Fayetteville St.

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Kenny Phillips is 64-44 in 10 seasons as FSU’s head coach. Phillips’ Broncos are the defending CIAA champions and made the Division II playoffs last season.

The Broncos have numerous weapons on special teams, including preseason player-to-watch, Austin Turner. Turner made a CIAA-best 17 field goals in 2009. Junior Warren Johnson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns during FSU’s Blue and White scrimmage on Aug. 28.

Richard Portee, a 45-year vet in the coaching profession, takes over play-calling duties for the Broncos as offensive coordinator in 2010. His career stops include stints in the NFL, at N.C. State and N.C. Central.

Player spotlight

Richard Medlin, FSU’s all-everything senior running back, missed last season’s Classic after being suspended by the NCAA for his role in an altercation during the Broncos’ 2008 regular-season finale.

Coach's Corner

FSU’s Kenny Phillips:

“It’s going to turn out to be one of those classics that everybody starts to talk about year in and year out. We’re looking forward to coming down here and bringing a good football team. Hopefully, the atmosphere we had over at Fayetteville State last year will happen over here (Pembroke).”

UNCP

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Travis Daniels is coming off a 1,000-yard season for the Braves at tailback. Daniel toted the football 147 times for 1,058 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead a rushing offense that averaged 231.7 yards per game in 2009.

Josh Throckmorton, a four-year starter from Hope Mills, moves over to receiver from his tight end position to help fill the holes left by Jamal Williams and L.J. Johnson. Throckmorton is a reliable target at 6-foot-3 with soft hands and a knack for breaking tackles.

Caylon Hann is one of three starters in the secondary that saw action in last year’s Classic. In his UNCP career, the All-American has 10 interceptions.

Player spotlight

Cory Smith, UNCP’s senior leader and Indian Trail native, has 38 career touchdown passes for the Braves, compiling an impressive 18-3 record under center for coach Pete Shinnick.

Coach's Corner

UNCP’s Pete Shinnick: “Coach Phillips and I are very fortunate that the two teams that represented the state of North Carolina in the Division II playoffs get a chance to play each other in the opener. I think this is the start of something great here. We were tested last year and had one more play than they did.”

Other tidbits:

Saturday’s Classic could come down to special teams as both squads have return men capable of breaking the big play. FSU’s Richard Medlin returned three kickoffs for touchdowns during his sophomore season in 2008 while UNCP’s Caylon Hann took a punt for a score during the same season. Hann will handle return duties exclusively for the Braves following the departure of Jamal Wiliams. Williams quit the team after last season and is currently enrolled at Winston-Salem State.

Donald Britt had an excellent spring as the Braves’ slot receiver and will start against the Broncos alongside fellow wideouts, St. Anthony Lloyd and Josh Throckmorton. Britt is a 5-foot-7 sophomore from Elon with 11 career receptions.

The Broncos are looking for redemption after UNCP brought home the first Two Rivers Cup in Fayetteville last season. FSU coach Kenny Phillips says his team is well-prepared for Part II of the Classic and expects the game to be another tight contest in the fourth quarter.

UNCP is riding a 10-game home winning streak, a tally that spans all the way back to Oct. 2007.

In contrast, the Broncos play their best football away from Fayetteville, notching a 6-1 record on the road last season.

Prediction

Richard Medlin helps FSU keep it close but UNCP continues its dominance at home with a decisive win.

UNCP 34, FSU 20