Raleigh, NC - In a game featuring two of the hottest teams in the CIAA at the moment, wet conditions will play a significant part in the outcome as the Shaw University Bears travel to Virginia State University to face the Trojans Saturday afternoon.
Game Info
When: Saturday, October 1, 2022 - 1 PM
Where: Rogers Stadium - Petersburg, VA
Tickets: VSU Ticketmaster
Video: CIAASN
Live Stats
The Bears
Shaw (2-2, 2-0 CIAA) heads to VSU on a two-game winning streak most recently defeating ECSU 35 16 to improve to 2-0 in CIAA action. The Bears jumped ahead 7-0 before a scoring drive was stopped by an interception returned for a touchdown from ECSU to tie the game at 7-7. The Vikings added a safety before Andre Brandon, Jr put Shaw back on top. ECSU answered to go ahead 16-14 just before the break. Shaw then put together a drive that most will remember for a while as Christian Peters rolled left and found Ah'shaan Belcher in the endzone as the clock expired putting Shaw ahead for good. All 16 of the Vikings points came in the second period giving the Bears a second-half shutout.
Overall, Shaw averages just over 20 ppg, ranking Shaw fifth in the CIAA while the defense allows 20.3 ppg which ranks sixth overall in the CIAA.
Peters leads the Bears through the air with 673 yards completing just over 50% of his passes for three touchdowns. His go-to target has been Belcher who ranks second in the CIAA with 16 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Jon Barnes also adds another threat to the passing game with 11 catches for 147 yards.
Sidney Gibbs leads a potent rushing attack that features three different backs collecting carries with Gibbs being the leader with 240 yards and two touchdowns. Jatoine Fields adds 153 yards on just 21 carries while Brandon Jr adds two touchdowns along with 135 yards.
On defense, Akeythio Carson leads a pack of hungry Bears who are giving up just four passing touchdowns in four games while coming away with seven interceptions which ranks second in the CIAA. Carson has totaled 23 solo tackles along with 7 assists including one interception and five tackles for loss. Veteran Jaleel Scroggins follows with 23 total tackles including 2.5 for loss. Newcomer Jay Boyd has inserted his presence by the week as his best game in a Bears uniform came last week when he collected two interceptions including one returned 76 yards for a touchdown.
Virginia State
The Trojans (3-1,2-0 CIAA) have won three straight contests since dropping their season opener to nationally ranked Lenoir-Rhyne. In those three wins, VSU has given up just seven points in each contest including last week's 37-7 drubbing of Livingstone College. VSU averages 31.5 ppg which ranks near the top of the conference at this point of the season. The Trojans are just as impressive on defense allowing just over 14.8 ppg. VSU will look forward to the challenge of slowing down Shaw's three-headed monster running game as they allow just 2.7 per attempt.
Last Meeting
VSU 35 - Shaw 0 . Oct. 5, 2019
