CIAA: Shaw 39, Johnson C. Smith 33

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Shaw University scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, then allowed homestanding Johnson C. Smith back into the game, finally holding off the Golden Bulls for a 39-33 win at the Irwin Belk Complex on the JCSU.

The Bears, who improve to 5-3 and 3-2 in the CIAA, exacted some small amount of vengeance in the win on Johnson C. Smith’s homecoming. For the last two seasons, JCSU – now 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the conference – downed Shaw on the Bears’ homecoming games.

“It feels good to get the win,” said Shaw head coach Robert Massey. “But we didn’t look good doing it, and we can’t play like this and have any chance against Winston-Salem State.”

With a 32-13 lead, the bears allowed the Golden Bulls back into the game on the back of penalties. For the game, Shaw had 11 penalties for 96 yards while the Golden Bulls committed four infractions for 16 yards. Shaw also struggled with turnovers, fumbling five times in the game, with JCSU recovering three of those.

Starting quarterback Quinshon Odom went down with an injury just before the half, and it was left to Trevius Folston to engineer the big third quarter and lead the Bears to the win. Folston finished the game four for six for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for another 17 yards and another touchdown.

The Bears’ Marquise Grizzle crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the season with a 167-yard performance that included two touchdowns, including a 40-yard sprint that gave Shaw the lead in the final minute of the first half.