Fayetteville State rallied, Winston-Salem State rolled, and Johnson C. Smith did just enough.
The Broncos, Rams and Golden Bulls all earned CIAA victories on Saturday, setting the stage for what looks to be a three-team chase for the Southern Division title over the final three weeks of the regular season.
Fayetteville State remains in the driver’s seat following its 19-14, come-from-behind victory against feisty Livingstone. The defending CIAA champions improved to 5-0 in the league standings, 5-2 overall.
Winston-Salem State moved its league record to 3-2 by beating Shaw 41-20 on the road. Johnson C. Smith improved to 4-1 in the CIAA with a 14-6 triumph over winless St. Augustine’s.
Fayetteville State will host Johnson C. Smith next Saturday for homecoming, will visit Shaw on Oct. 28 and then will conclude the regular season at home against Winston-Salem State.
In CIAA Northern Division play, Elizabeth City State lost a nailbiter to Lincoln on the road, 27-21.
Fayetteville State 19, Livingstone 14
When Davontay Deloatch caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Drish with 5:42 left in the third quarter, Livingstone grabbed a 14-2 lead and FSU appeared on the ropes.
But you don’t get to the CIAA championship game five years in a row by not answering challenges. The Broncos did just that – again.
Treveran Goode caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Demari Daniels on the next FSU possession. Jacob Meneses, who has two game-winning field goals to his credit already this season, booted a 45-yarder with 7:59 to play. Then Daniels took off for a 41-yard touchdown run at the 4:09 mark.
The FSU defense held from that point, and everyone else is still looking up at coach Richard Hayes’ team in the CIAA standings. Livingstone fell to 2-3 in CIAA play, 2-5 overall.
Winston-Salem State 41, Shaw 20
Daylin Lee threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another to lead the Rams to their first road victory of the season. Gabriel Linen paced the run game with 164 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Jashawn Middletown caught two of Lee’s TD throws. RJ Mobley had the other.
Shaw scored first in the opening quarter on a two-yard run from Sidney Gibbs, but WSSU exploded for 24 second-quarter points that also included a 24-yard field goal from Jobann Esparza.
The Rams led 34-6 at one point. Shaw scored twice in the fourth quarter, getting a 46-yard pass from Silas Cruse to Donte Lee Jr. and a 17-yard TD throw from Cruse to As’sha Belcher for the final margin.
Johnson C. Smith 14, St. Augustine’s 6
The Golden Bulls made two first-half touchdown runs by Robert Adams hold up. Johnson C. Smith got to five wins for the first time in a decade. The Falcons, who fired head coach Howard Feggins on Friday, are still winless at 0-7.
JCSU has one of the stingiest defenses in Division II and held St. Aug’s to 193 total yards. Benari Black led the defensive effort with seven tackles.
Lincoln 27, Elizabeth City State 21
Quarterback Donoven Davenport rushed for a pair of one-yard touchdowns in the opening quarter but the early 14-0 lead didn’t hold up.
Lincoln scored 21 unanswered points. Davenport completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Quinzel Lockhart to tie the score, 21-21. But Lincoln capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with what would be the winning touchdown pass from Isaiah Freeman to Eli Riddick late in the third.
Zechariah Adams-Duckson didn’t find the end zone for Elizabeth City State but finished with a game-high 183 yards on the ground.
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