WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Shaw University overcame a 21-point deficit by scoring 24 straight, but a Winston-Salem State touchdown with 59 seconds on the clock led the #13 Rams past the Bears 28-24.

The loss knocks Shaw (5-4, 3-3 in the CIAA) out of the running for the Southern Division title.  Winston-Salem State improves to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the conference and will play Fayetteville State next week for the division title.

It was a sloppy, and at times ugly, game with neither offense firing on all cylinders and both teams committing penalties on a regular basis.  The Bears, who had been averaging just over 400 yards of offense per game, gained only 238 yards, while the Rams - who average 493.6 yards per game -finished with only 342 yards.

Both teams rolled up well over 100 yards in penalties.  Shaw collected 16 flags for 172 yards, while the Rams had 15 infractions for 151 yards.

Winston-Salem State built a lead early on three touchdown passes from quarterback Rudy Johnson to three different receivers.  Midway through the second quarter, Johnson found Eric Williams on a four-yard slant that gave the Rams a 21-0 margin.

On the ensuing kickoff, DeShawn Beck found a lane down the sideline and returned the ball 38 yards to give Shaw a very short field.  Marquise Grizzle gained four yards on a rush, then Trevius Folston, playing in place of an injured Quinshon Odom, found David Jordan for a 32-yard strike that gave the Bears their first score and trimmed the lead to 21-7 with 6:38 left in the first half.

The tide may have turned on the next possession, as the Winston-Salem offense began to methodically move down the field, while Shaw committed penalties at critical times -- a pass interference, roughing the passer and roughing the kicker -- to keep the drive alive. 

The Rams accumulated 69 yards on the drive, but as they approached the Shaw goal line, the Bear defense stiffened and finally drew an offensive pass interference penalty on the Rams that closed out the half without WSSU getting another score.

The Shaw defense then held WSSU scoreless for 29 minutes, while finally finding their way on the scoreboard.

On their second drive of the second half, the Bears got to the four-yard line, but a sack of Folston knocked them back six yards and brought on Andres Magallon to kick the field goal, cutting the WSSU lead to 21-10.  Those would be the only points scored in the third quarter.

As the quarter came to a close, the Bears mounted a drive that continued into the fourth, largely on the back of Grizzle, who covered 43 yards on eight carries.  It was another Folston pass to Jordan - this one for 18 yards - that gave Shaw the touchdown and new life, down only 21-17.

Winston-Salem State answered with a vengeance, quickly moving from their own 40 to the Shaw 35.  Johnson then targeted downfield, but it was Shaw's Darnell Evans who came down with his second interception of the game.  He gained blockers and a clear path, returning the interception 88 yards for a Shaw touchdown and the Bear lead at 24-21.

With 3:19 left, and still trailing 24-21, WSSU got the ball on their own 16.  On the second play of the drive, Johnson hit Kenne Patterson for a 25-yard pass, which got extended another 15 yards on a face mask penalty on Shaw.  Johnson then went on the offensive, completing four passes in short order, including the 17-yard connection with Chase Powell that gave them the 28-24 lead with 59 seconds left.

The Bears put their final drive in the hands of Folston, who rushed for 21 yards, then went two of six - mostly long bombs toward the end zone, but the key completion didn't come and Shaw fell 28-24.

With his 109 yards rushing, Grizzle is four yards shy of tying Shaw's single-season rushing mark.  He gained the 109 yards on 24 carries -- good for 4.5 yards per rush.

Folston finished the game 14 for 29 with two interceptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.  He was sacked five times.  Jordan was the leading receiver for the Bears, hauling in a total of four passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Darnell Evans, who was leading the nation in interceptions at the start of the day, added two to his total to give him ten on the season.  He collected 104 yards of interception returns.  He also had four tackles and one forced fumble.

Evan Strange was the leading tackler for the Bears with 11 tackles, including four tackles for a loss and one sack.  Darius Moffett had 10 tackles including one tackle for a loss.

Johnson finished the game 23 for 32 for 208 yards and two interceptions.  He threw for all four touchdowns.  He was also the Rams' leading rusher with 71 yards.  Maurice Lewis had 56 yards on the ground.

Powell was the leading receiver for the Rams with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns.  In all, Johnson connected with seven different receivers.

Carlos Fields led WSSU defensively, with eight tackles including half a tackle for a loss.  Alfy Hill and Daniel Mungin had seven tackles apiece.  Hill had three tackles for a loss and an interception while Mungin had half a tackle for a loss.

The Bears close out their season next week when they host cross-town rival Saint Augustine's at Durham County Memorial Stadium.  Prior to the game, Shaw will honor the 18 seniors who will be playing their last game for the Bears.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.