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Turnovers, Blocked Punts Cost Shaw in 29-28 Loss to FSU

(Fayetteville, NC) – Shaw held the statistical edge throughout the game – 488 total yards versus 120 for Fayetteville State – but the Broncos forced five Bear turnovers and blocked two Shaw punts for a 29-28 win that all but ensures the Broncos the CIAA Western Division title.

All but three of Fayetteville’s points came either off a turnover, or on a drive that began with a turnover. Shaw fumbled twice and the two Shaw quarterbacks threw three interceptions.

The punting team struggled. In addition to giving up a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown, a snap sailed over the punter’s head and into the end zone for a Bronco safety, giving FSU the final 29-28 tally.

“They capitalized off our mistakes,” said Shaw Head Coach Darrell Asberry. “That’s what a good team does. They beat us today – in spite of this loss, I must say that I am still proud of my team and proud of our coaches.”

The tone for the game was set in the opening minutes. Less than a minute into the game, Jeffery Gowdy intercepted a Brandon Landers pass and returned it to the Shaw three. Two plays later, the Broncos had jumped to a 7-0 lead.

Three minutes later, Gerard Atkinson picked off a Travis Robinson pass and returned it 72 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 Bronco lead.

Shaw fought back quickly, scoring on a 58-yard Landers pass to De’Andre Okonji and then on a 13-yard Aaron Ellison, Jr. rush, to tie the game before the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was all Fayetteville State’s. Austin Turner kicked a 28-yard field goal – the only Bronco points that did not result from a Shaw turnover, then Adrian Horton returned a blocked punt 13 yards, giving the Broncos the ten-point lead they carried into halftime.

As it has most of the season, the third quarter belonged to Shaw. Through six games, the Bears had outscored their opponents 50-7 in the third.

Against the Broncos, Shaw scored on a 32-yard pass from Landers to Jayson Royal and a 66-yard rush from Raymond Williams. The Bear defense held the Broncos scoreless, giving Shaw a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

With less than a minute and a half gone in the fourth, Turner hit a 40-yard field goal to cut the Shaw lead to one point.

That set the stage for the bad snap and safety, giving the Broncos a lead with 4:08 left in the game.

The Broncos burned two minutes off the clock while going four and out, giving the Bears only two minutes to score. Shaw could only move the ball three yards in four plays and watched as FSU took a knee to end the game.

The win gives Fayetteville State the inside track on the Western Division title in the CIAA. At 3-1 in the conference, they take a full game lead on Shaw (2-2), and hold the face-to-face tiebreaker. The loss drops Shaw to 5-2 overall, while FSU improves to 4-3 on the season.

Landers was 13 for 26 for 230 yards with two touchdowns, but was intercepted once and fumbled twice.

Williams rushed for 139 yards and scored one touchdown, while Ellison had 78 yards and a touchdown. Okonji led Shaw receivers with 74 yards and one touchdown.

The Broncos had only 46 yards passing and 74 net yards rushing. Calvin Harris led the offense with 89 yards rushing and one touchdown.

The Shaw defense was led by Callahan Bright with eight tackles. Dwayne Moss had seven tackles and one half sack.

Joseph Brown and Atkinson each had 13 tackles for the Broncos. Gowdy had two interceptions on the day.

Placekicker Caleb Reid was a perfect four for four on point after attempts. He now is 33 for 33 on the season, leading the nation.

Shaw next travels to Murfreesboro, NC to take on Chowan at 6:00 p.m. October 17. The Bears return home October 24 for a Homecoming game against Livingstone at 4:00 p.m.

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