Shaw dominates its way to CIAA title

Bears make it two in a row as No. 1-ranked defense shuts down Vikings

DURHAM -- Put it in the record books.

The Shaw Bears are the 2008 CIAA football champions. The Bears won their second straight title -- a first in school history -- with another dominating defensive showing in its 36-7 win over Elizabeth City State before 7,500 on Saturday at Durham County Stadium.

The title is not only Shaw's second straight, but for coach Darrell Asberry, his fourth CIAA championship in five years.

"We wanted to dominate," said Asberry who won two titles as offensive coordinator at N.C. Central. "The defense stepped up, and the offense came through like we needed."

The Bears, who have the No. 1 defense in Division II, held the Vikings to 238 yards of total offense, 25 yards over the average Shaw allows. Led by John Smith (8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss), Shaw had four sacks and held ECSU QB Curtis Rich, the third-ranked passer in the conference, to 10-of-38 for 126 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

"We never got our momentum going," said ECSU coach Waverly Tillar, who was named the CIAA coach of the year. "We missed too many plays and dropped passes we shouldn't have."

While the defense was taking care of business, Shaw's offense was racking up 410 yards. QB Travis Robinson threw for 209 yards and three TDs, and his backfield mates of Raymon Williams and Aaron Ellison combined for 186 rushing yards.

The scariest moment for Shaw occurred in the third quarter when freshman defensive lineman Alexander Self was carted off the field in an ambulance. Self was released from the hospital after tests came back negative.

The teams came out fighting like two heavyweights -- each one throwing its best punch. Both failed to score on their first five possessions, although there were opportunities.

A Shaw fumble on its first possession gave the Vikings the ball at the Bears' 48. But ECSU was forced to punt four plays later.

Shaw got its first scoring opportunity after Tyrone Bolden blocked a punt to put the Bears at the Vikings 4. But ECSU's defense held the Bears to a 22-yard field goal.

The Vikings' first turnover -- an interception by Gerald Jones -- proved costly four plays later when Robinson threw a 24-yard strike to Bolden for a 10-0 lead with 2:32 left in the first quarter.

ECSU then put together its best drive of the game, a four-play, 43-yard march that culminated in a Rich 28-yard TD pass to Dexter Manley. But ECSU never scored again.

"I told my teammates that we have to show them why we want it," Shaw defensive lineman Louis Ellis had said at Friday's football luncheon. "If they [ECSU] make big plays, just keep playing. No matter what they do, keep playing."

Unfortunately for Shaw, this is it for the season. With the cancellation of the Pioneer Bowl, the Bears have no postseason opportunity. Only Fayetteville State, at No. 8, is ranked in the Super Regional One poll.

"We are better than last year and we deserve to play in the playoffs, but it's beyond my control," Asberry said. "I'm just proud of this team. It's been a blessing."