DURHAM – Shaw had a choice.

Kick the extra point and keep playing.

Or end it.

The Bears chose the latter.

After Livingstone scored first in overtime Saturday afternoon, Shaw answered with an Alexander Marsh touchdown pass to Jeffrey McDonald Jr. and then kept its offense on the field. Fabian Diggs powered in the two-point conversion, giving the Bears a dramatic 28-27 victory over their in-state CIAA rival at Durham County Memorial Stadium.

Shaw improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play, while Livingstone fell to 2-3 and 2-2. 

The finish provided a fitting conclusion to an afternoon in which neither team could pull away.

Livingstone struck first when Javen Parker finished a 65-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter.

Shaw finally answered midway through the second when Marsh found Cobie Bates for a 54-yard touchdown. A missed extra point left the Blue Bears ahead, and Jason Zapata's 44-yard field goal later sent Livingstone into halftime leading 10-6.

Shaw emerged from halftime with an answer.

Trey Thorpe capped a 69-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Bears their first lead, 12-10. But Livingstone responded with perhaps its biggest play of regulation.

Facing third-and-two, Tikey Hayes broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown, putting the Blue Bears back in front 17-12.

That lead lasted less than two minutes.

Thorpe ripped off a 48-yard run on Shaw's ensuing possession, and Jerry Eaton eventually scored from two yards out. Marsh connected with McDonald on the two-point conversion to make it 20-17. 

Livingstone had one more answer.

The Blue Bears put together an 11-play drive early in the fourth quarter and appeared to score when Andrew McClain reached the end zone, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown. Livingstone ultimately settled for Zapata's 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 8:37 remaining. 

Neither team scored again in regulation.

Livingstone got the football first in overtime and methodically worked its way toward the goal line before Maliq Staten scored from one yard out. Zapata's extra point gave the Blue Bears a 27-20 advantage.

Shaw needed considerably less time.

The Bears scored in only two plays, with Marsh finding McDonald for a 13-yard touchdown.

Then came the decision.

Rather than kick to extend the game, Shaw put the offense back on the field needing two yards to win it.

Diggs got them.

His successful two-point conversion ended the game immediately and set off a Shaw celebration after nearly four hours of football.

The statistics reflected just how evenly matched the two North Carolina programs were.

Livingstone actually outgained Shaw 448-431 and ran 85 offensive plays to the Bears' 59. The Blue Bears also held the football for more than 34 minutes and converted 11 of 20 third downs.

Shaw, however, was far more explosive, averaging 7.3 yards per play compared with Livingstone's 5.3. 

Thorpe led the Bears with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while Marsh completed 16 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Bates turned his two receptions into 101 yards and a score. 

Hayes led Livingstone with 90 rushing yards, including his 55-yard touchdown, while Brandon Edinburgh Jr. threw for 231 yards.

For 60 minutes, there was almost nothing separating the two teams.

So when Shaw finally had an opportunity to decide the game with one play from two yards away, the Bears didn't leave the outcome for another overtime.

They went for two.

And they got it.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Fayetteville State found itself in another fourth-quarter battle Saturday afternoon, rallying to take a one-point lead with just over seven minutes remaining before Johnson C. Smith answered with a late touchdown to hand the Broncos a 20-14 setback at the Irwin Belk Complex.

The loss moved Fayetteville State to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Johnson C. Smith improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference action. The Golden Bulls finished with 379 yards of total offense, including 215 on the ground, while the Broncos generated 252 yards and committed no turnovers.

Dismukes led the Broncos offensively, completing 11 of 16 passes for 114 yards without an interception and rushing nine times for a team-high 58 yards and a touchdown. Southern led Fayetteville State with 38 receiving yards on two catches, while Unique Kelly caught a team-high four passes for 45 yards. Vinson added 43 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards. Marshall finished with 13 yards on four carries and scored Fayetteville State's first touchdown.

Defensively, Jatavien Taylor led the Broncos with nine tackles, including six solo stops. Kadynce Watson followed with eight tackles and a tackle for loss, while Terrell Ford and Ryan Debow recorded seven tackles apiece. Amari Best contributed three pass breakups as Fayetteville State held Johnson C. Smith without a passing touchdown.

Fayetteville State struck first with a methodical 15-play, 72-yard drive that carried from late in the first quarter into the second. Noah Marshall finished the possession with a 2-yard touchdown run, and John Hernandez-Vargas added the extra point to give the Broncos a 7-0 advantage with 14:38 remaining in the half.

