Sports

VSU Scores Late to Down Shaw Football at Home

Alexis Bailey

Petersburg, VA –  In a game that lived up to the hype, the Shaw Bears found themselves on the wrong end of the fourth-quarter heroics this week as a late touchdown gave Virginia State University (VSU) a 28-24 win over the Bears Saturday afternoon at Rogers Stadium.

Both teams traded punts to start the game. The Bears second possession would end in a turnover as Christian Peters was intercepted at the VSU 35-yard line. Nothing would come from the turnover as the Bears defense forced a quick three and out. The Bears struck first adding a 30-yard field goal from Devin Versteegen with 31.5 left in the quarter that ended a drive inside the VSU 25.

VSU went ahead 7-3 with 12:08 left before halftime on a seven-yard run with the help of a few missed tackles from the Bears. Shaw would be forced to punt again but the punt was muffed giving the Bears the back at the VSU 29-yard line. The Bears retook the lead off of the turnover as Peters scrambled 28 yards on third down to give Shaw the 10-7 lead following the PAT from Armaan Nagra with 8:35 left in the quarter.

The high-scoring period continued as VSU added a 39-yard touchdown pass with 1:23 left before Shaw answered right back with a 39-yard scoring strike with Peters finding Jon Barnes in the endzone putting Shaw back in front 17-14 at halftime.

The high-powered offenses continued to flex after halftime as VSU took little time retaking the lead 21-17 just 30 seconds into the half aided by a good kick return and drop interception. The Bears came back with another scoring drive with Peters finding Elliot Dangerfield, Jr from seven yards out. The PAT made the score 24-21 in favor of Shaw with 10:29 on the clock.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Shaw defense showed its toughness holding VSU on 3rd and goal forcing the Trojans to attempt a 25-yard field goal that never happened due to a bobbled snap with 12:40 remaining in the fourth. The defense kept the Trojans out of the endzone as long as they could, but VSU found paydirt with 12.2 seconds left giving VSU the lead for good.

Shaw would get one more heave, but it was intercepted as time expired.

The Bears continue their road trip next Saturday as they travel to Johnson C. Smtih. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM.