FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – After spotting Shaw an early 12-point advantage, Fayetteville State responded with a dominant second-half performance and a relentless defensive effort to open the 2026 season with a 33-20 CIAA victory over the Bears Saturday night at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium.
The Broncos improved to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, overcoming a sluggish start behind a balanced offensive attack, game-changing special teams plays, and a defense that recorded seven sacks and forced the decisive turnover late in the fourth quarter.
Shaw (0-1, 0-1 CIAA) struck first on its opening possession. Trey Thorpe capped a 65-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Bears a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point. The visitors extended the advantage midway through the second quarter when Alexander Marsh connected with Keyshaun Powell for an eight-yard scoring pass, pushing the lead to 12-0.
One of the game's biggest momentum swings followed immediately.
After Shaw's extra-point attempt was blocked by Amari Best, Terrell Ford scooped up the loose ball and raced 95 yards for a defensive PAT return, cutting the deficit to 12-2 and igniting the Broncos' sideline.
Fayetteville State continued to chip away late in the first half. Quarterback Jamir Dismukes orchestrated a 10-play, 60-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Parker with one minute remaining in the half. Moments later, the Broncos' special teams unit delivered another critical play when a blocked punt rolled through the back of the end zone for a safety, allowing Fayetteville State to enter halftime trailing by just one point, 12-11.
The Broncos seized complete control after intermission.
Receiving the second-half kickoff, Fayetteville State marched 73 yards in eight plays, finishing the drive with a six-yard touchdown run by Braylon Vinson. The scoring drive gave the Broncos their first lead of the evening at 18-12.
After another blocked Shaw punt set up excellent field position, Dismukes delivered the knockout punch. The junior quarterback broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run, stretching the Broncos' lead to 24-12 with 6:07 remaining in the third quarter.
Fayetteville State added a 34-yard field goal by John Hernandez-Vargas later in the quarter to build a 27-12 cushion.
While the offense found its rhythm, the Broncos' defense overwhelmed Shaw's backfield throughout the second half. Fayetteville State piled up 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, led by Osirus Rhodes, Christopher Gordon, Jatavien Taylor and a defensive front that consistently pressured Marsh and disrupted the Bears' offense.
Shaw refused to go away quietly. The Bears put together a grinding 16-play, 75-yard drive early in the fourth quarter, capped by Landon Melton's three-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion trimmed the Fayetteville State advantage to 27-20 with 7:33 left.
The Broncos' defense answered once more.
With Shaw driving and attempting to tie the game in the final minutes, defensive back Zyking Patillo stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception for a touchdown with 1:38 remaining, sealing the 33-20 victory and sending the home crowd of 3,709 into celebration.
Dismukes guided the Fayetteville State offense by completing 14-of-20 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown while adding 56 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Vinson carried the offensive load with 88 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts.
Marcus Fleming led the Broncos' receiving corps with three catches for 43 yards, while Unique Kelly added four receptions for 41 yards. Parker hauled in two catches, including his touchdown reception late in the second quarter.
Defensively, Rhodes recorded six tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Gordon contributed five tackles, a sack and three quarterback hurries, while Taylor added five tackles and a sack. The Broncos finished with 49 yards in sacks and held Shaw to just 81 passing yards.
For Shaw, Thorpe rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown, while Marsh completed 7-of-20 passes for 81 yards and one score. Reggie King Jr. led the Bears' receivers with 62 yards on three receptions.
Despite committing 13 penalties and losing a fumble, Fayetteville State overcame its mistakes by producing timely special teams plays and dominating defensively. The Broncos outscored Shaw 22-0 in the third quarter and early fourth-quarter stretch that turned a halftime deficit into a comfortable lead.
The season opener showcased the resilience of a Fayetteville State team that weathered an early storm, leaned on its defense, and delivered a complete second-half effort to begin the 2026 campaign with an important CIAA victory.
