Saturday, October 20, 2012

Toliver's TD Pushes St. Aug Past FSU 34-28 in 3 OTs on Homecoming Day

RALEIGH, N.C. – Deonte Toliver (R-Jr./Gaithersburg, Md.) scored on a seven-yard run in the third overtime to give Saint Augustine's University a 34-28 victory over Fayetteville State University on the Falcons' Homecoming Day at Saint Augustine's University Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, before a capacity crowd of 2,500.

The victory improved the Falcons' record to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the CIAA. The Broncos fell to 1-7 overall and remain winless in the conference at 0-5. The win was the first for the Falcons since the name change from college to university. The Falcons are 2-0 in homecoming games played at Saint Augustine's University Stadium.

“It was a struggle. I'm not going to lie,” St. Aug Head Coach Michael Costa said after his team pulled out the win. “We persevered which is most important.”

Tyron Laughinghouse (Sr./Greenville, N.C.) led the Falcons with nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown and Toliver added 70 yards on 16 carries off the bench. Defensively, the Falcons were led by linebackers Antonio Stewart (So./Ellenwood, Ga.) and Chaz Robinson (Jr./Hampton, Va.) with 14 and 12 tackles, respectively. The Falcons recorded five sacks including 1.5 from Shonquez Nelson (Jr./Lake City, S.C.) and one each from Christopher Roberts (R-Fr./Albany, Ga.) and Robinson. The defense has 12 sacks in their last two games.

The Falcons won despite being outgained (465-332) in offensive yards and losing time of possession (37:05-22:48). The Broncos were in position to win with three seconds left in regulation but missed a 25-yard field goal. The contest went into overtime tied 14-14.

The Falcons outscored the Broncos 20-14 in the three overtimes. Rowdy Batchelor (R-Sr./Jacksonville, N.C.) gave the Falcons their first lead of the game on a one-yard scoring run in the first overtime. Michael Lima (So./Miami, Fla.) kicked the extra point for a 21-14 lead. The Broncos knotted the game at 21-21 on Xavier Molina-Williams' five-yard catch from Andreas Hudson and Antonio Mayo's extra point.

The Broncos led 28-21 in the second overtime on Colon Bailey's one-yard run and Mayo's point after kick in the second overtime. The Falcons came right back and tied the game at 28-28 on a one-yard run by Roderick Davenport (Fr./Orangeburg, S.C.) and Lima's extra point.

In the third overtime, Toliver scored on a short run up the middle to give the Falcons the lead for good. The Falcons sealed the win on the ensuing possession when the Broncos, facing fourth down and five at the SAU 20, threw an incomplete pass out of the end zone.

“I had to wait on my defense to respond and they finally did when it counted most,” Costa said.

The game was a defensive struggle in the first half with neither team scoring point. The Broncos scored first in the third quarter on a one-yard run by Bailey, who rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries. Mayo's extra point put the Broncos ahead 7-0.

The Falcons tied the score at 7-7 in the third quarter when Jermaine Jones (R-Jr./Wilmington, N.C.) recovered a fumble in the end zone and Lima added the extra point. The Broncos regained the lead in the fourth quarter when Hudson scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak and Mayo kicked the extra point. The Falcons tied the game again when Laughinghouse caught a 21-yard pass from Teddy Bacote (Jr./Hampton, Va.).

The Falcons play their last road game of the season when they visit Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. Game time is 1 p.m.
Offensive linemen Rory Nixon (Sr./Hampton, Va.) and Stedman Gardner (R-Sr./Gastonia, N.C.) both played in their 38th game as a Falcon.


COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

No comments: