Jeremiah Miller vs. Fayetteville State II 2017
Jerrell Jordan
Jeremiah Miller Rushed For 93 Yards On 19 Carries
23
Winner St. Augustine's SAU 2-6 , 2-3
21
Fayetteville State FSU 6-2 , 4-1
Winner
St. Augustine's SAU
2-6 , 2-3
23
Final
21
Fayetteville State FSU
6-2 , 4-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAU St. Augustine's 7 6 0 10 23
FSU Fayetteville State 0 7 7 7 21

Game Recap: Football | | Office of Sports Information

SAU Football Knocks Off Division Leader Fayetteville State On Late Field Goal

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 26) - Saint Augustine's University played its best and most complete football game of the season, and it resulted in a thrilling victory.

Andre Labat (Fr./Miami, FL) booted a 26-yard field goal with five seconds left as the visiting Falcons stunned Fayetteville State University 23-21 inside Jeralds Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The win sent shockwaves throughout the CIAA, given that the Broncos (4-1 Southern Division, 6-2 overall) are the two-time defending Southern Division champs. They entered the contest unbeaten in the conference, but the Falcons were the better team in handing the Broncos their first CIAA loss this season.

The Falcons (2-3 Southern Division, 2-6 overall) outgained the Broncos in total yards (368-324) and had fewer turnovers (2 to 3) and penalties (5 to 11). Yet, the Falcons found themselves trailing 21-20 with 59 seconds left in the game after a Broncos' touchdown on a three-yard pass play.

It appeared the Falcons' stellar effort was all for naught. But D'Ontre Gilliard (Fr./Holly Hill, SC) ran 17 yards to midfield and Aakiel Greer (Jr./Kosciusko, MS) leaped high for a 39-yard catch. All of a sudden, the Falcons were at the Broncos' 10 and well within the range of Andre Labat (Fr./Miami, FL).

With five seconds left, Labat calmly kicked the game-winning field goal.

"The players came with a business mentality that allowed us to pull out the victory," SAU Co-Interim Head Coach Okesa Smith said. "I am so proud of our guys. They remained confident even in a dire situation. It was fantastic execution by the team."

The win was fitting because the Falcons outplayed the Southern Division leaders throughout the day. The last two times they played, the Broncos eked out three-point victories on their way to claiming back-to-back Southern Division titles.

This time, it was the Falcons who squeezed out a close victory. They came out on the winning side against Fayetteville State for the first time since 2012, snapping a six-game losing streak to the Broncos.

An early sign that the game may go the Falcons way was on the Broncos' first drive when linebacker Durrell Nash (Sr./Memphis, TN) recorded the first of his two interceptions. The Falcons fumbled on the ensuing series after driving near the Broncos' goal line, but the tone was set.

The Falcons took a 7-0 lead on Gilliard's 39-yard pass to Joe Baker (So./Goldsboro, NC) and Labat's extra point. The score was tied 7-7 after a Broncos' touchdown, but the Falcons went into halftime leading 13-7 on two Labat field goals, including the 29-yarder as time expired in the first half.

The Broncos scored on their opening drive in the third quarter for a 14-13 lead, but the Falcons struck again in the fourth quarter when Gilliard found Anthony Berry (So./Kinston, NC) for a 48-yard touchdown pass. Labat's extra point put the Falcons back ahead 20-14 and set the stage for the dramatic ending.

The Broncos may still win the Southern Division for a third straight year. They hold a one-game lead over Shaw University and Winston-Salem State University with two games left. The Falcons, who are two-games back, have an outside chance but the win has certainly salvaged a season that started with five straight losses.

The Falcons have won two of their last three games, and are 2-1 against Southern Division teams.

"They were the benchmark of our season," Smith said about Fayetteville State. "We have been close but couldn't find a way to get over the hump  against them. Now we know if we put everything together, we will be in every single game we play."

NOTES: Running back Jeremiah Miller (Sr./Miami, FL) was seven yards shy (93) of his first 100-yard game of the season...Miller gained an impressive 4.9 yards per carry...Gilliard completed 17 of 37 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions...Led by seniors Calvin Montgomery (Baltimore, MD), LaMarque Hill (Fayetteville, NC) and Joe Edwards (Kinston, NC), the offensive line allowed no sacks and was a big reason why the Falcons outgained the Broncos in total yards...Anthony Berry caught five passes for a career-best 104 yards and one touchdown...Richard Latimer of FSU was 12 of 19 for 105 yards but was intercepted three times, including twice by Durrell Nash...Defensive back Shymere Scott picked off the other pass for the Falcons...Defensive end Desmond Quinerly (Jr./Raleigh, NC) sparked an SAU defense that kept the high-powered Broncos in check for much of the game despite 132 rushing yards by Stevie Green...Quinerly finished with a game-high 10 tackles including nine solo stops...One of his tackles was a sack...Credit the entire SAU coaching staff led by interim head coaches Okesa Smith and Reginald Cooper for a great game plan against the Broncos, and having them ready to play...In addition to Smith and Cooper, the coaching staff consists of offensive coordinator Teyon Thames, offensive analyst Herb Thames, wide receivers coach/special teams assistant Charles Gibson, linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Dante DeVouse, offensive line coach Mike Vassil, defensive line coach Lawrence Thames, director of football operations Dominique Pounds and defensive and special teams assistant Derrick Manning...






 
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