CIAA Football Week 7 Recap: BRONCOS EDGE BEARS IN WESTERN DIVISION SHOWDOWN

 BRONCOS EDGE BEARS IN WESTERN DIVISION SHOWDOWN

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-The stats from yesterday's game between the Fayetteville State Broncos and the Shaw Bears tell an interesting, but deceptive story. The Bears outgained the Broncos 488-120 in total offense. The Broncos were outgained 251 to 46 through the air and 237 to 74 on the ground. Shaw picked up 26 first downs compared to just five for FSU. Fayetteville State was 0 for 12 on third down conversions and trailed Shaw in time of possession by over nine minutes. Statistics would lead you to believe that this was a lopsided affair dominated by the Bears.

Even though Shaw (5-2, 2-2 CIAA) dominated most of the statistical battles, they ultimately lost the war as Fayetteville State (4-3, 3-1 CIAA) converted four turnovers into points and got a timely fourth quarter safety to pull out a 29-28 win yesterday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville.

The Broncos jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead on Calvin Harris' three-yard touchdown run. The touchdown was set up when FSU safety Jeff Gowdy (7 tackles) picked off a pass by Shaw quarterback Brandon Landers (230 passing yards, 2 touchdowns) and returned it 75 yards to the Shaw 3-yard line.

Fayetteville State converted another Shaw turnover into points in the second quarter when Gerard Atkinson (13 tackles) returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 FSU lead. Shaw would score on a 58-yard pass from Landers to De'Andre Okonji and a 13-yard run by Aaron Ellison to knot the game at 14-14 after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Fayetteville State added a 28-yard Austin Turner field goal and converted another turnover into points when Adrian Horton returned a blocked punt 13 yards for a touchdown and a 24-14 halftime lead for the Broncos.

Shaw scored fourteen unanswered points on Landers' 32-yard touchdown pass to Jayson Royal and Raymond Williams' 66-yard run to take a 28-24 lead in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, another Shaw turnover would lead to points as Fayetteville State recovered a Lander's fumble at the Shaw 25-yard line. Four plays later, Austin Turner nailed a 40-yard field goal to trim the lead to 28-27 with 13:44 remaining in the game.

Another miscue would cost Shaw the game. Holding on to a slim one-point lead with 4:08 remaining and facing a fourth and ten at their own 18-yard line, the Bears' Vincent Pacifico lined up to punt the ball away. The snap was high and sail over Pacifico's head into the end zone for a safety and a 29-28 Fayetteville State lead.

The Bears would get the ball back one more time with 2:07 left in the game, but could not convert on fourth down and turned the ball back over to the Broncos who ran out the clock.

With the win, the Broncos seize control of the Western Division race and can punch their ticket to the CIAA Championship game by winning their last three contests.  Next week, Fayetteville State travels to Charlotte to take on the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls.

Conference Scoreboard

BOWIE STATE                      37                    ELIZABETH CITY ST.           33

CHOWAN                              42                    LIVINGSTONE                     33                  

FAYETTEVILLE ST.               29                    SHAW                                  28

SAINT AUGUSTINE'S           27                    JOHNSON C. SMITH             9

SAINT PAUL'S                      18                    VIRGINIA STATE                   0                   

VIRGINIA UNION                 35                    LINCOLN                               6

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
2009 Football Standings
Through games of October 10, 2009

                                                CIAA EAST

                                                Div/Conf                                           Overall
----                                    W        L         PCT                   W        L         PCT
Bowie State                      4          0          1.000              5          2          0.714
Virginia Union                   3          1          0.750              4          3          0.57
Virginia State                    2          2          0.500              4          3          0.571
Elizabeth City State          2          2          0.500              4          3          0.571
Saint Paul's                       2          2          0.500              3          3          0.500

                                                CIAA West

----                                       W        L         PCT                   W        L         PCT
Fayetteville State                3          1          0.750              4          3          0.571
Shaw                                    2          2          0.500              5          2          0.714
Saint Augustine's                 2          2          0.500              2          5          0.286
Johnson C. Smith                 2          2          0.500              3          4          0.429
Chowan                                1          3          0.250              1          6          0.143
Livingstone                           0          4          0.000              0          7          0.000

Upcoming Games:

Notes of Interest:  

- Shaw again held its opponent scoreless in the third quarter. Only one team has scored on the Bears in the third quarter all season. 

- Gerard Atkinson returned an interception for a touchdown for the second consecutive game... The Broncos have three defensive touchdowns in 2009... Austin Turner made two field goals giving him 15 made this season, tops in the CIAA. Turner needs four more field goals to set FSU records for single-season and career field goals made.

- Saint Augustine's College gained over 300 yards of total offense for the fourth straight week. The Falcons gained a season-high 415 yards against JCSU. The Falcons also held JCSU to -2 net yards rushing and 139 total offensive yards. 

- Only the Hawks' second CIAA win, both have come against Livingstone.