FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville State closed its regular season with a 31-21 victory over Winston-Salem State on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium, honoring 16 seniors on their final home game. The Broncos improved to 6-4 overall and 6-1 in CIAA play, while the Rams finished 4-6 and 3-5 in conference action.

The Broncos defense set the tone immediately when Terrell Ford intercepted Daylin Lee's pass on Winston-Salem State's first play from scrimmage, returning it to midfield. Though Fayetteville State couldn't capitalize on that opening turnover, the defensive intensity established early would pay dividends throughout the afternoon.

Winston-Salem State struck first midway through the opening quarter when Lee connected with Jayden Grimes on a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping a seven-play, 74-yard drive. The Rams took a 7-0 lead with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Fayetteville State answered quickly. Bryce Council returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the FSU 41-yard line, providing excellent field position. Six plays later, Council punched in a 14-yard touchdown run with 5:51 left in the quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

The Broncos took their first lead of the game as time expired in the first quarter. Quarterback Joe Owens Jr. orchestrated a six-play, 51-yard drive that culminated in a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah as the clock hit zero, giving Fayetteville State a 14-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The game's momentum swung back to Winston-Salem State early in the second period when Noah Marshall broke free for a 71-yard touchdown run just 49 seconds into the quarter, tying the score at 14-14. Marshall's explosive play was part of a two-play, 75-yard drive that took less than a minute off the clock.

The Rams quickly reclaimed the lead when Lee found Grimes again, this time for a 37-yard touchdown strike. The scoring pass came on a five-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 2:47 and gave Winston-Salem State a 21-14 lead with 6:31 remaining in the half.

Fayetteville State refused to let the Rams take that advantage into halftime. The Broncos mounted an 11-play, 70-yard drive in the final 1:44 of the second quarter. Owens completed passes to Kristian Golden for 12 yards and 13 yards, and scrambled for 19 yards himself to move the ball deep into Winston-Salem State territory. When the drive stalled, John Hernandez-Vargas converted a 27-yard field goal as time expired, cutting the deficit to 21-17 at the break.

The halftime adjustments proved decisive for Fayetteville State. The Broncos took the second-half kickoff and embarked on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 6:26 of the third quarter. Council ripped off a 20-yard run early in the possession, and Owens connected with Unique Kelly for a 12-yard gain to convert a first down. The drive appeared to stall near the goal line, but Winston-Salem State was called for pass interference on third-and-10 from the 10-yard line, moving the ball to the 2-yard line. Caden Davis converted the short-yardage opportunity with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, giving the Broncos a 24-21 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos defense, which had yielded 21 points in the first half, locked down after intermission. Winston-Salem State managed just 22 yards on five plays during its only third-quarter possession, and the Rams would not score again.

Fayetteville State extended its lead early in the fourth quarter. Following the defensive stop, the Broncos drove 65 yards in 10 plays. Braylon Vinson capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run on the first play of the final period, pushing the advantage to 31-21 with 14:53 remaining.

Winston-Salem State tried to mount a comeback. The Rams put together a 13-play drive that reached the Fayetteville State 26-yard line, but Lee's pass was intercepted by Kaydin Thomas at the FSU 27 with 6:52 left in the game. The turnover ended Winston-Salem State's best scoring opportunity of the second half.

The Rams forced a punt and got the ball back at their own 25-yard line with 3:12 remaining. Lee completed passes to Grimes and Ruff, and JaQuan Kelly converted a fourth-and-2 with a 12-yard run to keep the drive alive at the Winston-Salem State 45. But the comeback attempt ended when Shawn Robinson sacked Lee for a 9-yard loss, and two plays later, Amari Best intercepted Lee's pass at the Fayetteville State 19-yard line with 50 seconds remaining. Council's three consecutive carries ran out the clock and sealed the victory.

Owens finished 18-of-24 passing for 195 yards and one touchdown, while Davis added a 4-yard completion on his only pass attempt. Owens also contributed 39 yards rushing on six carries. Council led all rushers with 91 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, while also hauling in three receptions for 32 yards. Vinson added 56 yards and a score on eight rushing attempts, and Davis rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Kelly paced the receiving corps with three catches for 47 yards, while Ashley-Diarrah recorded five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Golden added three catches for 34 yards, and Council contributed three receptions for 32 yards out of the backfield.

