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Fayetteville, NC – Fayetteville State University acquired its first victory of the season after Jacob Meneses connected on a 40-yard field goal that put the Broncos ahead 20-17 over Lincoln Pa. as time expired. The Broncos improve to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference as the Lions drop to 1-2 and 0-1.
We’ve had to come from behind before, so nothing new,” said Head Coach Richard Hayes. “We practice this situation every week. So, when it came down to Jacob, he missed a couple, but I have total confidence in him. I told Coach Randall [Offensive Coordinator] to get us inside the 20 and we will be good.”
Meneses, a sophomore from Rancho Cucamonga, Ca., scored the first points of the game with a 32-yard field goal with 2:45 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead. Just before halftime, with 11 seconds left, Syheam McQueen capped a 10-play and 88-yard drive with a one-yard walk into the endzone for a 9-0 lead.
Lincoln (Pa.) made the scoreboard early in the third quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Isaiah Freeman.
The Lions captured a 14-9 lead before the end of the third quarter (5:17) when Freeman threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Dah’mear Triplett. Andre Jandayan added three more points to Lincoln’s lead (17-9) with a 26-yard field goal.
Fayetteville State responded with 4:32 left in the game with a 3-play drive for 60 yards. Joe Owens dropped a 46-yard pass to David Baros, who crossed the goal line for a tied (17-17) game.
Forcing Lincoln to punt on the following drive, FSU had the final drive of the game with 2:51 left in regulation. On a 3-and-8, Owens hit Baros for 13 yards and a fresh set of downs. Facing 3-and-10, Owens finds Baros again for 10 yards. On LUPA’s 37-yard line with a third down and six yards-to-go situation, Owens scrambles for 15 yards to the 22-yard line with five seconds on the clock.
Lincoln’s timeout would set up the final scene that ended in favor of the Broncos, thanks to Meneses’ kick.
Jacob Meneses finished the game making 2-of-3 field goals. David Baros hauled in seven receptions for a total of 108 yards. Joe Owens completed 13 passes of 22 attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown. Julian Milligan rushed 11 times for 79 yards and Syheam McQueen carried six times for 79 yards.
Theniias Moss led all Broncos with seven tackles while Quran Blount, Brian Grier, and Kolby Merritt followed with six.
Isaiah Freeman led the Lincoln (Pa.) effort with 16 of 27 pass attempts for 249 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked three times and threw two interceptions. Amir Gerald ran the ball 17 times for a net 56 yards. Malachi Langley finished with five receptions for 116 yards.
Fayetteville State will travel to Virginia Union University next weekend for an HBCU Go televised game.
