Raleigh, NC – The Shaw University football team outscored Winston-Salem State University 28-0 after halftime to turn a four-point halftime deficit into a 38-14 senior day win Saturday afternoon inside the George Williams Athletic Complex in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) contest.

With the win, the Bears improve to 6-3 overall, 5-1 CIAA, 3-1 South while the Rams fall to 3-5 overall, 3-3  CIAA, and 3-1 in the South.

Shaw received the opening kickoff and picked up one first down on their opening drive before being forced to punt. WSSU fumbled on their first play from scrimmage that was recovered by Dast Sturkie. Shaw would return the favor fumbling on third down inside the one with 7:42 left in the quarter. Both teams traded punts the rest of the quarter making the score tied at zero at the quarter break.

The Bears opened the quarter with good field position yet again but settled for a 20-yard field goal from Devin Versteegen with 12:20 remaining in the period. Shaw would get the ball after Kevin Sherman intercepted a WSSU pass near the 40-yard line. The Shaw offense turned the turnover into points as Torrin Campbell found Elliot Dangerfield for a 15-yard scoring strike. Versteegen added the PAT to make the score 10-0 in favor of the Bears with 8:44 left before halftime.

WSSU answered with a three-yard rushing touchdown with 4:25 left in the second quarter aided by a fourth-down conversion with a favorable spot on the reception making the score 10-7 with Shaw still ahead. Shaw would be forced to punt on their next possession giving the Rams the ball back just before the half. WSSU used a Bears defensive pass interference to wipe away an interception which led to another Rams touchdown just before the half putting Shaw behind 14-10 at halftime.

Both teams traded punts to open the second half.  The next Shaw drive was the Sidney Gibbs show as he willfully drove the Shaw offense into the endzone on his own with run after run finally finding the endzone on a three-yard touchdown. Versteegen added the PAT putting Shaw back ahead 17-14 with 4:17 left in the third. The Bears defense forced another WSSU punt leaving the score 17-14 at the end of the third quarter.

The Bears offense continued their stronghold with a mixture of Gibbs who set the Bears up with a first and goal situation at the three-yard line. On the next play, Campbell found Belcher from three yards out for another touchdown. Versteegen added the PAT making the score 24-14 in favor of Shaw with 10:35 on the clock.  Shaw's defense forced yet another three and out which put the Rams in a punting situation. The snap on the punt was low and fumbled and eventually downed at the 10-yard line. Shaw needed just three plays to find the endzone as Andre Brandon Jr scored from four yards out.  Another PAT from Versteegen made the score 31-14 with 7:39 left.

Shaw received the ball again after stopping WSSU on fourth down. The Bears kept their foot on the pedal as Campbell found Ty'Traveon Roberts on a 14-yard touchdown pass. The PAT made the score 38-14 with the Bears ahead of WSSU for the final tally.

Shaw outgained WSSU 391-215 in total yards while the Bears defense limited the Rams to just 53 yards rushing. The number one rushing offense in the CIAA finished with 261 yards. Gibbs finished with 152 yards on 20 carries and one score. Campbell finished 14-18 passing for 130 yards and three touchdowns.

Devon Hunt tallied six tackles and one sack. Fellow senior Kevin Sherman and Anthony Carter followed with 5.5 tackles and one interception.

Shaw closes out the 2021 regular season against crosstown rival St. Augustine's Saturday, November 6. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. inside the George Williams Complex.