Johnson C. Smith responded later in the quarter. Kamarro Edmonds broke loose for a 29-yard gain before finishing the six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7. Alexis Rosario-Beltran then connected on a 31-yard field goal as time expired to send the Golden Bulls into halftime with a 10-7 advantage.

The Broncos received an immediate opportunity to change the game at the start of the third quarter when Jason Melton II recovered a fumble on the second-half kickoff at the Johnson C. Smith 17-yard line. Fayetteville State was unable to turn the takeaway into points, however, as a holding penalty pushed the offense backward before a 42-yard field-goal attempt missed.

Fayetteville State's defense kept the Broncos within striking distance. Johnson C. Smith put together a 16-play, 76-yard drive that consumed more than nine minutes across the third and fourth quarters, but the Broncos kept the Golden Bulls out of the end zone and forced them to settle for Rosario-Beltran's 32-yard field goal. That pushed the margin to 13-7 with 11:55 remaining.

With the game hanging in the balance, Jamir Dismukes and the Broncos responded.

Starting from their own 25, Fayetteville State marched 75 yards in eight plays. Dismukes connected with Lorenzo Southern for 17 yards on third-and-nine and later found Braylon Vinson for a 23-yard gain to move the Broncos into Golden Bulls territory. On third-and-six from the 30, Dismukes broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run, and the extra point gave Fayetteville State a 14-13 lead with 7:04 remaining.

Johnson C. Smith answered with the decisive possession of the afternoon. The Golden Bulls went 75 yards in 12 plays and consumed 6:15 off the clock. Facing fourth-and-four at the Fayetteville State 36, quarterback Damien Mazil connected with Brian Lane for a 24-yard completion to extend the drive. Edmonds eventually scored from six yards out with 49 seconds remaining, putting Johnson C. Smith back in front, 20-14.

Fayetteville State moved to its own 46 on its final possession, highlighted by a 21-yard completion from Dismukes to Southern, but the comeback attempt ended when time expired following a sack.

The Golden Bulls leaned heavily on their running game, with Fabian Duncan carrying 31 times for a game-high 157 rushing yards while adding 49 receiving yards. Edmonds rushed for 55 yards and both Johnson C. Smith touchdowns. Mazil completed 9 of 18 passes for 164 yards, while Lane hauled in six catches for a game-high 108 receiving yards. Defensively, Vincent Hill paced Johnson C. Smith with 11 tackles, while Jamaris Stevens finished with seven.

Penalties proved costly for Fayetteville State in a game decided by six points. The Broncos were flagged 10 times for 101 yards, while Johnson C. Smith finished with eight penalties for 56 yards. The Golden Bulls also controlled possession for 33:22 and converted all four of their red-zone opportunities into points.

WINSTON-SALEM – Johnson C. Smith continued its recent control of the rivalry Saturday, defeating Winston-Salem State 31-6 at Bowman-Gray Stadium.

The Golden Bulls scored in each of the final three quarters and pulled away with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to earn their fourth straight win over the Rams.

The victory also marked another turn in a series that had been controlled by Winston-Salem State for more than a decade. WSSU had won each meeting from 2010 through 2022, with the exception of 2020, when the teams did not play. Johnson C. Smith has now won the last four meetings.

The Golden Bulls improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Winston-Salem State fell to 0-3 and 0-1.

Neither team found the end zone during a scoreless first quarter, but Johnson C. Smith controlled much of the action on the ground. The Golden Bulls finished with 257 rushing yards on 41 attempts, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Fabian Duncan led the way with 164 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Kamarro Edmonds added 72 yards on 10 attempts, giving Johnson C. Smith a consistent running game throughout the afternoon.

The Golden Bulls finally broke through early in the second quarter.

After driving 55 yards on 14 plays, Johnson C. Smith settled for a 15-yard field goal from Alexis Rosario-Beltran with 13:49 remaining in the half. The kick gave the Golden Bulls a 3-0 lead.

Winston-Salem State struggled to generate offense and was unable to answer.

The Rams had one of their better opportunities later in the second quarter when Johnson C. Smith's Fabian Duncan fumbled at the Winston-Salem State 18-yard line. Sofiyan Oumarou recovered for the Rams, but WSSU managed only three plays before punting.

Johnson C. Smith took advantage of another opportunity on its next possession.

Starting at the Winston-Salem State 47-yard line, the Golden Bulls moved into scoring position behind Duncan's running. A 31-yard touchdown pass from Damien Mazil to Brian Lane with 3:44 left in the second quarter extended the lead to 10-0.

Lane finished with two receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. His second catch produced the biggest play of the afternoon.

