Skip to content
Triangle Local

Fayetteville, Cumberland County

Fayetteville: Fayetteville State beats Bowie State 21-17 on Senior Day

Fayetteville State won 21-17 at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium on Saturday. The Broncos are 6-3 (5-2 CIAA). Bowie State is 4-5 (4-3).

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Staff · Published

The Market House on Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville

File photo: Epicjeff (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Fayetteville State beat Bowie State 21-17 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville. The Broncos' schedule lists the game as Senior Day / BAC Appreciation.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics recap, box score and schedule; Bowie State Athletics schedule
  • The line score was Bowie State 7-3-0-7 and Fayetteville State 0-7-14-0.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score
  • After the game, the official schedule, the box score and the CIAA standings list Fayetteville State at 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA. Bowie State is 4-5 and 4-3. The campus recap's 7-3 and 6-2 lines do not match those boards.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics schedule and box score; Bowie State Athletics schedule; CIAA football standings
  • Devonta Johnson returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Chris Gbakinro made a 39-yard field goal at 14:54 of the second, 10-0.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score scoring summary; Fayetteville State Athletics recap for the blocked-punt description
  • Isaiah Silver ran 44 yards for a touchdown at 4:59 of the second quarter, 10-7.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score scoring summary
  • Jamir Dismukes threw a 31-yard touchdown to Marcus Fleming on the first series of the third quarter, 14-10. Fleming later ran 9 yards to finish a 13-play, 77-yard drive, 21-10.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score scoring summary; Fayetteville State Athletics recap
  • Jaylin Solomon ran 2 yards at 10:18 of the fourth quarter, 21-17. Amari Best intercepted a pass, and Fayetteville State's next series started with 1:45 left.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score scoring summary and play-by-play; Fayetteville State Athletics recap
  • Dismukes completed 14 of 19 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown. Silver had 83 yards on 5 carries. Jason Melton II had 19 tackles. The Broncos recorded 4 sacks. The official sheet lists 2,111 in the stands.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics box score
  • Fayetteville State next plays at Winston-Salem State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m.Confirmed by Fayetteville State Athletics 2026 football schedule

What happened

Fayetteville State beat Bowie State 21-17 on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium in Fayetteville, on Senior Day and Broncos Athletic Club Appreciation Day.

The official schedule, the box score and the CIAA standings list the Broncos at 6-3 and 5-2. Bowie State is 4-5 and 4-3. The campus recap listed 7-3 and 6-2, which does not match those boards, so those recap figures are not used here.

Bowie State's schedule also lists the result as a 17-21 loss at Fayetteville State.

How they scored

The box score's line is Bowie State 7-3-0-7 and Fayetteville State 0-7-14-0.

Devonta Johnson returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Chris Gbakinro made a 39-yard field goal 6 seconds into the second period, 10-0.

Isaiah Silver ran 44 yards with 4:59 left before halftime, 10-7.

Jamir Dismukes threw 31 yards to Marcus Fleming on the first series after halftime, 14-10. Fleming later ran 9 yards to end a 13-play, 77-yard drive, 21-10.

Jaylin Solomon ran 2 yards at 10:18 of the fourth, 21-17. Amari Best intercepted a pass, and the Broncos' next series started with 1:45 left.

The box

Dismukes completed 14 of 19 passes for 160 yards and one score. Silver had 83 yards on 5 carries. Jason Melton II had 19 tackles. The defense recorded 4 sacks. The official sheet lists 2,111 in the stands.

What's next

The Broncos play at Winston-Salem State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1:30 p.m., the schedule says.

This site is not Fayetteville State Athletics.

Photos

Text-only. No athletics or outlet photos are used here.

Why it matters

Fayetteville State is Cumberland County's Division II football program. Saturday's Senior Day win kept a four-game streak intact before a Nov. 7 trip to Winston-Salem State.

Sources

  1. Broncos Defeat Bowie State on Senior Day and Broncos Athletic Club Appreciation Game (game recap, Oct. 31, 2026, 4:22 p.m.: 21-17 at Luther 'Nick' Jeralds Stadium; Senior Day and Broncos Athletic Club Appreciation; recap listed 7-3 and 6-2, which conflict with the schedule, box and CIAA board; Silver 44-yard run; Dismukes to Fleming 31 yards; Fleming 9-yard run on 13 plays, 77 yards; late interception by Best; Dismukes 14 of 19, 160 yards, 1 TD; Silver 83 yards on 5 carries; Melton II 19 tackles; 4 sacks; next at Winston-Salem State, Nov. 7, 1:30 p.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by Fayetteville State Athletics · Checked Nov 1, 2026, 10:20 AM

  2. Football vs Bowie State on 10/31/2026, box score (Bowie St. 4-5, 4-3 vs Fayetteville St. 6-3, 5-2; 17-21; line 7-3-0-7 / 0-7-14-0; Luther "Nick" Jeralds; kickoff 1 p.m.; attendance 2111; Johnson 24-yard punt return; Gbakinro 39-yard field goal; Silver 44-yard run; Fleming 31-yard catch from Dismukes and 9-yard run, 13 plays, 77 yards; Solomon 2-yard run at 10:18 of the fourth; Best interception, next series at 1:45; Dismukes 14-19-160-1; Silver 5-83; Melton II 19 tackles; 4 sacks)

    Official sourcePublished by Fayetteville State Athletics · Checked Nov 1, 2026, 10:20 AM

  3. 2026 Football Schedule (vs Bowie State W, 21-17, Senior Day / BAC Appreciation; season record 6-3, 5-2 CIAA, W4; next at Winston-Salem State, Nov. 7, 1:30 p.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by Fayetteville State Athletics · Checked Nov 1, 2026, 10:20 AM

  4. 2026 Football Schedule (at Fayetteville State L, 17-21; 4-5, 4-3)

    Official sourcePublished by Bowie State Athletics · Checked Nov 1, 2026, 10:20 AM

  5. 2026 Football Standings (Fayetteville State 5-2, 6-3, W4; Bowie State 4-3, 4-5, L1)

    Official sourcePublished by Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association · Checked Nov 1, 2026, 10:20 AM

Related stories