FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Fayetteville State University wrapped up its regular season with a 31-21 victory over Winston-Salem State on Saturday afternoon at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The win came on Senior Day, as the Broncos honored 16 football players, seven athletic trainers, and two team managers for their dedication to the program.
The Broncos improved to 6-4 overall and 6-1 in CIAA play, while the Rams fell to 4-6 and 3-5.
Fayetteville State won the coin toss and deferred. On Winston-Salem's first play from scrimmage, Terrell Ford intercepted a pass at midfield, setting the tone for the Broncos defense. After the Rams took a 7-0 lead on a 97-yard drive, Bryce Council responded with a 41-yard kickoff return and later scored on a 14-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Quarterback Jr. Owens then connected with Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah for a 17-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the quarter, giving FSU a 14-7 lead.
Winston-Salem tied the game on a 71-yard touchdown run by Noah Marshall, then regained the lead with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Daylin Lee to Jayden Grimes, making it 21-14. Fayetteville State answered with a late drive before halftime, highlighted by a 19-yard run from Owens and key completions to Kristian Golden and Caden Davis. John Hernandez-Vargas capped the drive with a 27-yard field goal as time expired, cutting the deficit to 21-17.
Fayetteville State opened the second half with a methodical scoring drive. Council broke loose for a 20-yard run, and Owens connected with Unique Kelly and Xayden Watson to move the ball inside the 5-yard line. A pass interference penalty on Winston-Salem set up Caden Davis, who punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Broncos a 24-21 lead. The defense held strong, and the offense continued to roll with key gains from Golden, Vinson, and Davis to end the quarter in scoring position.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Braylon Vinson broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 31-21. The Broncos defense held firm, with Kaydin Thomas intercepting a pass at the FSU 27-yard line and Amari Best sealing the win with another interception in the final minute. Council helped run out the clock with a series of tough runs, including an 8-yard gain on third down to secure the final first down.
Quarterback Jr. Owens completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt. Running back Bryce Council led the ground game with 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 32 receiving yards. Braylon Vinson contributed 56 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah caught two passes for 23 yards and a score. Kristian Golden added three receptions for 34 yards, and Unique Kelly finished with three catches for 47 yards.
Defensively, Matthew Leach led the team with eight tackles. Amari Best, Kaydin Thomas, and Terrell Ford each recorded interceptions, helping Fayetteville State win the turnover battle 3-0. The Broncos outgained Winston-Salem 409-356, including a 210-163 edge on the ground, and held possession for 32:52. Fayetteville State converted 10 of 14 third downs and scored on all five red zone trips.