Lee completed 15-of-23 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for Winston-Salem State. Marshall carried five times for 77 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15.4 yards per attempt. Kelly rushed 12 times for 60 yards, and Timothy TJ Ruff added 31 yards on five carries.

Grimes caught five passes for 59 yards and both of the Rams' touchdown receptions. Davontay Deloatch led Winston-Salem State receivers with four catches for 70 yards, while Kelly added two receptions for 22 yards.

Defensively, Camden Martin paced the Rams with 12 tackles, including six solo stops. Evan Powell recorded nine tackles, and Jamieson Alston contributed eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Jaylyn Norris registered the Rams' only sack, bringing down Davis for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter.

Matthew Leach led Fayetteville State's defense with eight tackles. Reginald Troutman added seven tackles, while Keyshawn Monk contributed five stops. Best, Thomas and Ford each recorded interceptions, giving the Broncos a decisive 3-0 edge in the turnover battle. Robinson registered 1.5 sacks for 9 yards in losses.

Fayetteville State converted 10-of-14 third-down attempts and went 5-for-5 in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns and one field goal. The Broncos outgained Winston-Salem State 409-356 in total offense and held a 210-163 advantage in rushing yards. Fayetteville State maintained possession for 32:52 compared to Winston-Salem State's 27:08.

The Rams converted just 3-of-9 third downs and struggled to sustain drives in the second half, managing only three first downs after halftime. Winston-Salem State went 1-for-1 in red zone opportunities, scoring a touchdown on its only trip inside the 20-yard line.

Key Performances:

• Joe Owens Jr. (FSU): 18-of-24 passing, 195 yards, 1 TD; 39 rushing yards
• Bryce Council (FSU): 91 rushing yards, 1 TD; 32 receiving yards
• Braylon Vinson (FSU): 56 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Daylin Lee (WSSU): 15-of-23 passing, 193 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
• Noah Marshall (WSSU): 77 rushing yards, 1 TD on 5 carries
• Jayden Grimes (WSSU): 5 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TDs

FAYETTEVILLE – Johnson C. Smith scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining to complete a comeback victory over Fayetteville State on Friday afternoon in Fayetteville. The Golden Bulls improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while the Broncos fell to 5-4 and 5-1.

Trailing 14-10 with 3:22 left in the game, Johnson C. Smith quarterback Kelvin Durham engineered a nine-play, 69-yard drive that consumed the final three minutes. Bobby Smith finished the march with a six-yard touchdown run, and Lukasz Smolen's extra point provided the final margin.

The winning drive featured Durham's 15-yard scramble to the Fayetteville State 29-yard line on a first-and-15 play, keeping the drive alive after a false start penalty. The Golden Bulls faced another obstacle when Durham was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Shawn Robinson, creating a third-and-21 situation from the 30-yard line. Durham found Clinton Riley for 12 yards, then converted on fourth-and-9 with a 12-yard run to the six-yard line before Smith's decisive score.

Durham completed 20 of 27 passes for 182 yards with one interception. He also rushed nine times for 33 yards and a touchdown, though he absorbed three sacks. Smith carried 31 times for 113 yards and the game-winning score, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.

Fayetteville State erased a 10-0 deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Bryce Council's 21-yard touchdown run at 13:25 of the final period cut the margin to 10-7. The Broncos took their only lead with 3:28 remaining when Demari Daniels connected with Xayden Watson on a 52-yard touchdown pass, capping a five-play, 92-yard drive that took just 88 seconds.

That scoring drive began at the Fayetteville State eight-yard line following a punt. Daniels completed a 14-yard pass to Unique Kelly, then found Watson streaking down the middle for the touchdown. John Hernandez-Vargas converted the extra point to give the Broncos a 14-10 advantage.

Johnson C. Smith controlled possession for more than 38 minutes compared to Fayetteville State's 21:37. The Golden Bulls ran 68 offensive plays to the Broncos' 50 and held a 328-236 advantage in total yardage.

The game remained scoreless until Johnson C. Smith drove 57 yards in 10 plays on its second possession. The drive stalled at the Fayetteville State 13-yard line, but Smolen converted a 32-yard field goal with 3:36 left in the opening quarter.

