WILSON, N.C. — Shaw University delivered when it mattered most Saturday night, scoring 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally past Barton College, 23-13, at Truist Stadium in the first-ever football meeting between the two programs.
The Bears (1-1) controlled the opening quarter, weathered a Barton surge through the middle stages and then turned to their rushing attack in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Shaw finished with 379 yards of total offense, 22 first downs and possessed the ball for 35:19 while holding Barton to 285 total yards.
Shaw wasted little time establishing itself offensively. The Bears took the opening possession 58 yards in 14 plays while draining 6:28 off the clock before Benjamin Turner connected on a 28-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:32 remaining in the first quarter.
After the Shaw defense forced a turnover on downs, the offense needed only three plays to strike again. Trey Thorpe capped a 54-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run with 1:47 left in the opening period, and Turner's extra point gave the Bears a 10-0 advantage.
Barton answered in the second quarter. Thomas Chapman finished a 69-yard drive with a 19-yard field goal at the 11:57 mark before the Bulldogs added a safety with 2:27 remaining in the half, trimming Shaw's lead to 10-5.
The Bears' defense prevented Barton from adding to the total just before halftime. Nahseem Deas intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards with 26 seconds remaining, allowing Shaw to take the five-point advantage into the locker room.
Momentum swung in the third quarter after Barton intercepted a Shaw pass and took over at the Bears' 29-yard line. Three plays later, Nazir Garrett connected with Tyler Davis for a 23-yard touchdown with 4:37 remaining. Jayden Brown converted the two-point rushing attempt to give Barton its first lead of the night, 13-10.
Shaw's response proved to be the difference.
The Bears answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive that carried into the fourth quarter. Freshman Landon Melton finished the march with a 9-yard touchdown run just seven seconds into the final period, and Turner's extra point put Shaw back in front, 17-13.
After the defense forced Barton to punt, Shaw produced another long scoring drive. Starting at its own 21-yard line, the Bears marched 79 yards in eight plays and took 4:45 off the clock. Fabian Diggs finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run with 6:04 remaining, extending the advantage to 23-13. The extra-point attempt was blocked.
Shaw's defense then shut the door. Barton managed only 12 yards on its next possession before turning the ball over on downs with 4:08 remaining. The Bears responded by keeping the ball for more than three minutes, moving 29 yards and forcing Barton to use nearly all of the remaining time. The Bulldogs' final drive reached the Shaw 23-yard line before time expired.
The Bears' rushing attack played a major role in the win, piling up 180 yards and three touchdowns on 46 attempts.
Thorpe led the way with his first 100-yard performance of the season, carrying 19 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes. Diggs added 56 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Melton provided 54 yards and a score on just five attempts, averaging more than 10 yards per carry.
Quarterback Alexander Marsh efficiently directed the Shaw offense, completing 21 of 28 passes for 199 yards. Floyd Lyles led the receiving corps with four catches for 55 yards, . Antrel Gibson caught four passes for 24 yards, and Mekhi Coakley finished with three receptions for 22 yards.
Shaw also won the possession battle and consistently extended drives. The Bears ran 74 offensive plays compared with Barton's 56 and held advantages in total offense, 379-285; first downs, 22-15; and time of possession, 35:19-24:41. Shaw converted two fourth downs and scored on three of its four trips into the red zone.
Defensively, Craig Morton III paced the Bears with seven total tackles and a tackle for loss. Caron Jones recorded four tackles with two tackles for loss totaling eight yards, while Sean McFadden contributed three tackles and a pass breakup. Shaw finished with five tackles for loss, three pass breakups and the Deas interception.
Turner also made an impact on special teams, converting the 28-yard field goal, making two extra points and booming his only punt 56 yards inside the Barton 20.
Barton was led on the ground by Jayden Brown, who rushed for 91 yards on 12 attempts. Garrett completed 9 of 23 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Davis caught five passes for 66 yards and Barton's lone touchdown.
The victory sends Shaw home with momentum as the Bears continue non-conference action and begin a three-game homestand. Shaw hosts Ferrum on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Durham County Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