Winston-Salem State entered halftime trailing 10-0, and the Rams continued to have trouble moving the ball after the break.

WSSU managed only 191 total yards for the game, including 103 rushing yards and 88 passing yards. The Rams completed 12 of 24 passes and threw one interception.

Johnson C. Smith added to its lead in the third quarter.

After a Winston-Salem State drive ended with an interception by Jamaris Stevens, the Golden Bulls needed only two plays to reach the end zone. Duncan broke loose for a 14-yard touchdown run with 4:11 remaining in the quarter, putting Johnson C. Smith ahead 17-0.

Stevens made one of the key defensive plays of the game when he intercepted Winston-Salem State quarterback Deiondre Goldston and returned the ball 57 yards to the Rams' 33-yard line.

The Golden Bulls could not turn that possession into points, but their defense continued to limit Winston-Salem State's opportunities.

Johnson C. Smith entered the fourth quarter with a 17-0 advantage and quickly made it a four-score game.

With 11:59 remaining, Mazil connected with Lane for a 70-yard touchdown. The play took just one snap and pushed the Golden Bulls' lead to 24-0.

Mazil completed 12 of 27 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. Johnson C. Smith finished with 468 yards of total offense, compared with 191 for Winston-Salem State.

The Rams finally broke through on their next possession.

Winston-Salem State put together its longest scoring drive of the game, moving 89 yards on 14 plays. Jayvion Danzy finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 4:30 remaining.

Danzy was the Rams' leading rusher, carrying 16 times for 63 yards and the touchdown. Winston-Salem State's offense, however, could not produce another score after cutting the deficit to 24-6.

Johnson C. Smith answered with another long scoring drive.

The Golden Bulls took over at the Winston-Salem State 50-yard line following the onside kickoff and moved 50 yards in six plays. Parker McQuarrie completed a 17-yard pass to Reggie Brigman to help set up the final score.

Christian Rutledge then finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:45 remaining. Rosario-Beltran added the extra point to make it 31-6.

Johnson C. Smith finished with 24 first downs and averaged 6.7 yards per play. The Golden Bulls also held a significant advantage in rushing production, gaining 257 yards compared with 103 for Winston-Salem State.

The Rams did hold a slight advantage in time of possession, 31:54 to 28:06, but Johnson C. Smith made more of its offensive opportunities. The Golden Bulls converted six of 12 third downs and scored three touchdowns and one field goal in five trips to the red zone.

For Winston-Salem State, the loss extends a difficult start to the season. The Rams are now 0-3 after opening the CIAA season against Johnson C. Smith, while the Golden Bulls move further into conference play with momentum and another win in one of the state's longstanding HBCU rivalries.

More importantly for Johnson C. Smith, Saturday's result extends a streak that has changed the recent direction of the series.

Winston-Salem State had owned the rivalry throughout the 2010s and into the early 2020s, winning every meeting from 2010 through 2022 except for the canceled 2020 matchup. Johnson C. Smith has now answered with four consecutive victories.

The latest one was never particularly close after halftime. The Golden Bulls used their running game, two touchdown connections between Mazil and Lane, and a defense that created turnovers to build a 31-0 lead before Winston-Salem State finally got on the scoreboard.

Johnson C. Smith now has another win to add to its recent run in the series, while Winston-Salem State will look to regroup at 0-3.

Fayetteville State football rallies past Shaw 33-20 in 2026 season opener

FAYETTEVILLE, NC — Fayetteville State spent the opening half chasing Shaw. By the end of the night, the Broncos had turned special teams and defense into the difference in a 33-20 season-opening win Saturday at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium.

Shaw built a 12-0 lead and appeared to have Fayetteville State on its heels, but the Broncos flipped the game before halftime with two unusual scoring plays. Fayetteville State’s first points came after a blocked extra-point attempt, which Terrell Ford ran back 100 yards for a defensive two-point conversion. Late in the second quarter, the Broncos added another two points when Shaw’s punt attempt went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the Bears’ lead to 12-11 at the break.

Those plays changed the feel of the opener. Shaw controlled much of the early action, but Fayetteville State stayed within reach without needing its offense to carry the full comeback. Once the Broncos found rhythm after halftime, they scored 16 points in the third quarter and took control.

Shaw struck first when Trey Thorpe scored on a 10-yard run, giving the Bears a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point. The Bears extended the margin in the second quarter on Alexander Marsh’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Keyshaun Powell. But the conversion attempt turned into Fayetteville State’s first momentum swing, with Ford’s return making it 12-2 instead of 13-0.