Johnson C. Smith extended its lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter. Taking over at the Fayetteville State 30-yard line after a failed fourth-down conversion, the Golden Bulls needed six plays to reach the end zone. Durham capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run at 2:44 of the second period.

Durham set up the score with a 13-yard completion to Lane, reaching the four-yard line. After a one-yard rush, Durham scored on a three-yard run two plays later.

Fayetteville State struggled to generate offense through the first three quarters. The Broncos managed just 87 rushing yards on 25 attempts and completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards. Daniels accounted for all of Fayetteville State's passing production, finishing 16-for-25 with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Council led the Broncos' ground attack with 78 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, averaging six yards per attempt. His 21-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter came on third-and-7 from the Johnson C. Smith 21-yard line, breaking through the middle for the touchdown.

Deandre Proctor caught six passes for 57 yards to lead Johnson C. Smith's receiving corps. Lane added three receptions for 22 yards, while Cayden Bell-McKethan had one catch for 25 yards. Durham spread the ball to eight different receivers.

Watson's two receptions totaled 62 yards and the touchdown for Fayetteville State. Kelly caught three passes for 35 yards, and Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah had four receptions for 23 yards.

The Golden Bulls converted six of 14 third-down attempts and went one-for-one on fourth down. Fayetteville State converted four of 13 third downs but failed on its only fourth-down attempt in regulation.

Penalties proved costly for both teams. Johnson C. Smith was flagged 10 times for 85 yards, while Fayetteville State committed seven penalties for 67 yards. Several of those infractions came at crucial moments, including multiple pass interference calls and false start penalties that disrupted drives.

Jatavien Taylor recorded an interception for Fayetteville State in the second quarter, returning it three yards to set up the Broncos at their own 26-yard line. The turnover ended a Johnson C. Smith drive that had reached the Fayetteville State 35-yard line.

Vincent Hill led Johnson C. Smith's defense with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Jaxson Hickson added six tackles and recorded one sack. Matthew Leach paced Fayetteville State with 12 tackles, while Taylor finished with 10 tackles to go along with his interception.

Robinson registered two sacks for 18 yards for the Broncos, including the crucial third-quarter sack that created the third-and-21 situation on the final drive. Joseph Woodard added another sack for Fayetteville State.

The victory kept Johnson C. Smith in contention atop the conference standings with one regular-season game remaining. Fayetteville State saw its four-game winning streak snapped.

Top Performers:

• Bobby Smith, Johnson C. Smith: 31 rushes, 113 yards, 1 TD
• Kelvin Durham, Johnson C. Smith: 20-of-27 passing, 182 yards; 9 rushes, 33 yards, 1 TD
• Bryce Council, Fayetteville State: 13 rushes, 78 yards, 1 TD
• Demari Daniels, Fayetteville State: 16-of-25 passing, 149 yards, 1 TD
• Deandre Proctor, Johnson C. Smith: 6 receptions, 57 yards

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville State made the most of its first home game of the season, overwhelming Virginia State 34-14 on Saturday afternoon at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium behind a dominant rushing attack and opportunistic defense that created short fields throughout the contest.

The Broncos (3-3, 2-0 CIAA) controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish, rushing for 205 yards while holding Virginia State to just 22 yards on the ground. Running back Bryce Council led the charge with 157 yards on 21 carries, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt with one touchdown.

After a scoreless first quarter that featured two interceptions by each team, Fayetteville State broke through early in the second period. Council sparked the offense with a 59-yard burst that set up his own 23-yard touchdown run with 9:31 remaining in the half, capping a five-play, 80-yard drive.

The Broncos extended their lead just over two minutes later when linebacker Amari Best blocked a Virginia State punt and recovered it at the Trojans' 33-yard line. Quarterback Demari Daniels needed just one play to find the end zone, connecting with receiver Unique Kelly on a 33-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-0.

Virginia State (2-3, 1-1 CIAA) answered before halftime when quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. found Malik Hunter for a 27-yard touchdown pass, completing a nine-play, 77-yard drive that cut the deficit to 14-7 at the break.

The third quarter opened with fireworks as Virginia State's Isaiah Silver returned the opening kickoff 69 yards to the Fayetteville State 22-yard line, though the return was nullified by a holding penalty. The Trojans eventually tied the game at 14-14 when Matthews Jr. punched in a 4-yard touchdown run, finishing an 11-play, 85-yard drive.

