Shaw’s Deas and Kennedy Earn CIAA Weekly Honors

(RALEIGH, NC)- Shaw's Charles Deas and Gerald Kennedy earned CIAA weekly honors for their play in Saturday's 10-6 win over Saint Augustine's that put the Bears in the CIAA Championship Game. Head Coach Darrell Asberry was also named CIAA Coach of the Week for the second week in a row.

Charles Deas (6-6, 305, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, FL) was named Defensive Lineman of the Week. In a game dominated by defense, Deas was a dominating force on the defensive line for Shaw. Deas had nine tackles, including one sack and one tackle for a loss, but also forced a fumble that ended a drive in Shaw territory, and broke up one pass. The Bear defense held the normally potent Saint Augustine's offense to only 219 yards.

Gerald Kennedy (5-10, 190, So., Greensboro, NC) was named Defensive Back of the Week. With a shot in the CIAA championship game hanging in the balance, Gerald Kennedy made what could be called the play of the game by forcing a Saint Augustine's fumble in Shaw territory late in the fourth quarter. Down 6-3 at the time, the Bears took the turnover and immediately converted it into the touchdown that won the game 10-6. Kennedy's game wasn't just that play - he had eight tackles (five solo), and two tackles for losses.

Darrell Asberry was named Coach of the Week for the second week in a row. The win over Saint Augustine's was Shaw's seventh straight win and puts the Bears into the CIAA championship game for the third time in four years - and the third time in Asberry's five years as coach at Shaw. When Shaw's normally high-flying offense couldn't find its wings, Asberry kept his Bears calm and the defense sharp, finally turning a 6-3 deficit late in the fourth quarter to a 10-6 victory.

The Bears will take to the field Saturday, November 13 in the CIAA Championship game against Northern Division champion Virginia State. The game begins at 1:00 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, NC. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.theciaa.com and will also be available at the gate.