Box Score Raleigh, NC – The Shaw University football team made it interesting but eventually did what was needed to put away a feisty Johnson C. Smith team securing a 20-14 homecoming victory Saturday afternoon inside of Baker Stadium in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division matchup.
With the win Shaw improves to 5-3 overall, 3-1 CIAA, 2-1 Southern Division while JCSU falls to 0-7 overall, 0-4 CIAA, and 0-3 in the South.
JCSU took the opening kickoff milking almost over seven minutes off the clock before the Shaw defense stiffened up to force a punt near the 40-yard line. Andre Brandon Jr inserted himself as a spark on the first drive for the Bears with a reception of 24 yards followed by a rush of 41 yards. Brandon Jr finished the drive scoring from one yard out on fourth and goal. Devin Versteegen added the PAT to put Shaw ahead 7-0 with 3:23 left in the 1st quarter.
The Shaw defense forced a turnover on downs before going three and out on their next offensive possession. JCSU posed a threat with a big pass play down inside the Shaw 10. Two players later, Da'shawn Wallace a made highlight diving interception in the endzone. Shaw turned the ball over two plays later with a fumble with 10:49 left in the half. After forcing another JCSU punt, Shaw followed with a punt of their own on third and long after a would-be touchdown was taken off the scoreboard due to an offensive pass interference call.
Versteegen added to the Bears lead with a 26-yard field goal making the score 10-0 with just over two minutes remaining before halftime. The Shaw defense forced a quick three and out to get the ball back. On the next play from scrimmage, Torrin Campbell found Ah'shaan Belcher from 45 yards out padding the Bears score to 17-0 with 1:23 left in the second quarter. A good return from JCSU aided by a late hit out of bounds provided good field position for the Golden Bulls but were unable to convert any points as time ran out of the half.
Shaw opened the second half with a good kick return from Tevin Perry. The Shaw offense unfortunately couldn't do anything with the good position. The Shaw defense stepped up to get a turnover on downs on a short field. The Shaw offense again was forced to punt leaving the score 17-0 with 9:14 remaining in the third quarter. After both teams traded punts, JCSU finally found the end zone scoring on fourth and goal from the one with 36.4 left in the third trimming the Shaw lead to 17-7.
Belcher set the Bears up with good field position after a JCSU punt. Shaw finally scored in the second half as Versteegen added a 31-yard field goal early in the fourth making the score 20-7 in favor of Shaw. JCSU wouldn't go away as they cut the Bears lead to 20-14 with 4:29 remaining with a three-yard rushing touchdown.
The Golden Bulls surprised the Shaw special teams with an onside kick that was recovered at the Shaw 44 yard line. On the next play, Akeythio Carson picked off a JCSU pass and returned it to the JCSU 40-yard line. The offense picked up two first downs behind runs from Sidney Gibbs and Brandon Jr to ice the game escaping with the homecoming win for the third straight year.
JCSU outgained Shaw in total yards 323-316 after a slow second-half performance from the Bears offense. Brandon Jr led in rushing with 124 yards on 14 carries and one score. Campbell finished with 113 yards and one touchdown. Devon Hunt again led the Bears defense with 8.5 tackles with two for loss followed by Anthony Carter, Jr and Kevin Sherman with 6.5 total.
The Bears are back in action next week as they host Winston-Salem State University for senior day. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. inside the George Williams Complex.
