FAYETTEVILLE – UNC Pembroke used an 11-play, 84-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead with just over a minute to play, but Fayetteville State went 60 yards in five plays to score the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds left in regulation, securing a 35-31 win over the Braves on Saturday night to reclaim the Two Rivers Classic Cup.
The Braves (0-2) were held to 287 yards of total offense by the Broncos (1-0), marking the first time since Oct. 7, 2023 that the Black & Gold didn’t eclipse the 300-yard mark.
On the Braves’ opening drive, Jaquan Albright and Sincere Baines each picked up 16-yard receptions from freshman quarterback Tre Robinson before Jo Hayes got the Braves in the redzone with a 30-yard catch. Hayes would put the Braves on the board first with a 5-yard touchdown grab. The Braves converted three third downs on the drive, the last of which went for the Hayes score.