Sept. 18, 2010

Final Stats

By ALEX PODLOGAR

ROCKY MOUNT, NC -- It all started out so well for the Fayetteville State Broncos.

It didn't end that way.

Elizabeth State shook off a quick start by the Broncos to rattle off 31 unanswered points and then held off a late Broncos' charge to defeat Fayetteville State 38-26 in the 13th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic on Saturday.

Broncos quarterback Robert Benjamin hooked up with LaMarcus Bond for a 67-yard touchdown pass play with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter to cap a quick-strike 78-yard, 3-play drive that took just 58 seconds off the clock. That gave Fayetteville State a 6-0 lead after Josh Scales' run failed on the point-after try.

Scales made up for that in a hurry, though. With 2:48 to go in the first period, Dennis Rorie blocked a punt. Scales recovered the ball and raced 15 yards for another Broncos' touchdown. The time, Austin Turner booted the PAT through the uprights, and the Broncos led 13-0.

It quickly went downhill from there.

Elizabeth City (2-1, 2-0) first hit paydirt on Devon Pike's 42-yard field goal to make it 13-3 with 9:25 to go in the second quarter. The Vikings struck again with 3:23 left when Creven Powell found Dexter Manley for a 4-yard score, making it 13-10.

Still, the Broncos (1-2, 1-1) held the lead nearing the end of the half, but were stopped on fourth-and-1 late in the second period. The Vikings made FSU pay, putting together a 63-yard, 36-second touchdown drive that Manley and Powell put together nearly by themselves. Powell and Manley got the Vikings down to the Broncos' 8-yard line thanks to a 53-yard pitch-and-catch, and the two hooked up again two plays later, giving the Vikings a 17-13 edge entering the half.

Elizabeth City State scored twice more in the third quarter, getting an 8- and a 7-yard touchdown run from Daronte McNeill to give the Vikings what seemed like a comfortable 31-13 lead.

But Fayetteville State never backed down, and Richard Medlin brought the Broncos back into the game when his 47-yard scoring run with 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter made the score 31-20.

Elizabeth City State answered, however, as Powell connected on a 49-yard pass play to Billy Wiggins, giving the Vikings more breathing room at 38-20. Still, the Broncos didn't let ECSU off the hook, as Scales returned another blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining in the game. The 2-point conversion try failed, as did the Broncos' onside kick attempt, and ECSU ran out the clock to preserve the 38-26 victory.

Medlin, who rushed for a career-high 163 yards in last week's win over Bowie State, finished with 56 yards rushing and a score. Benjamin was 9-of-32 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Elizabeth City State finished with 449 yards of offense, with McNeill rushing for 112 yards on 24 carries. Powell was 16 of 33 for 239 yards and three touchdowns while Manley caught six balls for 115 yards and two scores.

Fayetteville State hosts Winston-Salem State on Sept. 25. Kickoff is 6 p.m.