DURHAM, NC (September 20, 2008) – Shaw University began defense of its CIAA crown by defeating Lincoln University of Pennsylvania 56-7 Saturday afternoon at Durham County Stadium in a CIAA football contest. (BOXSCORE)
Lincoln freshman defensive back Anthony Bell (Atlanta, GA/Lithonia) recorded his first career interception and recovered a fumble at the Shaw 6-yard line midway through the third quarter. Bell's recovery set up Lincoln's only score of the game, a six-yard run by junior quarterback and physical education major Kareem Dennis (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln). Sophomore linebacker and business major Daron Jones (Baltimore, Md./Cardinal Gibbons HS) (Baltimore, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) also had an interception for Lincoln (1-3 overall).
Lincoln's defense recorded seven tackles for losses during the first half. Lincoln sophomore defensive back and health science major Chris Richards (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) finished with a team-high seven tackles. Sophomore wide receiver and physical education major Trey Thomas (Canton, GA/Woodstock) (Canton, GA/Woodstock) led Lincoln with five receptions for 28 yards.
Lincoln turned the ball over six times and finished with 128 yards of total offense. Shaw (2-2 overall, 1-0 conference) started five of its nine scoring drives in Lincoln territory. Shaw began the second half by scoring two touchdowns in the first five minutes to expand its 21-0 halftime advantage.
“I think the team played in the first half pretty well, considering who we were playing,” Lincoln coach Olabaniji Abanishe said. “In the second half, we came out sluggish. They pretty much found our weakness, as far as size up front, so they pounded us a little bit and caught us deep a couple times.”
In the first meeting between Lincoln and Shaw since 1960, the host Bears scored 28 points in the third quarter to win their home opener and bounce back from last week's defeat to Division I-AA Texas Southern.
Shaw, which generated 464 yards of total offense, got two touchdowns each from Raymon Williams, Lenell King, and DeAndre Okanji. Williams returned a kickoff 85 yards immediately after Dennis' score in the third quarter.
Before Shaw pulled away, Lincoln started strong as freshman D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS) (Bowie, MD/Riverdale Baptist) returned the opening kickoff 23 yards and Dennis completed his first three passes before the drive stalled in Shaw territory. The Lincoln defense forced a Shaw punt on the Bears' opening possession.
Despite the early positives by Lincoln's offense, the Lions had difficulty sustaining consistent drives against Shaw in the first half, gaining 71 yards on 34 first half plays.
The Lions made a huge stop with 4:02 remaining in the second quarter when they stopped Shaw on fourth down at the Bear 29-yard line.
Lincoln moved the ball late in the second quarter. The Lions benefited from a pass interference penalty on Shaw on a fourth-and-2 play that resulted in an incompletion. The Lions would've had to give up the ball. Instead, Smith ripped off a 13-yard run to set up Lincoln at the Shaw 15-yard line. The drive ended with a blocked field goal with 47 seconds remaining.
“The key today was we just told the guys keep fighting, keep fighting and they did,” Abanishe said. “Shaw is an excellent team, the defending conference champions, and we played well with them for three quarters. We've got to put four quarters together to come out victorious.”
Lincoln will return to action next Saturday afternoon when it hosts Livingstone College at Avon Grove High School beginning at 1:00 p.m. Shaw remains home to host Bowie State University next Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
--LU--
