Shaw FOOTBALL now spells...
                       C-I-A-A W-E-S-T-E-R-N D-I-V-I-S-I-O-N C-H-A-M-P-S
 
 
 
November 3, 2007 - Durham, NC - The Shaw University Bears are now the undisputed top team in the western division and have EARNED an all-star pass to play in 2007 CIAA Football Championship held next weekend in the Queen City. The Bears country cooked their cross-town rivals for a 17 - 3 victory. This win serves as a momentous memory in Shaw's athletic history as it was the first time ever Shaw defeated the Falcons since the Bears inaugural season of play and marks the second time the Bears have advanced to the championship circle in the football program's four year existence.
 
 
Shaw's opponents were recipients of the opening kickoff as they were the winners of the coin toss. However, the nation's #1 defense Bears promptly applied penetrating pressure to force SAC to punt away their first possession. Shaw's first possession existed four seconds shy of two minutes. The Bears' 55 yards on six plays was capped with a three-yard touchdown run by veteran superstar #34 Alan Atwater (Fullback / Junior / Mass Communications); 7 - 0 Shaw. Unfortunately, on the next Falcon offensive possession, running back #29 Arnold Mullins' rushes of 27 and 49 yards set up a 17 yard field goal successfully kicked by #11 Adison Daniels; 7 - 3 Shaw. Shaw fumbled away their second possession, but got it right back after #6 Gerard Jones (Defensive Back / Junior / Psychology) blasted on the outside of the offensive line to char-grilled the Falcons' quarterback #16 Kevin Williams for a stadium shifting sack and force a punt. On their opponent's next drive, #13 Tomarcio Levy (Defensive Back / Senior / Art) gifted the Bears with their fourth offensive possession after "ice cream scooping" a fumble recovery. Shortly thereafter, freshman sensation #20 Raymond Williams (Tailback / Freshman / Mass Communications) resembled Superman as he skied up and over SAC's defensive line for the one-yard touchdown run. Surprisingly, SAC shocked Shaw's secondary when Williams connected for a 53 yard completion to wide receiver #5 Tim Lovick. The Falcons strutted down to Shaw's five yard line, but was stopped on third and short. SAC lined up to attempt the field goal, but faked it. The trickery did not deceive the Bears as #15 Julius Gregory (Wide Receiver / Freshman / Recreation) tackled the SAC attempting scorer before reaching the end zone. Shaw's ocean of supporters took a deep sigh as the Bears led 14 - 3 at the intermission.
 
 
Shaw started the second half of play ready to finish what they started. Early in the third quarter, #39 Ryne "Automatic" Powell (Kicker / Junior / History) trotted onto the field to hammer and nail a 45 yard field goal and position the Bears in the forefront, 17 - 3. From there on, it was all defense. Shaw's secondary and defensive line exhibited shutdown defense. Their phenomenal play included a sack near turned safety at SAC's one yard line and a crowd pleasing interception by Jones. The defense held the Falcons' offense to a negative 29 rushing yards of 129 total yards in the second half.
 
 
Leading the Shaw University Bears offense was #4 Travis Robinson (Quarterback / Sophomore / Biology) with 116 yards completing 12 of 29 pass attempts. Also, #34 Alan Atwater (Fullback / Junior / Mass Communications) led all rushers with a team high 74 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown as #5 Mike Brown (Wide Receiver / Freshman / Athletic Training) topped all Shaw receivers with a game high five catches for a team high 47 yards. Defensively, the Bears were pioneered by #11 Galen Houston (Linebacker / Sophomore / Computer Science) as he collected nine total tackles (one solo, eight assists - one tackle for a loss of two yards), an assisted sack for two yards loss, and one quarterback hurry. As a team, the Bears top offense attacked SAC for five sacks (for 28 yards loss), one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and one quarterback hurry.
 
 
Congratulations to YOUR Shaw University Bears!!! Up next, the Western Division Champion Bears will travel to Charlotte, NC to face the Eastern Division Champion Panthers of Virginia Union University in attempt to be conquers of the 2007 CIAA Football Championship on November 10, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
 
 
 
Demarcus Merritt
Shaw University
Director of Sports Information