The talk coming into the Shaw vs. Kentucky State match-up was that the CIAA conference could not defeat the SIAC. After all the CIAA had lost all of its match-ups to the SIAC this season.
The Eastern Division champion Bears did not believe the hype as they amassed 455 yards of total offense on their way to a 34-28 victory over the Thorobreds in the first-ever meeting between the two schools at John Baker Stadium. More importantly, the win enhances the national playoff chances of the Bears, ranked 10th in the southeast region poll, and gives the Bears five-straight victories for the first time since they started the 1958 season 5-0. It also gives them momentum going into the CIAA Championship game against Fayetteville State, who defeated Livingstone 63-19, next week at 1:00 p.m. in Durham, NC.
Kentucky State (7-3) made it look a little easy against the Bear defense, ranked second in the nation, on its opening drive. The Thorobreds marched 65 yards in five plays capped off by Nick Moore's 12-yard touchdown reception from Joe McBride and the Thorobreds led 7-0. Shaw would answer right back as wide receiver Marquise Rutherford gained 48 yards on a rush play and a bear first down. That set the tempo for the drive as on fourth and five Jermonty Kimbrough found Damon Harrison in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown and the games was tied 7-7.
After both teams exchanged the football, Marcus Wright's 29 yard punt return gave Kentucky State the ball first and 10 from the Shaw 34. Gordon Miles rushed 17 yards for a first down; then Cassius Chambers rushed 12 yards for a first down; and Chambers capped the drive off with a five yard touchdown run and the Thorobreds had the 14-7 lead.
But looks can be deceiving as the Shaw (8-2) defense began to settle down and a couple of bad punts by Kentucky State gave the Bears excellent field position. Shaw scored the first of its three-straight second quarter touchdowns on a eight-yard pass from Kimbrough to Terrance Ford, tying the score at 14-14. On the Bears next possession, Kimbrough found Mark Bransom in the end zone, who took a hard hit, but held on to the ball for the score and a 21-14 lead. Kimbrough and Harrison hooked up again, this time from 35 yards out with 35 seconds remaining in the second half and Shaw had a commanding 28-14 halftime lead.
Shaw scored on its second possession of the third quarter. Kimbrough found Harrison once again this time for a 62-yard run and catch and a Shaw first down at the Kentucky State 20. Two plays later, Kimbrough threw his fifth touchdown pass of the day to Robbie Henson. The extra point was missed but Shaw led 34-14 early in the third quarter.
But Kentucky State came back as the Thorobreds put together a nine-play 67-yard drive capped of by a Marcus Wright 35-yard touchdown catch and the Shaw lead was cut to 34-21. Early in the fourth, Kimbrough's pass was intercepted by Brandon Fairly, who returned it 60 yards for another Kentucky State touchdown and the Bear lead was down to 34-28. The bear defense then stepped up. The Thorobreds started their last drive from their own 20 with 2:12 remaining. Kentucky State moved the ball to midfield and on a fourth and one run play, the Thorobreds failed to get the first down, giving Shaw the ball back with 43 seconds remaining and securing the Bear victory.
Kimbrough completed 16-of-29 passes for 255 yards and five touchdowns with one interception and rushed seven times for 30 yards. The senior Harrison, who played in his last game at home had five receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
McBride completed 18-of-35 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
