The Shaw University Bears are the 2008 CIAA Champions after destroying the Tigers of Elizabeth City State University 36-7 Saturday.
The Bears have made their own by winning the championship title back to back; a first in school history.
Darrell Asberry, Head Coach of the Bears tagged the theme “Make History or Be History!” to his team at the onset of the 2008 season.
Sending a personal statement to the Tigers, the Bears came out and manhandled their opponent with a defensive thrashing by the nation’s number one ranked Division II defense holding the Tigers to 238 total offense yards.
Following a series of missed scoring opportunities for both teams, the Bears put up the first score of the game with a 22 yard field goal by Caleb Reid with 2:48 in the first quarter and went ahead 3-0.
Tyrone Bolden barreled in for the first touchdown of the game with a 24 yard pass from Travis Robinson. After the PAT by Reid, the Bears broadened their lead to 10-0. With 14:02 on the clock in the second quarter, Dexter Manley ran in the first touchdown for the Tigers with a 28 yard pass from Curtis Rich.
Andrew Hening added the extra point and the Tigers were on the board 10-7. Following the 56 yard field goal last week against JCSU, Lincoln Shepherd continued his outstanding performance with a 43 yard field goal sending the Bears further ahead 13-7 at the half. The third quarter got underway and Lenell King wasted no time snatching the ball out of the air with one hand and scored on a 48 yard pass from Robinson. Reid’s attempted PAT was blocked but the Bears bridge continued to stretch 19-7.
Reid continued to mount stats with a successful 27 yard field goal with 6:29 left in the quarter; 22-7 for the Bears. Aaron Ellison scored on a two yard run and Reid kicked the extra point and the Bears went up 29-7.
The championship title was fifteen minutes away. With the clock ticking, James Petway drove in the last touchdown of the game on a 21 yard pass from Robinson and Reid finished the play with the extra point.
The Bears claimed the second straight crown with a final score of 36-7. After six catches in the game, King totaled 87 yards and one touchdown; the longest at 48 yards. Robinson threw three touchdown passes for 209 yards with the longest at 48 yards.
Raymond Williams rushed for 96 yards and Ellison rushed for 90; a dynamic performance by the duo. Playing with drive and determination on the field and continuously motivating his team on the sideline, Williams received the 2008 CIAA MVP Award for the Bears. The Bears defense proved why they are the force to be reckoned with. In his best performance of the season, John Smith led with 8 tackles (5 solo and 3 assisted) and 1.5 sacks. LaMichael Howell made seven tackles (5 solo and 2 assisted). Gerard Jones made six tackles (3 solo and three assisted) and one key interception.
Jon Huddleston had six tackles (three solo and three assisted); Liddon Levine had six tackles (1 solo and 5 assisted); Monte Coleman had five tackles (3 solo and 2 assisted); and Dwayne Moss had five tackles (2 solo and three assisted). The defense totaled 33 solo tackles, 42 assisted with four sacks, stopping the advance of the Tigers offense. Following the win Asberry stated, “This is our house and we defended our title; we have nothing left to prove. We are the 2008 CIAA Champions!”
He dedicated the championship trophy to Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, President and Attorney Willie E. Gary, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shaw University.
Newsome stated, “We won like champions. We are the champions!”