09-09-2013, 10:14 AM
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. --- The Latrell Scott Era at Virginia State got off to a rousing start as senior Devonte Hunt booted a game-winning 30-yard field as time expired to lift Virginia State (1-0, 1-0) downed Fayetteville State (0-1, 0-1) before 5,371 fans at Nick Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville, N.C.
Making the dramatics even more impressive is that the Trojans botched three extra point attempts and missed an 18-yard field goal along the way. Trailing 28-8 in the third quarter, Virginia State scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and another in the fourth to close the game to 28-26 setting up Hunt's late-game heroics.
It didn't look as if coach Scott's team would be celebrating at game's end. Fayetteville State turned a pair of Trojan turnovers into touchdowns to build a 21-8 halftime lead. The Broncos scored first after recovering a fumble at the Trojan eight-yard line with Jemeryn Jenkins scoring from eight-yards out. Fayetteville State scored again in the first quarter when quarterback Jenkins completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Kasunn Williams.
"We didn't play very well in the first half, Scott said. "We made too many turnovers in the first half and put ourselves behind the eight-ball. We always preach to our guys to keep their heads up and not to quit. They stuck together even when we fell behind by 20 points."
Virginia State got on the board with 11:57 to go in the second quarter as Lamont Britt two-yard run for a score. The Trojan defense tackled Bronco quarterback Jenkins in the end zone to make the score, 14-8. John Brown recovered a fumble and rambled 39 yards for a Fayetteville State touchdown with 4:50 left in the half. The Brocnos led 21-8 at intermission.
Williams hauled in a 31-yard pass from Jenkins to lift the Broncos to a 28-8 advantage midway through the third quarter.
But The Trojans refused to fold. Quarterback Justin Thorpe led VSU on an 11-play, 74-yard drive culminating in Jordan Anderson's 17-yard scoring run with 2:05 left in the quarter. Anderson's eight-yard scoring run cut the deficit to 28-20 at the end of three quarters.
Anderson scored his third touchdown of the night, an eight-yard jaunt, with 6:41 to go to make the score 28-26 before Hunt's game-winning field goal.
"Our kicking game let us down. But when we needed the kick we got it," Scott said. "We tried a couple of kickers but when it came down to the end, we decided to go with our senior. Devonte came up to me at the end and said, 'Let me win the game for us.' And we did."
Anderson finished the game with 182 yards rushing on 29 totes, the most rushing yards for a Trojan in more than two seasons to go with his two TD runs. Thorpe completed 20 of 28 passes for 190 yards in the contest
Making the dramatics even more impressive is that the Trojans botched three extra point attempts and missed an 18-yard field goal along the way. Trailing 28-8 in the third quarter, Virginia State scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and another in the fourth to close the game to 28-26 setting up Hunt's late-game heroics.
It didn't look as if coach Scott's team would be celebrating at game's end. Fayetteville State turned a pair of Trojan turnovers into touchdowns to build a 21-8 halftime lead. The Broncos scored first after recovering a fumble at the Trojan eight-yard line with Jemeryn Jenkins scoring from eight-yards out. Fayetteville State scored again in the first quarter when quarterback Jenkins completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Kasunn Williams.
"We didn't play very well in the first half, Scott said. "We made too many turnovers in the first half and put ourselves behind the eight-ball. We always preach to our guys to keep their heads up and not to quit. They stuck together even when we fell behind by 20 points."
Virginia State got on the board with 11:57 to go in the second quarter as Lamont Britt two-yard run for a score. The Trojan defense tackled Bronco quarterback Jenkins in the end zone to make the score, 14-8. John Brown recovered a fumble and rambled 39 yards for a Fayetteville State touchdown with 4:50 left in the half. The Brocnos led 21-8 at intermission.
Williams hauled in a 31-yard pass from Jenkins to lift the Broncos to a 28-8 advantage midway through the third quarter.
But The Trojans refused to fold. Quarterback Justin Thorpe led VSU on an 11-play, 74-yard drive culminating in Jordan Anderson's 17-yard scoring run with 2:05 left in the quarter. Anderson's eight-yard scoring run cut the deficit to 28-20 at the end of three quarters.
Anderson scored his third touchdown of the night, an eight-yard jaunt, with 6:41 to go to make the score 28-26 before Hunt's game-winning field goal.
"Our kicking game let us down. But when we needed the kick we got it," Scott said. "We tried a couple of kickers but when it came down to the end, we decided to go with our senior. Devonte came up to me at the end and said, 'Let me win the game for us.' And we did."
Anderson finished the game with 182 yards rushing on 29 totes, the most rushing yards for a Trojan in more than two seasons to go with his two TD runs. Thorpe completed 20 of 28 passes for 190 yards in the contest