SALISBURY - It wasn't pretty, but it was a victory.
The Shaw defense allowed Livingstone only 267 yards of
total offense, while the Shaw offense moved the ball just enough as the
Bears defeated the Blue Bears 17-7 before a crowd of 3,652 at Alumni Stadium
In a defensive first half, both teams failed to advance
the ball into the
red zone. Penalties hurt Shaw in the first half as they had a couple
of big plays nullified, including a 50-yard pass and catch from Jermonty
Kimbrough to Damon Harrison. The Blue Bears could not capitalize
as the Bear defense played big, forcing Livingstone to punt on its first two
possessions, and Chris Joseph's interception of a David Melton pass, as the
Blue Bears started on the Bear 45, nullified another Livingstone
opportunity. Joseph and linebacker Chris Peavy were the playmakers for
the Bear defense, as Joseph also forced and recovered a fumble, taking the
ball, literally, from Livingstone wide out Chris Jeter, nullifying another
Blue Bear drive, while Peavy finished the game with 12 tackles (five solo),
two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a sack. The teams went into
the half tied at 0-0.
Shaw opened the second half with an impressive eight-play, 69 yard drive
which took 3:55. Kimbrough and Harrison made it right this time as
they hooked up for a 24-yard pass and catch as Shaw took a 7-0 lead.
The Bear defense would come up big to start the fourth quarter as David
Melton's pass was picked off by free safety Torrance Nunnally and returned
29-yards for a touchdown as the Bears led 14-0.
The Blue Bears would not go away putting together an 11-play, 68 yard drive
on the ensuing possession as Melton hooked up with wide out Travis Gist for
a 19-yard scoring pass. Shaw would ice the game with a 13-play,
58-yard drive which took 6:37 as Chester Charles' 29-yard field goal put the
Bears up 17-7.
In his first game back since the 2002 season, running back Dion McIver
carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards. Kimbrough finished the day
9-of-18 for 113 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Running
back Santana Mauney led Livingstone's attack with 18 carries for 76
yards. Melton finished 11-of-26 for 146 yards with one touchdown and
two interceptions.
Shaw will host Johnson C. Smith next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at John Baker
Stadium.
