All Hail Shaw U!
                       Bears Reign as Crowned CIAA Football Champions


November 10, 2007 - Charlotte, NC - The #12 Shaw University Bears traveled approximately 175 miles to American Legion Memorial Stadium to challenge the #8 Panthers of Virginia Union University for title and rights to the CIAA Football Championship. Despite starting the game as the "undisputed declared underdogs," the Bears had a streaming supply of an unwavering will to win pumped into both ventricles of their solar eclipse size heart to bypass the Panthers with a 31 - 24 double overtime triumph.


CIAA Defensive Player of the Year and team captain #92 Louis Ellis (Defensive Lineman / Junior / Recreation / Jackson, MS) cruised to the center of the field and successfully selected the side of the coin to win the toss.  The Bears elected to defer reception of the kickoff until the second half. On VUU's first possession, Shaw's Division II #1 National Ranked Defense pounced on the Panthers to cause a fumble. However, VUU's quarterback #4 Lamar Little retrieved his own turnover. The Panthers' punt team took the field only to have their punt attempt blocked by the Bears. It was Shaw's #24 Robbie Henson (Wide Receiver / Senior / Business Administration / Tracy, CA) that scooped up the pigskin and return it for a 35 yard touchdown.  Almost  four minutes  later, the Panthers' second possession of nine plays for 62 yards ended with a 20 yard field goal by kicker #11 Gil Hernandez.  Unfortunately, Shaw's punted away second possession was tailgated by the Panthers' prowl downfield in 12 plays from the VUU 23 yard line to the Shaw one yard line. The Bears' ocean wave of supporters erupted out of their seats after Shaw's All-CIAA Second Team #42 Tiquan Collins (Linebacker / Sophomore / Recreation / James City, NC) and #95 Robert Lewis (Defensive Lineman / Freshman / Mass Communications / Twinsburg, OH) denied VUU's #27 Duane Griffin access into the end zone as time expired in the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, the Bears looked to build upon their 7 - 3 lead. However, VUU would take their first lead of the game 10 - 7 after they recovered a punt turned fumble at the Shaw nine yard line and wide receiver #3 Phillip Taylor caught a four yard touchdown reception from Little. Nevertheless, Shaw snatched back the lead 14 - 10 with a 74 yard kickoff return touchdown by game-time veteran and All-CIAA Second Team #34 Alan Atwater (Fullback / Junior / Mass Communications / Chapel Hill, NC). Shaw forced a punt, but was able to tack on three points with their next possession due to a wide right missed field goal by All-CIAA Second Team #39 Ryne "Automatic" Powell (Kicker / Junior / History / Brown Summit, NC). Shaw spoiled the Panthers' next drive with an interception by All-CIAA Rookie Team selection #90 Martellus Braxton (Outside Linebacker / Freshman / Recreation / Lynchburg, VA). The Bears were once again just "a foot" away from increasing their lead before halftime, but Powell's second pooch for points was blocked.


After the intermission, the second half of play did not exactly start off on the right paw for Shaw. The Bears' #4 Travis Robinson (Quarterback / Sophomore / Biology / Rockingham, NC) pass attempt was batted down into the hands of the Panthers. Shortly thereafter, it seemed as the Panthers were on instant replay as VUU's Little connected with Taylor again in the back right corner of the end zone for the four yard touchdown. Furthermore, at the start of the fourth quarter VUU sprinted out in front 24 - 14 with 14:51 on the game clock. It would seem that with the deficit and the amount of time left for play, a shadow of silence would hang over the Shaw and their sea of supporters. Yet, Head Coach Darrell Asberry and the Bears played with patient ability and stuck with their script. The act of patience proved to pay off as Shaw's Powell booted an 18 yard field goal at the 5:11 mark and then a subbed in #12 Omari Avant scrambled to the right before throwing a fastball to All-CIAA Rookie Team pick #5 Mike Brown (Wide Receiver / Freshman / Athletic Training / Charlotte, NC) for the 14 yard touchdown with 34 seconds left in the game. Regulation time expired with the game tied 24 - 24.


In the first overtime, the Shaw defense put shackles on the VUU offense to keep them from tallying points to the scoreboard. After inching their way toward the end zone, Powell came onto the field to possibly kick the game winning field goal, but the place holder was tackled before the Bears could attempt the field goal. Nevertheless, in the second overtime, Shaw offense took momentum by the hand. Quarterback Avant placed the pigskin in the hands of #28 Aaron Ellison (Defensive Back / Running Back / Sophomore / Business Administration / Hawthorne, FL). Ellison cuffed the delayed handoff and spurted through the Panthers' defensive line for the three-yard touchdown. Then, the Bears awarded themselves with the chess position of checkmate as the defense stood strong with shutdown defense behind stadium shifting tackles and pass breakups by #13 Tomarcio Levy (Defensive Back / Senior / Art / Jackson, MS) and #46 George Horton.


Leading in offense for the Shaw University Bears was CIAA Championship MVP #28 Aaron Ellison (Defensive Back / Running Back / Sophomore / Business Administration / Hawthorne, FL) as he had 20 rushing attempts for a game high 108 rushing yards and the game winning touchdown.  Also, #12 Omari Avant completed 13 of 15 pass attempts for a team high 79 yards and the game tying touchdown while all receivers were led by #5 Mike Brown (Wide Receiver / Freshman / Athletic Training / Charlotte, NC) as he caught a tied game high five receptions for 28 yards and the game tying touchdown. Division II's Top Ranked Defense was led by #42 Tiquan Collins (Linebacker / Sophomore / Recreation / James City, NC) as he tallied 12 total tackles (nine assisted, three solo - one for three yards loss) and #13 Tomarcio Levy (Defensive Back / Senior / Art / Jackson, MS).


Congratulations to the Shaw University Bears Football Team as they are 2007 CIAA Champions. After the game, Head Coach Darrell Asberry heartfelt thanked President C. Newsome, his coaching staff, the players, the Athletic Department, University Administration and Staff, and all Shaw supporters for their part in their success. The team was awarded with a series of short sermons that included President Newsome's inspirational message of "the game having a rising spirit," Vice-President Dr. Perry touching on Shaw being "a band of brothers," and Attorney Willie E. Gary further encouraging the young talents with "having the will to win, being deserved champions, and actually the reality of winning the championship game back on their first day of practice."


Head Coach Darrell Asberry and the Shaw University Football Team have had an absolute phenomenal season and now await the prestigious possibility of receiving a special invitation to compete in the 2007 Pioneer Bowl.





Demarcus Merritt
Shaw University 
Director of Sports Information