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Shaw Suffers First Loss in Double Overtime to Bowie State, 31-24
(BOWIE, MD) - Despite two rushing touchdowns from Raymond Williams and a defense that forced four turnovers, the Shaw University Bears (4-1, 1-1 in the CIAA) lost in two overtimes to Bowie State, 31-24 (3-2, 2-0 in the CIAA) in the Prince Georges Classic.
On a sloppy field besieged by constant rain, both teams went scoreless in the third and fourth quarters, but the Bears had their chances. The Shaw kickers, who had missed only one field goal in the first four games this season, missed three in the fourth quarter, including one as time ran out on the game.
Shaw Head Coach Darrell Asberry discounted a muddy field as the cause of the kicking woes. “We just missed them,” he said. “The kicking game has been a strength all season. If I had to do it all over again, I would still make the decision to try those field goals.”
The three missed field goal attempts came in a fourth quarter where neither team could mount a sustained offensive drive. Bowie State had two first downs, while Shaw had only one until their final drive in the last 38 seconds of the game.
With 12:16 left in the fourth, Lyncon Shepherd missed from 32 yards out. After Bowie State fumbled, Shaw went three and out, and Caleb Reid missed a 44 yard attempt.
The teams then exchanged punts until the Bears got the ball with only 38 seconds left, and no time outs. Brandon Landers led the team down the field, completing a 16-yard, eight-yard, and 27-yard pass to move the bears to the BSU 27 with three seconds left on the clock.
Lyncon Shepherd then attempted a 44-yard field goal, and missed wide left – sending the game into overtime.
Asberry praised the Bulldogs. “Bowie is a very good team. They are going to be a presence in the Eastern Division, and we knew that coming in. Watching from the sidelines, I felt we made mistakes, but we need to go back and evaluate the film. First of all, I need to go back and make sure I put them in the correct positions to win this game.”
Shaw held a 17-3 lead with nine minutes left in the first half, but allowed the Bulldogs to score two unanswered touchdowns, making the score 17-17 at halftime.
The deteriorating field conditions, perhaps more than the defenses, held the two teams scoreless in the second half. Shaw had no first downs in the third quarter, and only three in the fourth quarter – two on the final 38-second drive.
Field conditions or not, the Bears have yet to allow a point in the third quarter this season.
In the first overtime, both teams scored: Shaw on a Raymond Williams 24-yard run, and Bowie State on a two-yard Rodney Webb rush.
In the second overtime, Shaw stopped the BSU offense for the first three plays, driving them back five yards. On fourth down, Bulldog quarterback Emmanuel Yeager hit Larry Dixon for a 30-yard completion for the touchdown.
On their possession, the Bears managed only three yards, giving Bowie the 31-24 win.
The defense was the story for the Bears, as it has been most of the season. Going into the game, Shaw was first in all of Division II in turnover margin with a plus-14 mark. Against BSU, Shaw collected four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions) and gave up only one (a Travis Robinson interception), giving them a plus-17 turnover margin on the season.
The Bears’ first score of the game was on a LaMichael Howell fumble recovery, which he returned for 58 yards and the touchdown.
Quintez Smith, who was second in Division II in interceptions going into the game, collected two more. He also had seven solo tackles and one assist, including three tackles for a loss.
Callahan Bright had six solo tackles, and four assists to lead the team in tackles.
Asberry continued to utilize two quarterbacks, although Landers got the start and played more of the game. Both struggled, with Landers going seven for 24 for 102 yards, and Robinson going two for eight for 34 yards and one interception.
In addition to his two touchdowns, Williams rushed for 100 yards.
Yeager was 15 for 22 for 128 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was named MVP for the Classic. Rodney Webb ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
Shaw University next hosts cross-town rival St. Augustine’s Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m. at Millbrook High School Stadium.