FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- John Hernandez-Vargas clinched a thrilling 27-24 victory for Fayetteville State over Bowie State with a 22-yard field goal as time expired. This win improved the Broncos' record to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play, while Bowie State fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Joe Owens Jr. led the passing game with 342 yards and a touchdown, while Bryce Council and Caden Davis contributed on the ground. Kameron King was a standout receiver with 135 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Shi Gaskin and Elijah Casey made significant impacts, with Gaskin recording a sack and an interception. The Broncos' defense held Bowie State to 261 total yards and forced two turnovers, converting them into three points. This well-rounded performance highlighted Fayetteville State's resilience and strategic play.
How It Happened
Fayetteville State overcame an early 3-0 deficit to take a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter, which they extended to 14-3 shortly after. Bowie State fought back to lead 17-14, but the Broncos equalized with a field goal. A 33-yard touchdown pass from Owens to King put Fayetteville State ahead 24-17. Bowie State tied the game at 24-24, but John Hernandez-Vargas sealed the victory for the Broncos with a 22-yard field goal in the final second of the game, securing a 27-24 win.
Game Notes
In a competitive football game, Fayetteville State outperformed Bowie State with a total yardage of 358-261, including a dominant 353-200 advantage in passing yards. The Broncos' offense peaked in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points. They were efficient on third downs, converting 7 of 17 attempts, while limiting Bowie State to just 3 of 13. Defensively, Fayetteville State was led by Jamari Slade with 11 tackles. Reflecting on the game, Slade said, "We came in with the mindset that we must win. Coach Hayes had never beaten Bowie before, so we had to give him this win." Coach Richard Hayes added, "It's never dull, but it sure feels good to beat those Bulldogs. It's been a long time coming for us, our guys stayed in it today. We were in some tough situations, but we persevered. We stayed together and we came away with the win." The Broncos successfully kept Bowie State scoreless in two red zone attempts, even forcing a turnover. For Bowie State, Kevin Taylor completed 18 of 32 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, with Joseph Towler being the top receiver with 82 yards and a touchdown. This well-rounded performance secured Fayetteville State's victory.
