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Defense Leads the Way as Shaw Defeats Elizabeth City State 54-30

(Raleigh, NC) –Quintez Smith (Sr., Dublin, GA) pulled in three interceptions, returned them for a total of 194 yards and three touchdowns, helping to lead Shaw University to a 54-30 victory over Elizabeth City State University.

Joining Smith on the list of defensive scorers was Micguel Johnson (Jr. Gainesville, FL) who returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

“Given the variables you’ve got going into a first game, I thought everyone did extremely well,” said Shaw Head Coach Darrell Asberry. He continued, “We still have some work to do, though. Offensively, we have to move more quickly.”

The Shaw offense got off to a slow start – failing to get a single first down in the first quarter. But Smith’s first interception return for a touchdown tied the game at seven, countering Reggie Smith’s (Sr., Fort Wayne, IN) 68-yard punt return for the Vikings.

The two teams exchanged field goals, then the Vikings’ Cedric Blacknall (Jr., Greensboro, NC) topped off a 71-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown rush to give Elizabeth City State a 17-10 lead. On the following kickoff, the Raymond Williams (So., Cleveland, OH) returned the ball 88 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 17.

With 30 seconds left in the first half, the Shaw offense got on the scoreboard with Julius Gregory (Jr., Portsmouth, VA) pulling in a Brandon Landers’ (Sr., Monroe, LA) pass for a 53-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24.

Landers, a transfer from Grambling, came into the game in the second quarter, replacing starter Travis Robinson (Jr., Rockingham, NC). Robinson returned in the third quarter, with Landers back in the fourth.

“We’ve done this in the past,” Asberry said of the rotating quarterbacks. “It worked then, so I see no reason to change. This is what you’re going to see the entire year.”

After a high scoring first half, both teams fell silent in the third, with no points scored.

The two teams exchanged scores to begin the fourth quarter. With 8:05 left in the game, Quintez Smith pulled in his second interception of the evening; returning it for 70 yards, and giving Shaw a 37-30 lead.

The rest of the game belonged to Shaw. A 48-yard Lyncon Shepherd (So., Mobile, AL) field goal, followed by interception returns by both Smith and Johnson led to the 54-30 final.

Williams led the Bears with 57 yards rushing. Robinson finished the game one for nine for nine yards, while Landers was five for 11 for 161 yards. De’Andre Okonji (Sr., Upland, CA) had four receptions for 94 yards, leaving him four receptions short of tying the Shaw career receptions record.

Shaw is 1-0 for the season, while ECSU is 0-1. While both teams play within the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, this game does not count toward their conference record.

Shaw University next plays FCS (formerly Division I-AA) foe Bethune-Cookman in Dayton Beach, FL, Saturday, September 5 at 4:00 p.m.

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