ROCKY MOUNT – If you were tempted to write off Fayetteville State – you know, the team that played in six consecutive CIAA championship games from 2017-2023 – because of its 0-3 start, the Broncos issued an emphatic message Saturday afternoon:
We’re still here.
Coach Richard Hayes’ team used a suffocating defense, opportunistic offense and plenty of points off the toe of John Hernandez-Vargas to overwhelm Elizabeth City State 51-8 in the 2025 rendition of the Down East Viking Classic.
Fayetteville State outgained the host Vikes 454-89, created four turnovers, racked up five sacks and blocked a punt en route to its first win of the season. ECSU, which played FCS Hampton and CIAA heavyweight Johnson C. Smith close the past two weeks, fell to 0-4 overall.
Demari Daniels threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another score to lead the Broncos. Xayden Watson caught two of Daniels’ scoring throws and finished with 134 receiving yards, a new career high.
Matthew Leach, Shawn Robinson, Reginald Troutman and Marcus Thompson lived in Elizabeth City State’s backfield much of the afternoon, helping the FSU defense record 15 total tackles-for-loss.
Hernandez-Vargas made three of four field goal attempts, hit all six of his PAT attempts and kicked off 10 times.
Coming back onto the field for the second half, Leach remarked to a photographer drinking a cold water, “It’s hot out here isn’t it?”
We’re not sure if he was talking about the unusually warm late September weather or the Broncos’ play in the first two quarters, but his statement applies to both topics.
On a day when most CIAA eyes are on Johnson C. Smith at Virginia Union and Virginia State at Winston-Salem State, Fayetteville State will quietly position itself at the top of the league standings with a 1-0 mark.
The Broncos are still here.
📝 Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
- FSU – Kristian Golden 32-yd pass from Demari Daniels (John Hernandez-Vargas kick), 9:05
- FSU – Bryce Council 1-yd run (Hernandez-Vargas kick), 4:56
2nd Quarter
- FSU – Daniels 3-yd run (Hernandez-Vargas kick), 14:54
- ECSU – Sean Worthy 0-yd blocked FG return (Daishaun Porter 2-pt run), 7:33
- FSU – Hernandez-Vargas FG, 3:50
- FSU – Xayden Watson 6-yd pass from Daniels (Hernandez-Vargas kick), :18
3rd Quarter
- FSU – Hernandez-Vargas FG, 11:47
- FSU – Watson 6-yd pass from Daniels (Hernandez-Vargas kick), 7:22
4th Quarter
- FSU – Hernandez-Vargas FG, 7:21
- FSU – Albert Fleming IV 16-yd pass from Joe Owens Jr. (Hernandez-Vargas kick), 5:01
📊 Stat Leaders
Fayetteville State
- Passing: Daniels 14-24, 255 yds, 3 TD; Owens Jr. 1-1, 16 yds, 1 TD
- Rushing: Daniels 8-42-1 TD; Braylon Vinson 5-42
- Receiving: Watson 7-134-2 TD; Golden 32-yd TD catch; Fleming 16-yd TD catch
- Defense: Shawn Robinson 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles; Matthew Leach 7 tackles, 3.0 TFL; Theniias Moss & Ian Wynn each had interceptions
- Special Teams: John Hernandez-Vargas 3 FGs, 6 PATs for 15 kicker points
Elizabeth City State
- Passing: Perkins 5-8, 34 yds
- Rushing: Perkins 6-28; Ameil Braswell 5-19
- Receiving: Troy Smith 2-19
- Defense: Ka’Trez Bracey, Dexter Ivey 6 tackles each
- Special Teams: Sean Worthy scoop and score TD on a blocked punt
🔜 What’s Next
- Fayetteville State (1-3, 1-0 CIAA) returns to Luther “Nick” Jeralds Stadium next Saturday to host Virginia State, which eked out a 34-33 triumph in Winston-Salem on Saturday afternoon.
- Elizabeth City State (0-4, 0-1 CIAA) will take next Saturday off from game action, preparing for an Oct. 4 home game against Livingstone.
