DURHAM, N.C. — Shaw rallied from an early deficit and outlasted Livingstone 28-27 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Durham County Memorial Stadium, capping a back-and-forth CIAA football game with a clutch final possession.
The Bears improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play after erasing a 10-6 halftime deficit, taking a third-quarter lead, then surviving a late push from the Blue Bears.
Livingstone struck first on a 4-yard touchdown run by Javen Parker with 4:52 left in the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Shaw answered in the second quarter when Alexander Marsh connected with Cobie Bates on a 54-yard touchdown pass with 9:04 remaining before halftime. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Livingstone in front 7-6. The Blue Bears added to their lead later in the quarter on a 44-yard field goal by Jason Zapata to take a 10-6 advantage into the break.
Shaw came out strong in the third quarter. Trey Thorpe capped an eight-play, 69-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 11:40 mark to put the Bears ahead 12-10. Livingstone responded with a 55-yard touchdown run by Tikey Hayes midway through the quarter to regain a 17-12 lead.
The Bears answered again less than two minutes later. Jerry Eaton scored on a 2-yard run with 4:10 left in the third, and Marsh found Jeffrey McDonald on the two-point conversion to give Shaw a 20-17 advantage.
Livingstone tied the game in the fourth quarter on Zapata's 41-yard field goal with 8:37 to play, sending the teams into overtime tied at 20.
In the extra session, the Blue Bears scored first on a 1-yard run by Maliq Staten and added the extra point for a 27-20 lead. Shaw answered on its possession when Marsh delivered the overtime touchdown pass to Jeffrey McDonald, then Fabian Diggs rushed in the two-point conversion to seal the 28-27 victory.
Shaw finished with 418 yards of total offense on 59 plays, including 175 rushing yards and 243 passing yards. Thorpe led the ground game with 120 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown, while Bates hauled in two catches for 101 yards and a score. Marsh went 15-for-25 through the air for 243 yards, and McDonald added two receptions.
Livingstone totaled 448 yards, including 217 on the ground. Brandon Edinburgh Jr. completed 18 of 33 passes for 231 yards, while Hayes rushed 13 times for 90 yards and a touchdown. Parker added 49 rushing yards and a score. Zapata was 2-for-3 on field goals.
Defensively, Quadir McEachin led Shaw with 13 tackles and a sack. Jayonrte Wilson added nine tackles, Kristopher Young finished with 10 stops, and Rodney Williams Jr. recorded an interception. Caron Jones posted seven tackles for the Bears. For Livingstone, Trevagne McCluskey recorded seven tackles, while JayVarion Peters-Johnson added six tackles and a sack.
