Oh What a Homecoming!

Bears Only Team in CIAA Still Undefeated in Conference Play

October 13, 2007 – Durham, NC – The Shaw University Bears tracked to Durham County Stadium for their third home game against the Blue Bears of Livingstone College. Shaw added huge hype to the Homecoming celebration by rolling over Livingstone 35 – 7. The Bears executed on offense and defense with stellar performance as the offense totaled 402 yards and the defense pawed the Blue Bears to only accumulate only 52 yards total offense. Shaw continues on with a four game winning streak. Shaw stands strong at a perfect 4 – 0 in the western division and as the only current CIAA collegiate crew to be unbeaten in conference competition.

Despite winning the coin toss and deferring reception of the kickoff until the second half of play, the Bears were forced to kickoff from their own seven yard line due to pre-game penalties. The visiting team quickly took advantage of their field position as the Blue Bears quarterback #5 Steven Williams hooked up with fullback #22 Rashaad Flucker for a 42 yard completion. The pigskin was placed back into the hands of Flucker as he rushed into the Shaw end zone for the two-yard touchdown. Fortunately, the Bears rapidly responded with their own offensive production in 86 seconds. The drive consisted of four plays for 60 yards and was capped with a 42 yard touchdown pass by #4 Travis Robinson (Quarterback / Sophomore / Biology) to #8 DeAndre Okanji (Wide Receiver / Sophomore / Recreation). Unfortunately, Shaw would miss the extra point to trail 6 – 7 to Livingstone. Nevertheless, the Bears would excite the packed to capacity homecoming crowd in an uproar when, near the two minute mark of the first quarter, #34 Alan Atwater Fullback / Junior / Mass Communication) sped through and around the Blue Bear defense for an 11 yard touchdown and put Shaw up 13 – 7. The Bears threatened to tack on another score when Robinson hit #9 Lenell King (Wide Receiver / Business Management) for a 44 yard pass and then #20 Raymond Williams (Tailback / Freshman / Business Management) for a 33 yard pass; which positioned Shaw on Livingstone’s 23 yard line. After a near caught touchdown pass on third down, Head Coach Darrell Asberry signaled for #39 Ryne Powell (Kicker / Junior / History) to attempt to add on three more points before halftime. However, Powell’s 41 yard field goal attempt was blocked by cornerback #7 Rock Magis.

Shaw stormed into the second half fired up and focused to finish what they started. Amazingly in the first half, the Bears’ defense crippled the Blue Bears’ offense to just 10 total yards on 32 plays; which included Livingstone rushing for a negative 64 yards.  The Bears received the kickoff at the start of the second half. Atwater sped off with the kickoff possession like a child that stole a piece of candy and was not arrested with a tackle until 34 yards later at the Livingstone 28 yard line. Then, #12 Omarion Avent (Quarterback / Junior) was subbed in at the quarterback position. On the second play, the Bears’ offensive line parted the Blue Bears’ secondary like the red sea as Avent rushed for a 12 yard gain. Moments later, Avent stepped back in the pocket with calm composure as he released a rocket to King for the seven yard touchdown. The Bears leaped ahead 20 – 7 with a little less than seven minutes left in the third quarter. Kicker Powell added nine points with three consecutive successful field goals of 19 yards, 26 yards, and 27 yards to give the Bears a double digit lead of 22 points. At the 1:24 mark in the fourth quarter, Shaw hammered the nail in the coffin with a 38 yard touchdown from Avent to Raymond Williams. 

The Shaw University Bears were led in dual effort by #12 Omarion Avent (Quarterback / Junior) passing for 182 yards on 12 of 21 attempts on two touchdowns as #4 Travis Robinson (Quarterback / Sophomore / Biology) completing five of 15 passing attempts for 140 yards and one touchdown The top receivers were #9 Lenell King (Wide Receiver / Sophomore / Business Management) with five catches for 93 yards, #5 Mike Brown (Wide Receiver / Freshman / Athletic Training) with four catches for 94 yards and one touchdown, and #8 DeAndre Okanji (Wide Receiver / Sophomore / Business Management) with three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, they were piloted by #92 Louis Ellis (Defensive Lineman / Junior / Recreation) as he collected eight total tackles (six solo, two assists – five for 27 yards loss), three sacks for 21 yards loss, and two quarterback hurries. Also, #31 James Duplessis (Inside Linebacker / Sophomore / Computer Information Systems) had seven total tackles (six solo, one assist – two for 21 yards loss), one forced fumble, and one sack for eight yards loss.

The Shaw University Bears (5 – 2 Overall, 4 – 0 CIAA, 2 – 0 Division) will travel to Fayetteville, NC to play the Fayetteville State University Broncos (2 – 5 Overall, 2 – 2 CIAA, 2 – 0 Division). The game is scheduled for October 20, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.

 The Department of Sports Communication & Information –

Shaw University Athletics: “A New Reality!”

Other CIAA Play

Virginia State University                  39          

Bowie State University                       33 (Petersburg, VA)

 
Elizabeth City State University         23          

Virginia Union University                   14 (Richmond, VA)

 
Fayetteville State University             17

Saint Augustine’s College                 10 (Raleigh, NC)

 
Saint Paul’s College                           23

Johnson C. Smith University             13 (Charlotte, NC)