The CIAA championship is in the books, with Fayetteville State finally getting over the hump after four straight losses to defeat the Chowan 31-28.
This game lived up to the hype, with both teams bringing a level of intensity that had not been seen in the conference championship game in years.
Here are three takeaways from an exciting Saturday.
The crowd was engaged
Not only did both teams bring a nice-sized crowd, but the fans also brought a lot of energy.
Fayetteville State’s side was dripped in blue with signs all throughout its section. Every time their team needed to make a big play, Broncos fans jumped out of their seats to encourage the players on.
It also helped that the Broncos had the added advantage of having their band and cheerleaders in the stands, too.
The same could be said for the Chowan supporters, who, even without a band, were a rowdy bunch. They inspired them with creative chants against the opposition.
For instance, when the Broncos committed a penalty, the Hawks faithful mockingly chanted, “you can’t do that!” This created an ironic full-circle moment when Chowan committed a game-changing kick-catching interference penalty in the final minutes, and the Fayetteville State fans gave it right back.
Although the game was sensational on its own merit, the fans added a fun element to the game, which added to the viewing experience.
Finally, fall football weather
Anyone who has ever experienced the CIAA championship game live knows that the weather is going to play a factor somehow.
Historically, conditions were so cold that fans would need to layer up with coats and gloves to keep themselves warm.
This year, however, that was not the case, as the temperature was in the mid-60s at the start of the game and stayed that way for much of the first half.
Although there was a brief period of rain and the temperature dropped slightly in the fourth quarter, the weather was not unbearable like it has been in years past.
This was key because it allowed fans to freely cheer on their team without worrying about needing to stay warm. This created a much more fun environment.
Could there be an encore?
There might be more where that came from if these teams have anything to say about it.
In the postgame press conference, both coaches expressed pride in their team’s performance and expectation for what they could accomplish in the future.
Fayetteville State head coach Richard Hayes emphatically stated that he fully expects his team to be back in the championship game next year.
“Every year I sat in this room after a loss, I told y’all we would be back next year,” said Hayes. “I never quit. We never gave up. Some people come one time and never get to see it again. We’ve seen it five times in a row. Guess what, we’re a young football team, so you might see us again next year. So expect to see us sitting here.”
That same confidence was echoed by Chowan head coach Mark Hall. He made it known that while he does not believe the team needs to make “major changes,” there are some things that the team “needs to adjust” and that they will re-evaluate what they need to do in the offseason.
If these comments are any indication, the CIAA could be in for what could be the next great rivalry in the conference for the years to come.