Fayetteville State’s offense then produced its first touchdown late in the half. Jamir Dismukes led an 11-play, 60-yard drive and finished it with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Parker with one minute left in the second quarter. John Hernandez-Vargas added the extra point, and the Broncos trailed only 12-9.

Shaw’s next possession moved backward, and the Broncos cashed in again without the offense touching the ball. The Bears were backed up near their goal line when the punt attempt resulted in a safety with 25 seconds left, sending Fayetteville State into halftime down by a single point.

Fayetteville State took the lead for good on the opening possession of the third quarter. Braylon Vinson, who led the Broncos with 88 rushing yards on 21 carries, capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Hernandez-Vargas’ extra point made it 18-12, giving the Broncos their first lead.

The Broncos kept building from there. Dismukes broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, stretching the lead to 24-12. Hernandez-Vargas later added a 34-yard field goal, pushing the margin to 27-12 after Fayetteville State’s third scoring drive of the quarter.

Dismukes finished 14 of 20 for 144 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also rushed for 56 yards and a score on 10 carries, helping Fayetteville State finish with 292 total yards. Marcus Fleming led the Broncos’ receivers with three catches for 43 yards, while Unique Kelly added four receptions for 41 yards.

Shaw made one last push in the fourth quarter with a long, methodical drive. Landon Melton finished a 19-play, 75-yard march with a three-yard touchdown run, and Marsh completed the two-point try to Antrel Gibson to cut Fayetteville State’s lead to 27-20 with 7:26 remaining.

But Fayetteville State’s defense had the final answer. With Shaw trying to drive late, Zyking Patillo intercepted Marsh and returned it for a touchdown with 1:38 left. Hernandez-Vargas’ extra point attempt was missed, but the defensive score gave the Broncos a 33-20 lead and effectively sealed the opener.

Shaw finished with 216 total yards and was held to 7-of-22 passing. Marsh completed seven of 20 passes for 81 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Thorpe led the Bears with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Fabian Diggs added 41 yards on eight attempts.

Fayetteville State’s defense repeatedly put Shaw behind schedule, recording seven sacks and holding the Bears to 5 of 16 on third down. Osirus Rhodes and Joseph Woodard each finished with six tackles, while Christopher Gordon had five tackles and one sack.

The Broncos also overcame 13 penalties for 123 yards, relying on special teams, a sharp third quarter and Patillo’s late defensive touchdown to start the season with a CIAA win. For a program picked third in the conference preseason poll, it was not a clean opener, but it was the kind that showed how many ways Fayetteville State can change a game.

WINSTON-SALEM – Winston-Salem State University has turned to one of its most decorated alumni to lead the Rams back to prominence. The school announced that Tory Woodbury, a Hall of Fame quarterback who guided WSSU to back-to-back CIAA titles in 1999 and 2000 and later earned a Super Bowl LVI ring as a coach with the Los Angeles Rams, will serve as the program’s next head football coach.

A Storied Playing Career

Woodbury’s name is etched into WSSU history. A dual-threat quarterback, he amassed more than 4,500 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards, and 60 total touchdowns during his career. His leadership carried the Rams to consecutive CIAA championships, cementing his place among the program’s all-time greats. He was inducted into the WSSU Hall of Fame in 2008 and the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2016, honors that reflect his enduring impact on the conference and the university.  

From NFL Fields to Coaching Sidelines

After college, Woodbury spent eight years as a professional player, including stints with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, and Arena Football League teams. His transition into coaching was equally dynamic. He worked at the high school level in North Carolina before moving into college coaching roles at Delaware State, Johnson C. Smith, Howard, and Norfolk State.  

Woodbury’s résumé also includes NFL experience. He served as an assistant quarterbacks coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and later joined the Los Angeles Rams as an assistant special teams coach and scout. With the Rams, he contributed to their Super Bowl LVI championship run, earning a ring as part of the coaching staff.  

Restoring the Standard

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for WSSU football. The Rams have struggled to reclaim their championship form in recent seasons, finishing outside the top of the CIAA standings. Chancellor Bonita J. Brown emphasized that Woodbury’s hire is about more than nostalgia: “We are restoring the standard of excellence that WSSU football has always represented.”  

A New Era at Bowman-Gray

For Woodbury, the return to Winston-Salem is both personal and professional. A hometown native, he now carries the responsibility of reviving the Rams’ storied tradition at Bowman-Gray Stadium. With his pedigree as a championship player, seasoned coach, and beloved alumnus, Woodbury’s arrival signals a new era of ambition and expectation for WSSU football.