his team. Turns out, he was right.

FSU finished the game without a turnover for the first time this season while forcing seven Shaw miscues.

All 29 FSU points came off Shaw turnovers.

"All week long, I told those guys that we have to protect the football on offense and create some turnovers on defense," said Phillips. "The past two years we've had 10 interceptions against Shaw and we had three today. I knew we would have the opportunity to get our hand on some balls."

On the game's second play, Broncos senior safety Jeff Gowdy stepped in front of an errant pass from Shaw quarterback Brandon Landers and returned it to the Bears' 3-yard line.

Two plays later, FSU running back Calvin Harris scored his third touchdown of the season to give FSU an early 7-0 lead.

Less than three minutes later, senior linebacker Gerard Atkinson intercepted Shaw's Travis Robinson and returned 72 yards for a touchdown. It was the third longest interception return in FSU history.

"As soon as I caught it I was looking for the end zone, "Atkinson said. "I saw the end zone and just cut it back and started digging." FSU led 24-14 at halftime but the Bears scored 14 third-quarter points to take a 28-24 lead entering the fourth quarter.

A 40-yard field goal by FSU's Austin Turner and the late safety rounded out the game's scoring.

"I'm proud of my kids and I'm proud of my coaching staff, " Shaw head coach Darrell Asberry said. "This is a game that could have went either way. Those two interceptions, that was a bad call by me. I should've put the quarterbacks in another situation."

The Broncos offense gained only 120 total yards, its lowest output of the season. Harris was the lone offensive bright spot, rushing 19 times for 89 yards. In his last two games Harris has 230 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

"I think we missed some opportunities offensively, early," said Phillips. "We've just got to get back and hope that Richard (Medlin) will be a bit healthier then he was. Bobby (Wilder) is still a little banged up. We have to get those guys back healthy if we're going to have a chance."

After starting the season 0-2 the Broncos have won four of their last five games.

If FSU can win its final three games (at Johnson C. Smith, vs. St. Augustine's, at Livingstone) it will play for the CIAA Championship in Durham on Nov. 7.

"We can't get complacent, "Gowdy said. "Every game we have to respect every opponent and just come out there and play better football every game."

Added Phillips: "To say that we are in control, it's just a matter of us getting out there as a football team and continuing to play well and our kids continuing to talk about the goals that we've set."

Landers finished 13-for-26 for 230 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Gowdy paced the FSU defense with seven tackles and two interceptions. The Jacksonville, N.C. native has five interceptions this season and 15 for his career.

FSU travels to Charlotte on Saturday to face Johnson C. Smith.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Notes: The 488 yards of offense given up by FSU was the second most this season... Adrian Horton's 13-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown was the first special team's touchdown for FSU this season... Gerard Atkinson returned an interception for a touchdown for the second consecutive game... The Broncos have three defensive touchdowns in 2009... Austin Turner made two field goals giving him 15 made this season, tops in the CIAA. Turner needs four more field goals to set FSU records for single-season and career field goals made.