Tough defense helps Bears bounce back

DURHAM -- Shaw got new life.

After a disappointing football loss last weekend to crosstown rival St. Augustine's, the Bears held on despite two fourth-quarter turnovers to defeat Fayetteville State 19-12 on Sunday at Durham County Stadium in a showdown for first place in the CIAA's Western Division.

The Broncos and Livingstone were tied for first and led Shaw by one game. But the Blue Bears were upset by Chowan on Saturday, so that just left FSU. The Broncos, the Bears and the Blue Bears are technically tied for first in the standings, but Shaw has the tiebreaker by virtue of its win over FSU and a better overall record than Livingstone's.

As expected, the game pitted FSU's No. 1 offense against Shaw's No. 1 defense.

"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins games," said Shaw defensive lineman Louis Ellis, who recorded nine tackles and a sack.

The Bears' defense, which is also No. 2 in NCAA Division II, dominated the second half, holding the Broncos scoreless after giving up 12 points in the first.

Most telling was in the fourth quarter. Donte Wise intercepted Shaw quarterback Travis Robinson -- Wise's second interception of the game -- at the FSU 9-yard line. Shaw held on downs, and after a short punt put the Bears at the FSU 32, Shaw quickly drove downfield to the 24. But Robinson was again intercepted -- his third of the game -- with 8:12 left.

Given new life, the Broncos' rushing attack of quarterback Bryan Hardy (16 carries for 106 yards) and running back Richard Medlin (17 carries for 95 yards) methodically moved the offense against a shocked Shaw defense. However, the drive stalled at Shaw's 18. On fourth-and-3 with 4:07 left, Ellis sacked sophomore quarterback Benjamin Williams. Shaw then ran out the clock.

"The defense just played tremendous," Shaw coach Darrell Asberry said. "The guys are zealous about winning, and they did a good job of keeping us in the game."

Both teams went to no-huddle offenses early. FSU took a 6-0 lead -- the point-after attempt was blocked -- before the Bears scored on a 27-yard field goal and an 11-yard touchdown run by running back Raymon Williams.

After each team tried a fake punt with no success, the Broncos put together their best drive of the half, going 73 yards on nine plays with Calvin Harris 9-yard pass to Darryl Barnett giving FSU a 12-10 lead with 1:25 left.

But the Bears got a spark when Williams returned the kickoff to the Broncos' 36. Shaw took advantage of its good field position and retook the lead, 17-12, on Robinson's 4-yard pass to Julius Gregory with seven seconds left.

A safety in the third provided the final points.

FSU coach Kenny Phillips was disappointed but said he can't worry about getting help from other teams in the hunt for the division title.

"There is a lot of football left to be played, and that's what we have to do, play football," he said.

Ellis said the team didn't get too down after its loss last week. It was familiar territory.

"There was no arguing or placing blame, we just stuck together," said Ellis, the CIAA 2007 Defensive Player of the Year. "We'd been down this road before. We lost to Fayetteville last year and came back to win the championship."

Saturday at Durham County Stadium, Shaw hosts Chowan in its final home game.