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FSU takes CIAA title, advances to playoffs
Lut Williams
BCSP Editor
Fayetteville State scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, 14 in the final three minutes of the game, to come back from a 10-0 halftime deficit and knock off Bowie State 21-10 in the CIAA Championship Game Saturday in Durham, N.C.
The Broncos (8-3) were led by back-up
quarterback Benjamin Williams who threw a TD pass on his
first play from scrimmage early in the third quarter and
led FSU on a 12-play, 88-yard drive late in the fourth
quarter when it took the lead. Running back Richard
Medlin capped that drive with a 3-yard TD run with 2:29 left.
Ten seconds later, after BSU (6-5) returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 21, BSU back-up quarterback Tyrae Reid's attempt at a first-down screen pass was picked off by FSU lineman lineman Jamal Dixon at the BSU 22 who rumbled untouched in the end zone to put the game out of reach.
Williams finished 6 of 14 passing for 87 yards with the one TD. He was named the Broncos' most valuable player.
The championship was the Broncos third of the decade under head coach Kenny Phillips. They also won championships in 2002 and 2003.
The Broncos entered Saturday's game ranked tenth in the NCAA Div. II Super Region II and needed a win and to get up to eighth to secure a playoff berth. With the win, the Broncos were seeded sixth in the region and named Sunday to the 24-team Div. II playoff field. They travel to third-seeded California University of Pa. (8-3) Saturday for a 12 noon first round game.
Cal is the runner-up in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference after losing in Saturday's league championship game to Shippensburg, 42-35. The winner of the FSU/Cal game will play top seed Shippensburg on Nov. 21.
SIAC runner-up Albany State lost its final regular season game, 35-13 to Fort Valley State but still was selected to the Div. II playoff field from Super Region I.
The Golden Rams (8-2), seeded third, will host sixth-seed West Alabama (7-4) Saturday at 1 p.m. West Alabama knocked off Region and national top seed North Alabama on Saturday. The winner will play at second-seed Carson-Newman on Nov. 21.
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