Game Notes: FSU Football Plays Delta State in DII Region II PlayoffsThe
Game: Fayetteville State University "Broncos" at Delta State University "Statesmen"
The Records: No. 7 FSU Broncos (9-2 overall) vs. No. 2 DSU Statesmen (10-1 Overall)
The Kickoff: Saturday, November 19, 2022 - Kickoff at 2:00 (EST)
The Site: Parker Field at McCool Stadium in Cleveland, MS
Media Coverage: Online Stream - https://statesmensportsnetwork.com/?B=465574
Audio Only - https://statesmensportsnetwork.com/?B=467800
NCAA Playoffs: The Fayetteville State Broncos travel to Cleveland, MS to square off against the Delta State Statesmen in the first round of the NCAA Super Region Two Playoffs. The Broncos ended their conference season on a seven-game winning streak and a CIAA championship with a 31-28 victory over Chowan University last Saturday in Salem, VA. This is the Broncos' first trip to the Region Playoffs since their last conference title in 2009.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Fayetteville State won its fourth conference title in school history last Saturday with a thrilling 31-28 victory over Chowan University at Salem Stadium in Salem, VA. Senior placekicker Elton Andrew provided the game-winning play, booting a 43-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired in the fourth quarter. The championship was the first for FSU under Head Coach Richard Hayes, ended a stretch of four losses in the conference title games over the previous four seasons. FSU has also won CIAA titles during the 2002, 2003, and 2009 seasons.
ALL-CIAA PLAYERS: Eleven Broncos received All-Conference recognition at the end of the luncheon. Devin Cowan (DE) and Jacob Young (P) were named to the All-Conference First Team while Michael Todd (OL), Tyler Fleming (OL), Barry Elliott (WR), Elton Andrew (PK), Cameron Merrell (DE), Kentrell Caldwell (LB), and Brandon Barnes-Brown (CB) were named to the Second Team. Anthony Binyard (DL) and Derrick Alston, Jr. (RB) were named to the All-CIAA Rookie Team. Of the first team selections, Devin Cowan, a junior defensive end from Fayetteville, NC, finished the regular season with 55 total tackles with 14 tackles for a loss of 56 yards. He had a total of 8 sacks for 47 yards, two forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries, and two pass deflections. Senior punter Jacob Young, from Spencer, NC, handled most of the punting duties for FSU. He punted 50 times for a total of 2, 057 yards and had a season-long record of 64 yards. Eighteen of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line while two were touchbacks and eight fair catches.
UNDER CENTER: The Broncos have deployed a quarterback-by-committee strategy since the October 8th game vs. St. Augustine's. Preseason All-CIAA selection K'Hari Lane, who served as the primary starting QB in 2021, is now third on the depth chart with freshmen Demari Daniels and Caden Davis splitting the majority of snaps. Daniels has been the most efficient of the trio, completing 62.7% (21-45) of his passes during the regular season and throwing for 6 touchdowns over five games, including a 3 TD performance vs. St. Augustine's. Daniels served as the primary quarterback for the CIAA championship game, going 12-for-24 in pass completions and throwing for two touchdowns to earn the game's MVP award.
BARRY ELITE: Wide receiver Barry Elliot is setting FSU records in his first year with the program as a grad transfer from Charleston West Virginia. He has scored at least one touchdown in six of FSU's last eight games and recorded his ninth receiving touchdown during last Saturday's conference championship game. His 9 receiving touchdowns are the most since Chris Hubert (13) and Tavon Gatlin (11) in the 2015 season, while his 10 total TDs are the most by a Bronco since Stevie Green's 14 rushing scores in 2019. Elliott is a Fayetteville native that attended Jack Britt HS locally.
DEFENSIVE STARS: Defensive ends Devin Cowan and Cameron Merrell led an FSU defense that tallied the second most sacks (34) and allowed the fewest PPG (12.8) in the CIAA during the regular season. Cowan's 14.0 TFL leads the team, while Merrell leads the team lead with 8.5 sacks over the first 10 weeks of the year. FSU's 34 total sacks surpassed the 2021 season total of 30 and are the most by any FSU defensive unit since the 2009 season (46) squad that won the CIAA championship. Other defensive stars include sophomore linebacker Kentrell Caldwell, who is second on the team with 65 total tackles, and All-CIAA Preseason cornerback Brandon Barnes-Brown who leads the team with 3 INTs, including one in last Saturday's championship game.
GROUND & POUND: Running backs Elijah Henry and Derrick Alston Jr. have been a focal point of the FSU offense in recent weeks and have stepped up big since starter Syheam McQueen suffered an injury on 9/29. Henry, a grad student in his final season, has scored a touchdown in three of the last six games and has been heavily utilized in the passing game as a check-down option, totaling 147 yards receiving in the last three weeks. Henry didn't see many snaps in week 10 at WSSU after suffering a left leg injury on the opening kickoff but returned for the CIAA championship game. Alston, a sophomore, has scored a rushing touchdown in three of the last five games and compiled 339 of his 382 rushing yards this season during that five-game stretch. Mekhi Fenner has also been utilized in the run game with 40 carries for 189 yards.
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