Fayetteville State football ends decade-long drought against UNC Pembroke
Fayetteville State football ended a 13-year drought against neighbor UNC Pembroke with its first Two Rivers Classic victory in nine tries.
Salemburg native and Lakewood High alum Elton Andrew, who transferred to FSU from UNCP, gave the Broncos the lead for good with a 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter of the 15-13 victory.
The Broncos, who won their fifth straight season opener, trailed 6-0 after a pair of Alex Alvarado field goals. Elijah Henry scored on a 2-yard run to even it up after Cedric Thomas recovered a fumbled punt inside the Braves 5-yard line.
UNCP quarterback Josh Jones gave the Braves a 13-6 lead with a 1-yard run, and FSU quarterback K'hari Lane answered with his own 1-yard TD plunge to cap a nine-play, 65-yard drive in which he completed 4 of 5 passes to get the Broncos within 13-12.
Andrew's kick was set up by a 34-yard reception from Lane to Barry Elliot and it came with 3:17 left in the third quarter. The Broncos held the Braves to -22 rushing yards in the fourth to seal the win.
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FSU wound up with a 121-38 advantage in rushing yards for the game. That strong Broncos run defense was led by Khalid Martin and Devin Cowan, who each had six tackles. Cowan and John Oxce were credited with a sack each, while Cameron Merrell and 1.5 for a combined loss of 17 yards, and Anthony Binyard and Cameron Harrington also got to the QB.
Fayetteville state sacked Jones five times for a total loss of 42 yards.
Kenneth Merritt had four pass breakups, Brandon Barnes-Brown had one and Kolby Merritt forced a fumble as FSU outgained UNCP 302-250 in total offense.
Lane completed 15 of 30 pass attempts for 181 yards for FSU and Jones completed 17 of 30 passes for 222 yards.
Henry was the Broncos' leading rusher with 44 yards and a TD on 12 carries. Derrick Alston Jr. added 37 yards on the ground and Scotland alum Syheam McQueen had 32 to go with 32 yards receiving.
Elliott was FSU's top receiver with 67 yards on three catches.
The win bodes well for a Broncos squad trying to find its next gear. FSU has been to four straight CIAA Championship games as the Southern Division champion, but it's lost the title game each time.
By beating UNCP, this team has ended its winless series history and done something no other Broncos squad has.
Fayetteville State will be back in action next Saturday, hosting Wingate with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
UNC Pembroke hosts West Virginia Wesleyan next Saturday in its Military Appreciation Day game at noon.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville State football ends drought against UNC Pembroke
