Box Score

Salisbury, NC ââ'¬" The Fayetteville State University football team suffered a heartbreaking 42-35 divisional loss to Livingstone College on Saturday, October 31st at Alumni Stadium during the Blue Bears' homecoming. FSU moves to 4-5 overall, 4-2 in the CIAA, and 2-2 in the division; while LC improves to 4-3 overall, 3-3 in conference, and 3-1 in the Southern.

This contest had a conclusion reminiscent of the ending of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots earlier this year.

FSU trailed at halftime 21-13. The Broncos scored first off a 57 yard screen pass from senior quarterback Derek Bryant (Carrboro, NC) to senior running back Corbin Rascoe (Windsor, NC) in the first quarter. Freshman place kicker David Lamb (Pineville, NC) misfired on the extra point, resulting in a 6-0 FSU advantage.

Livingstone outscored the Broncos 21-7 in the second quarter. The Blue Bears scored twice on the ground and once through the air before halftime. Drew Powell engineered all three scoring drives for LC at quarterback. He scrambled in the end zone from four yards out and later threw a 10 yard TD pass to Jalen Hendricks.

Fayetteville State produced a methodical 18-yard, 67 yard drive to start the third quarter. Bryant capped the drive with a three yard touchdown fade route to senior wide receiver Chris Hubert (Apex, NC). Hubert caught the TD on 4th down and tied the game at 21-21 with a two-point conversion reception.

The Blue Bears responded with 14 unanswered points, including a two yard touchdown pass from Powell to William Tatum with 12:04 remaining in regulation. Down 35-21 in the fourth, Hubert made two heroic plays for the Broncos.

Sophomore Maleek Gorham (Greenville, NC) put FSU in excellent field position with 32 yard return on the ensuing kickoff. Three plays later, Bryant found Hubert up the left sideline for a 20 yard touchdown pass. Fayetteville State forced the Blue Bears to punt on their next offensive possession.

Hubert caught the punt at his own 10 yard line and returned the ball 90 yards for a game tying score (35-35) with 7:58 left to play. The Broncos' offensive would regain possession in regulation with a chance to seal the game.

Bryant drove FSU down to the LC 29 yard line with 35 seconds on the clock. A miscommunication on a streak route to the right corner led to an interception at the five yard line by Kevin Williams. Livingstone kneeled to run off the remaining time and send the contest to overtime.

Livingstone had the first offensive series in OT and scored on a two yard run by Latrell Flowers. The Blue Bears needed four plays to cross the goal line from 25 yards out. Fayetteville State marched to the LC 2 yard line on their offensive possession.

Bryant was tackled at the two following a 12 yard scramble for 1st and Goal. On the following play, Billy Moore jumped a screen route and intercepted the ball near the goal line to end the game.

Despite the two turnovers, Bryant completed 18-of-33 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Tavon Gatlin (Virginia Beach, VA) finished with eight catches for 133 yards and a TD. Hubert had four receptions for 47 yards and three touchdowns (2 receiving, 1 punt return).

Fayetteville State heads towards the season finale on Saturday, November 7th against divisional rival Winston-Salem State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem NC.