|
|
Oct. 21, 2007
Fayetteville, NC - With a record crowd on hand, the Broncos took care of business for homecoming pulling off an upset over number one ranked Shaw University 24-16. Shaw wasted no time attacking offensively. Freshman QB Travis Robinson completed a 21 yard pass to DeAndre Okonji to put six points on the board for the Bears; finishing a three play drive that took less than a minute. Sophomore kicker Ryne Powell couldn't put the point after attempt through the uprights and Shaw was up 6-0 early. FSU would respond later in the quarter with a touchdown pass; after sophomore safety Jeff Gowdy (Jacksonville, NC) intercepted a pass at the 50 yard line and his 26 yard return put the Broncos in position to score. And they did, junior QB Bryan Hardy (Vanceboro, NC) connected with freshman tight end Darren Obaji (Wendell, NC) with a pass to the right corner for a 19 yard score. Senior place kicker Eric Lamoureux (Roxbury, NH) would put the Broncos ahead with the PAT, 7-6. On Shaw's next possession, Gowdy was in perfect position again to intercept one of Robinson passes and get the crowd of nearly 6,000 at Jeralds Stadium even more excited. The Broncos couldn't score on the ensuing possession and punted the ball away. FSU's defense was solid on the Bears' next offensive series. Shaw had four down and 20 yards to go to convert a first down after an offensive holding penalty and was placed in an even deeper hole when sophomore defensive lineman Eric Conway (Clinton, NC) broke through for a sack resulting in a loss of nine yards. Shaw freshman Vinny Pacifico had trouble with the snap on a punt and fumbled deep inside Shaw territory. Pacifico would recover the fumble, but the turnover on downs gave FSU great field position after the defensive stance. The Broncos capitalized with a two yard touchdown run by freshman tailback Richard Medlin; completing a two play, 24 yard drive and increasing the lead to 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
SU would draw within one point (14-13) of Fayetteville State after putting together a 62 yard touchdown drive on their next possession on offense. The first half would come to a close with the Broncos on top 21-13; Hardy completed another touchdown pass to senior fullback/tight end Eddie Agans (Jacksonville, NC) towards the end of the second quarter. The defense created more confusion for SU's Robinson with yet another interception; this time by junior safety Barry Dunn (Raleigh, NC) on the Bears' opening series of the second half. The third quarter concluded with the score still 21-13 and the Broncos drawing closer to a victory. In the fourth, Shaw put three points on the scoreboard after a 28 yard field goal by Powell. Fayetteville State matched their three points with a 47 yard field goal of their own by Lamoureux making the score 24-16. No other points were score after another offensive series from both teams and the Broncos' running game winding down the clock. The win was made official after Gowdy made his third interception of the day on the Bears final possession. The win improves FSU to 3-5 overall, 3-2 in the CIAA and just one game behind Shaw for the lead in the division Next week, the Broncos travel to Charlotte, NC to face Johnson C. Smith University inside American Legion Memorial Stadium at 1 pm. The Broncos need to continue their success to give themselves a chance at the Western Division title and a berth in the CIAA title game. |
