Sept. 25, 2010
Final Stats
ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Shaw University Bears converted two fourth quarter turnovers into scores and held off a late Elizabeth City State University rally for a 31-28 win at Roebuck Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings rallied from a ten-point halftime deficit on two rushing touchdowns by Daronte McNeill and with 14:36 remaining in the game held a 21-24 lead. The Shaw defense, which held ECSU to only 82 total first half yards, responded by intercepting Viking QB Creven Powell twice and converting both picks into their only scores of the second half.
Facing a ten-point deficit for the second time Saturday afternoon the Vikings mustered a 9-play, 55 yard drive and with 3:37 left to play Powell connected with Bryan Fields for a 16-yard touchdown pass making the score 31-28. Although they recovered the ECSU onside kick attempt, Shaw gave the Vikings new life when Bear quarterback Kevin Atkins threw his third pick of the afternoon, this time to Ken Lee, who returned the ball to the ECSU 44 with 2:29 left in regulation. The Vikings got the ball to the Shaw 29, setting up a potential game tying 46-yard field goal by Devon Pike.
With 31 seconds left, Pike's attempt had the distance but bounced off the right upright sealing the win for the Bears.
Stumped in the first half by a stingy Bear defense, the Vikings found their ground game after the intermission with Daronte McNeill exploding for 96 yards on 12 carries all in the third quarter. McNeill tied his career high in carries with 27 and finished the game with 119 yards, his third consecutive 100 + yard game this season.
His Bear counterpart, tailback Raymond Williams finished the day with 132 yards on 28 carries.
Both teams had their share of miscues on Saturday with the Bears committing 4 turnovers to 3 for the Vikings. The two teams were penalized a combined 20 times for 224 yards.
The Vikings (2-2) will open up their conference slate with Saint Paul's College next Saturday at Roebuck Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.