Fayetteville State responded immediately. Daniels found receiver Kristian Golden for a 33-yard touchdown pass just over three minutes later, restoring the Broncos' lead at 21-14. The scoring drive covered 70 yards in six plays and showcased the balanced attack that would define the afternoon.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Broncos' defense and special teams. Defensive back Keyshawn Monk intercepted Matthews Jr. at the Fayetteville State 10-yard line, ending a promising Virginia State drive. After the Broncos were forced to punt, Best recorded his second interception of the game, picking off Matthews Jr. deep in Bronco territory.

Fayetteville State capitalized on the turnover with an eight-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. Council broke free for a 28-yard run to set up the score, and Daniels finished the drive himself with a 28-yard rushing touchdown that extended the lead to 28-14 with 2:57 remaining.

The final blow came just 15 seconds later when Virginia State's offensive struggles continued. Defensive end Shawn Robinson sacked Matthews Jr. for a five-yard loss, forcing a fumble that linebacker Isaiah Boyd recovered and returned 3 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, but the damage was done in a 34-14 final.

Daniels managed the game effectively for Fayetteville State, completing 12 of 19 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns while adding 48 rushing yards and another score on the ground. His mobility proved crucial in extending drives and keeping Virginia State's defense off balance.

Golden emerged as Daniels' top target with three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, while Kelly contributed two receptions for 38 yards and a score. The receiving corps benefited from the strong ground game that kept defenders close to the line of scrimmage.

Virginia State's offense struggled to establish any rhythm despite Matthews Jr.'s 257 passing yards. The junior quarterback completed 20 of 33 attempts but was intercepted twice and sacked six times. Hunter led the receiving corps with seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Vincent Ordenes added seven receptions for 74 yards.

The Trojans' ground game never materialized, managing just 22 net yards on 35 attempts. Leading rusher Ri'Jon Hammond was held to 38 net yards on 11 carries, and the offensive line struggled to create running lanes against Fayetteville State's aggressive front seven.

Fayetteville State's defense dominated the statistical categories that matter most. The Broncos recorded six sacks for 23 yards in losses, 12 tackles for loss totaling 52 yards, and forced three turnovers. Best led the defensive effort with seven solo tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, and two blocked punts.

Matthew Leach anchored the defense with 10 total tackles, while Robinson added five tackles, a sack, and the strip that led to Boyd's touchdown recovery. The defensive line consistently pressured Matthews Jr., hurrying him into poor decisions and limiting big plays downfield.

Special teams proved to be a significant factor in the outcome. Best blocked two punts, directly setting up 10 points, while Monk added a punt block of his own. Virginia State's punting struggles included two blocks and an average of just 8.8 yards per punt on five attempts.

The victory marked Fayetteville State's second straight CIAA win and improved the Broncos to 2-0 in conference play. Virginia State dropped its first conference game and fell to 1-1 in CIAA action after starting league play with a win.

Key Performers

• Bryce Council: 21 carries, 157 yards, 1 TD (7.5 avg.)
• Demari Daniels: 12/19 passing, 114 yards, 2 TDs; 48 rushing yards, 1 TD
• Amari Best: 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 2 blocked punts
• Malik Hunter (VSU): 7 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD
• Rahsaan Matthews Jr. (VSU): 20/33 passing, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

CHARLOTTE – In a stunning upset that reshapes the conference standings, Fayetteville State dominated fourth-ranked Johnson C. Smith 27-0 on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Complex in Charlotte, ending the Golden Bulls' eight-game winning streak.

The Broncos (4-4, 3-3) controlled every phase of the game against Johnson C. Smith (8-1, 5-1), combining an efficient offense with a smothering defense that held one of the region's top teams scoreless. The victory marked Fayetteville State's most significant win of the season and introduced uncertainty into JCSU's playoff positioning just days before the release of the initial NCAA Division II Super Region Two rankings.

After a scoreless first quarter, Fayetteville State broke through with an impressive 16-play, 90-yard drive that showcased their offensive capabilities. Quarterback Joe Owens Jr. connected with Kameron King on a 7-yard touchdown pass, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 11:08 remaining in the second quarter.

The Broncos extended their lead before halftime when Der Alston Jr. scored on a 10-yard run, capping a seven-play, 68-yard drive to make it 14-0. Fayetteville State's offense continued to find success against a JCSU defense that had been among the region's best, accumulating 353 total yards.

Owens orchestrated another lengthy drive in the third quarter, leading the Broncos 100 yards in 11 plays. He finished the drive himself with a 1-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0. The quarterback finished with 233 passing yards, completing 24 of 32 attempts.

Julius Cobbs sealed the victory with 1:55 remaining, returning an interception 53 yards for the final touchdown. The defensive score highlighted a dominant performance by the Broncos' defense, which limited JCSU to just 192 total yards and 30 yards rushing.

Harris-Strayhor led all receivers with eight catches for 95 yards, while Julia Milligan added two receptions for 60 yards. The Broncos' ground game was effective, with Alston Jr. gaining 39 yards and Jamari Slade breaking free for a 32-yard run.

JCSU's typically potent offense struggled throughout the afternoon. Quarterback Darius Ocean completed 15 of 35 passes for 162 yards but threw two interceptions. Brevin Caldwell caught eight passes for 75 yards in the losing effort.

The Broncos' defense pressured Ocean consistently, recording two sacks and seven tackles for loss. Caleb Legrand led the defensive effort with seven tackles and a pass breakup, while Taevion Cox added five tackles including 2.5 for loss.

Despite the loss, JCSU's Benari Black had an outstanding defensive performance with 16 total tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss.

Fayetteville State controlled the clock, holding the ball for over 35 minutes while converting 7 of 14 third downs. The Broncos' defense held JCSU to just 4 of 13 on third down conversions and stopped them on both red zone opportunities.

The upset victory gives Fayetteville State momentum heading into their final games, while Johnson C. Smith must regroup quickly to maintain their position in the conference title race.

FAYETTEVILLE – In a thrilling edition of the Two Rivers Classic, Fayetteville State University staged a dramatic last-minute comeback to defeat UNC Pembroke 35-31 on Saturday night at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The victory gives Fayetteville State a 1-0 start to the season, while UNC Pembroke falls to 0-2.

The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw multiple lead changes throughout the contest. UNC Pembroke struck first when quarterback Tre Robinson connected with Josiah Hayes for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Fayetteville State responded with two field goals by John Hernandez-Vargas, narrowing the gap.

The Broncos took their first lead of the game on a 23-yard punt return touchdown by Theniias Moss. However, the advantage was short-lived as UNC Pembroke's D'Marcus Harrington intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, putting the Braves back in front.

UNC Pembroke extended their lead to 21-13 just before halftime when Josh Jenkins caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Robinson. The Braves continued to build their advantage in the third quarter with a 41-yard field goal by Ty Woods, making the score 24-13.

Fayetteville State began their comeback when quarterback Demari Daniels found Emanuel Ortega-Garcia for a 15-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 24-21. Daniels then gave the Broncos the lead with a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, putting Fayetteville State ahead 28-24.

The drama intensified in the final minutes. UNC Pembroke regained the lead when Colin Johnson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Smith, giving the Braves a 31-28 advantage with just over a minute left in the game.

However, Fayetteville State wasn't done. The Broncos put together a clutch five-play, 60-yard drive in the dying seconds. Daniels capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run with just 17 seconds remaining, securing the 35-31 victory for Fayetteville State.

Daniels was the star of the game for the Broncos, finishing with 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while also throwing for 87 yards and a touchdown. His dual-threat ability kept the UNC Pembroke defense off balance throughout the contest.

Fayetteville State's defense played a crucial role in the victory, forcing four turnovers that led to 10 points. Caleb Legrand led the defensive effort with five tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Theniias Moss and Solomon Barnes also contributed to the turnover battle, each recovering a fumble.

David Baros was the Broncos' leading receiver, hauling in six catches for 116 yards. For UNC Pembroke, Tre Robinson completed 13 of 24 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Josiah Hayes was the Braves' top receiver with 57 yards and a touchdown.

The victory improves Head Coach Richard Hayes' record to 2-2 in the Two Rivers Classic series. Fayetteville State will look to build on this exciting win as they move forward in their season, while UNC Pembroke will aim to regroup and secure their first victory in their next outing.