DURHAM, N.C.  - Shaw University committed five turnovers on their way to a 49-35 loss to visiting Chowan in a game played Saturday afternoon at Durham County Memorial Stadium. 

"You can't throw two interceptions for touchdowns and you can't commit turnovers if you want to win," said Shaw head coach Robert Massey.  "The defense can't let down in third down situations, either.  You've got to close out - you've got to finish to win these games."

The Shaw defense gave up 470 yards of total offense to the Hawks, often missing key tackles in third-and-long situations.

"We've got to get in front of them," said Massey.  "It's not as if we're doing something complicated.  We're doing something bland on defense.  We just have to get in front of them and we have to finish the tackles.  We shouldn't still be doing this four games into the season."

There were some bright spots for the Bears, as the team rolled up 618 yards of total offense while the defense forced four Chowan turnovers.

The brightest spot for the Bears was likely the rushing performance of freshman Marquise Grizzle.  With reigning CIAA Offensive Back of the Week Antonio Dunn sidelined with an early ankle injury and James Langford slowed with an injury of his own, Grizzle had to fight through his own injuries to amass 178 yards on 24 carries.

"If there was a bright spot, it was him," said Massey.  "He was injured, but we needed him to come in.  We've got him for four years and he's going to be a good one."

Shaw quarterback James Stallons provided both the highs and lows for the Bears.  While Stallons set a Shaw record with 436 yards passing, he also threw four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown and two returned to inside the Shaw ten-yard line.

Early in the second quarter, and deep in Shaw territory, Stallons threw his first interception of the day, giving the Hawks the ball at the Shaw ten.  Two plays later, Tim Hanson ran for seven yards and gave Chowan a 14-6 lead with 13:16 left in the second quarter.

After a third Shaw field goal made the score 14-9, Bryce McClain recovered a Hawk fumble, giving the Bears the ball at the Chowan 41.  On the first play, Stallons connected with Ta'Juan Brown for the touchdown.  George Mulumba sent the PAT through the uprights to give Shaw a 16-14 lead.

The two teams then exchanged interceptions, leaving Chowan at the Shaw two.  Ryan scored his second touchdown of the game two plays later and the Hawks reclaimed the advantage, 21-16.

On the next drive, Grizzle ran for 34 yards, and Stallons threw for another 31 to lead Shaw down the field.  With 2:31 left in the half, Stallons hit Marcus Hickson on a 14-yard slant to give the Bears back the lead, 23-21 - which is how the half ended.

On the opening drive of the second half, Chowan's David Fulton pulled in a Stallons interception and returned it 58 yards for a Chowan touchdown that gave them a 28-23 advantage. 

The Hawks would increase their lead to 12 points when Hanson added 19 yards and another touchdown to his total with 5:49 left in the third.  The PAT gave Chowan a 35-23 lead.

Shaw answered that score quickly, with Grizzle and Stallons again combining to move the team downfield.  Grizzle had a 33-yard sprint to begin the drive, while Stallons hit De'Angelo Ruffin for 51 yards to put the Bears within striking distance.  Grizzle cut his way through the line and made the four-yard dash to score.  The extra point try was blocked, so Shaw trailed 35-29.

As the third quarter was drawing to a close, Grizzle and Stallons combined yet again.  As the clock hit zero, Stallons found Hickson on a 42-yard strike for the Shaw touchdown.  The PAT attempt failed, leaving the score tied at 35 as the teams began the fourth quarter.

On the first drive of the quarter, Hanson broke a 68-yard run to give Chowan a 42-35 lead.  They would add another touchdown in the final minutes of the game when Cameron Stover hit Elliot Smalls for a 13-yard completion to set the final score at 49-35. 

On the game, the Shaw offense amassed 436 yards through the air and another 182 on the ground for a total of 618 yards. 

Stallons finished his day 28 for 51 with three touchdowns and four interceptions.  He was sacked four times.  Hickson was his leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Grizzle's 178 yards came on 24 attempts, giving him a 7.4 yard per carry average.  He had one touchdown.

Defensively, the Bears were led by Darius Moffett with ten solo tackles, including two tackles for a loss.  He also had two interceptions, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.  Oscar Petty finished the game with nine solo tackles, including a tackle for a loss.  And Miguel Johnson had seven tackles.  As a team, the Bears had nine tackles for a loss.

The Hawks amassed 470 yards of offense - 250 of that on the ground.  They held a slight lead in time of possession, 30:24 to 29:32 for Shaw.

Stover battled an injury received last week and finished with a 17 for 28 performance for 210 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters of play.  He also threw two interceptions.  Ryan Nolan played the second quarter, hitting only one of six passes for ten yards and one interception.

Hanson finished with 186 yards rushing with three touchdowns.  He averaged 6.4 yards per carry.

Chris Morris and Devahn Murphy each had six solo tackles for the Hawks, with Morris pulling in an interception and returning it for 23 yards.  David Fulton had six tackles, including three solo tackles, a tackle for a loss and an interception.

The Bears return to action next Saturday when they travel to Virginia State for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.  They return home Saturday, October 6, when they host Fayetteville State in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day.  Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium.