FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Fayetteville State University scored 33 points off five turnovers to beat Saint Augustine's College 56-6 on Saturday (Oct. 24) before a homecoming crowd of 5,429 at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium.
The Broncos (6-3 overall, 5-1 CIAA) clinched the CIAA Western Division football title with the win. They will play in the CIAA Championship game on Nov. 7 in Durham, N.C.
The Falcons dropped to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the CIAA with the loss. They entered the game with a chance to move into a first-place tie with the Broncos.
The Broncos led 7-0 five minutes into the game on a three-yard pass from Tyler Hosler to Leamon Cozart. The Broncos recovered a fumble on the Falcon 17-yard line to set up the score.
Steven Stanback (Jr./Temple Hills, Md.) of the Falcons scored on a 30-yard interception return to pull the Falcons within 7-6 with 6:55 remaining in the first quarter. The Broncos scored 49 unanswered points following the interception to turn the game into a rout.
The Broncos scored on a safety, and Calvin Harris scored on a nine-yard run to push the lead to 16-6 in the first quarter. Richard Medlin added a 59-yard scoring run, and Jeffery Gowdy recovered a fumble in the end zone after the punter mishandled the snap in the second quarter for a 29-6 Bronco lead at halftime.
The Broncos scored on the opening possession of the third quarter when Hosler found Tyshon Gurley for a three-yard touchdown pass. Gregory Summerville scored on a 30-yard interception return on the Falcons' first possession of the quarter to make the score 43-6.
Medlin added a two-yard run following a fumble on the Falcons' ensuing possession, and Darius Powell scored on a 12-yard fumble return to wrap up the scoring for the Broncos.
The Falcons had a season-high eight turnovers and gained a season-low 35 yards of total offense while the Broncos gained 358 offensive yards including 258 yards on the ground. The Broncos also recorded 10 sacks which helped account for minus 72 net yards rushing for the Falcons.
Tyron Laughinghouse (Fr./Greenville, N.C.) of the Falcons totaled a game-high 135 yards of total offense including two catches for 59 yards and three kick returns for 70 yards including a 33-yard return.
Stanback led the Falcons with nine tackles and recovered a fumble in addition to providing the Falcons' only score on an interception return. Defensive end Marcus Crump (Redshirt Sr./Pittsboro, N.C.) and cornerback Jamil Berry (So./Fayetteville, Ga.) both added eight tackles.
The Falcons forced four Bronco turnovers. Darrien Walker (Fr./Kernersville, N.C.) and Charles McKenzie (Jr./Warner Robins, Ga.) each intercepted a pass along with Stanback, who also recovered a fumble which Walker forced. Marcos Esquivel led the Broncos with 10 tackles and two sacks.
Four Broncos ran for 40 or more yards. Medlin led all rushers with 87 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns, and Michael Staton added 78 yards on eight carries. Hosler was 9-for-15 for 100 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Joaquin Green (Redshirt Fr./Pittsboro, N.C.) of the Falcons threw for 103 yards but was 6-for-17 with two interceptions.
The margin of victory is the largest for the Broncos in the season series, eclipsing the 62-13 win against the Falcons in 2002.
The Falcons conclude the regular season with a road trip to Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C., on Oct. 31. Game time is 12:30 p.m.
