Despite season's wild swings, Fayetteville State Broncos end up right where they wanted to be

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- In the aftermath of Fayetteville State's 42-35 overtime loss at Livingstone on Saturday, the mood in the Broncos' locker room was understandably downbeat. An interception late in regulation and another at the goal line in overtime had appeared to end Fayetteville State's chances for a CIAA Southern Division title.

"That's probably one of the worst ones I've been a part of," Broncos coach Lawrence Kershaw said.

But then, players began getting texts from Fayetteville State's cheerleaders.

Already on the bus and headed back to campus, they'd seen that Winston-Salem State, the first-place team in the division, had lost to Shaw. That meant Saturday's game between the Rams and Broncos would decide who gets a bid in the CIAA championship game.

What at one point looked like the Broncos' lost cause was now very much in play.

CONTINUE READING