[Durham, NC] - The Bears didn't simply break their four-game losing streak, they shattered it completely, dominating visiting Livingstone 54-0.

The Bears not only went over 300 yards on the season for the first time, they went over 400 - garnering 465 yards of offense, including 356 in the air.

The defense did not simply come to life, they held the Blue Bears to only 33 yards of total offense on the game, swarming Livingstone with ever-changing views and lineups. 

The Bears entered the game 0-4 - the first time the team had done that since 1978.  "When you drop four games, everyone goes 'whoa, what's going on here,'" said Shaw head coach Darrell Asberry.  "The biggest thing for us was to come out and play well in all three phases of the game.  The team came out with the attitude of wanting to get this monkey of their backs."

Asberry says that the 0-4 start was not indicative of what the team can accomplish, but more a sign of shortcomings in those four games.  "Every game we've lost, we were in, but we shot ourselves in the foot.  Not to take anything away from our opponents, but we weren't beaten, we beat ourselves," Asberry said.  "We do have a very good team.  I think they will contend for a championship."

The Shaw defense gave notice of what they intended on the very first drive, pushing the Blue Bears back 19 yards on their first possession.  The next time Livingstone got the ball, they got only five yards. 

The offense struggled on their first drive, but were given a wide open shot when a Livingstone punt went backwards eight yards, giving the Bears a first down on the Livingstone 17.  Three plays later, Cory Norman skirted the edge of the offensive line and barreled into the end zone to give the Bears a 7-0 lead. 

On the ensuing kickoff, John Papillion returned the ball five yards, but lost the handle.  The ball was recovered by Shaw's Jonathan Ringo on the 31.  The Bears could do little that drive, advancing the ball only eight yards, and settling for a 40-yard field goal.

After another short Livingstone drive, the Bears again got the ball in good field position, but were again unable to push it into the end zone, leading to another Shepherd field goal - this one from 25.

The Bears went three-and-out on their next possession, perhaps giving the Shaw faithful concern that the Bears were losing offensive steam. 

They needn't have worried. 

Chris Martin picked off a Jaren Troutman pass, again giving the Bears outstanding field position on the Livingstone 39.  Quinshon Odom, who won his starting job the previous week, connected with Jayson Royal for a 21-yard strike to move Shaw to the 16, then connected with Tyrone Craig to cover the rest of the yardage and score another touchdown, making the score 20-0 in the Bears favor.

Livingstone's next drive went backwards for two yards, then Odom again took the team on his back, connecting with three different receivers - Derrell Person, Royal and finally Bobby Holliday who caught the ball, then found the end zone to give the Bears a 27-0 lead.

The Blue Bears went three and out again, and their punt went into the end zone for a touchback, leaving Shaw with their longest stretch of field on the day.  Odom connected with five different receivers on the drive, hitting James Pettway twice - including once in the end zone to push the Bears lead to 34-0 just in time for the half.

On their second drive of the second half, Odom connected with Pettway on a 50-yard strike and Fred Holliday closed the drive by plowing two yards across the goal line for a 41-0 Shaw lead.

Homer Causey assumed the quarterback duties on the next drive about midway through the third and other than a couple of plays, led the Shaw offense the rest of the game.

On the last play of the third quarter, Causey connected with Norman to move the Bears to the one-yard line.  On the opening play of the fourth, Causey scored on the quarterback keeper, but the kick failed, keeping the score 47-0.

The Bears closed out the scoring on their next drive, when Causey connected with Pettway on a 27-yard strike into the end zone, with Shepherd's PAT making the final score 54-0.

Odom finished his day 15 for 24 for 246 yards and three touchdowns.  Causey was five for ten for 110 yards and a touchdown of his own.  On the ground, Fred Holliday had 35 yards and Causey added another 30.

Pettway was the receiving star with five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.  Royal finished the game with four catches for 98 yards.

Despite the offensive brilliance, the true star was Shaw's defense, who held the Blue Bears to 30 yards rushing and only three through the air.  The defense featured ever-changing personnel and no fewer than 16 Bears had at least two tackles.  Combined, the team had 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks and six quarterback hurries.

DeMarcus Roberson had eight tackles, including six solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss.  Roberson also had a quarterback hurry.    Rashard Coleman added eight tackles of his own, including one tackle for a loss.  Chris Martin had eight tackles as well, including 1.5 tackles for a loss, an interception and a quarterback hurry.

With the win, Shaw improves to 1-4 on the season and evens its conference record at 1-1.  Livingstone drops to 1-4 and is 0-3 in the CIAA.

Next Saturday, the Bears take on Johnson C. Smith in the annual Homecoming game.  Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium.