Durham, NC – The Shaw Bears football team made the plays it needed to come away with their second straight win to improve to 2-0 in CIAA action as they defeated the visiting Elizabeth City State University Vikings 35-16 Saturday inside Durham County Stadium.

Inside The Boxscore

• Shaw outgained ECSU 344-258
• The Bears won the turnover battle resulting in 19 points.
• Shaw ran for a season-high 231 yards. 
• Akeythio Carson led Shaw in tackles for the fourth straight game finishing tied with Jaleel Scroggins with 9 total.

How It Happened

After both teams traded punts to begin the game, Shaw took the ensuing punt and drove 63 yards ending in a Christian Peters 19-yard touchdown run. Armaan Nagra added the PAT putting Shaw ahead 7-0 with 5:59 remaining in the first.

Shaw shifted the momentum to the Vikings with an interception return for a touchdown with Shaw driving for another score tying the score at 7-7 with 10:51 left before the break. After a mistake on the ensuing kickoff, Shaw took over from the one-yard line. On the next play, the Bears were called for holding in the endzone resulting in a safety putting Shaw behind quickly 9-7.

The Bears quickly regrouped going 78 yards in just a few plays with Andre Brandon, Jr finding the endzone from 35 yards out putting Shaw back ahead 14-9 with 8:10 left before the break. With 3:11 remaining in the second quarter, ECSU retook the lead with a short touchdown pass making the score 16-14 in favor of the Vikings. Shaw didn't panic putting together a few plays aided by a defensive pass interference setting Shaw up with one throw from the 44-yard line. Peters rolled left and found Ah'shaan Belcher in the endzone for the touchdown. The PAT was blocked sending the Bears into the locker room ahead 20-16.

Neither team got the offense going out of the half until the Bears turned the ball over on downs at the ECSU 25. The Bears defense held setting up a good punt return from Jay Boyd across midfield. The Bears were able to add three points on a 30-yard Devin Versteegen field goal pushing the Shaw lead to 23-16 with 3:01 on the clock in the third.

The Bears received some much-needed breathing room as the Vikings fumbled a snap in the endzone that was receoverd by Shaw's Joerail White for a touchdown with 10:24 left in regulation. The dagger came from Boyd who picked off a pass and returned it 79 yards for the final tally of 35-16 after the PAT was no good.

Up Next

Shaw begins a three-game road skid next week as they travel to Virginia State University for their final cross-division matchup. Kickoff is slated for 6 PM.