Broncos Best Shaw in a Close One
posted by Trevor Lloyd | October 31, 2023 | In News, SportsThe winning streak continues, as your Fayetteville State University Broncos football gutted out a close win over the Shaw University Bears on October 28.
To start off the game, the Broncos deferred getting the ball and opted to put the stellar Broncos defense on the field first. This decision paid off, as the Broncos forced a quick three and out.
After some back and forth, on third and three from the Shaw 47-yard line Bronco quarterback Joe Owens hit a 32-yard bomb to junior Treveran Goode that moved the ball to the Shaw 11-yard line. The Broncos moved the ball down to the one-yard line and punched it in with a one-yard run up the middle by running back Julian Milligan. This gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 7:07 left in the first quarter.
FSU struck early in the second quarter after an eight-play drive, where they slashed and gashed the Bears’ defense that was finished off by a three-yard touchdown by running back Derrick Alston Jr. Extending the Broncos lead to 14-0.
Shaw was not about to go quietly, though, as the Bears responded with a touchdown drive of their own, right after FSU’s scoring drive. After what looked like a third down stop by the Broncos was negated by a pass interference penalty, Shaw capped off a 12-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown by Jatoine Fields, cutting the lead down to 14-7 with 5:45 left in the second quarter.
After this score, both teams were unable to find the end zone again for all of the third quarter and much of the fourth quarter. Shaw’s defense made sure the Broncos couldn’t put the game out of reach forcing two interceptions. While the Broncos’ defense made sure that the Bears’ offense wasn’t able to turn those turnovers into points.
However, Shaw finally was able to take advantage of an FSU turnover when Shaw’s senior free safety Jay Boyd forced Milligan to fumble, and Boyd recovered the fumble. This put the Bears’ offense in a great field position at their 41-yard line with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter. The Bears struck quickly when quarterback Navian Hilliard found Ah’shaan Belcher for a 25-yard touchdown that tied the game at 14 all.
The Broncos took over with 1:08 left in the fourth at their own 21-yard line. The first play saw a gain of 26 when Owens found Marquan Williams, moving the ball to the 47-yard line. Their next play saw the Broncos move in the wrong direction thanks to a holding call that brought the ball back to the 37-yard line. Two plays later, the play of the game happened: when Owens threw a dart into the end zone to wide receiver Nigel Fitzgerald who climbed the ladder and caught the pass over a Shaw defensive back for the game-winning touchdown.
The final score was 21-14. The Broncos will be home next week and will take on Winston-Salem State University for the team’s senior day.
Photo by Jen Robinson
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