For the week ending September 22, 2007 (Week 5)
SHAW EDGES ELIZABETH CITY STATE IN OT
September 23, 2007
ROCKY MOUNT, NC- One season removed from an appearance in the CIAA Championship game and a playoff berth, expectations for this season were lofty for Elizabeth City State. But the Vikings stumbled out of the blocks and limped through the tough nonconference portion of their schedule at 0-3.
The Vikings had hoped to put their early season struggles behind them as they entered their conference opener against Western Division foe Shaw University, but ECSU's struggles continue as Shaw's Ryne Powell kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Bears to a hard fought 20-17 win over the Vikings in the 10th Annual Down East Football Classic in Rocky Mount, NC.
In what was a seesaw battle between two teams looking for their first conference win, ECSU kicker Daniel Mendez kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired to tie the score at 17-17 and send the game into overtime. Mendez was not as fortunate in overtime as he misfired on a 36-yard attempt that would have tied the game allowing the Bears to escape with the win.
The Bears, who rolled up 333 yards of total offense, were paced by running backs Alan Atwater, who piled up 161 rushing yards on 21 carries (7.7 yards a carry) and Raymon Williams, whose 7-yard touchdown run tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. Shaw was also more effective throwing the ball as quarterback Matthew Stevenson finished the game with 153 passing yards and one touchdown. Stevenson's Viking counterpart, All-CIAA preseason pick Curtis Rich, who passed for 2,030 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, struggled, finishing with 47 passing yards.
In addition to Mendez's field goal, Elizabeth City got two short touchdown runs from Joel McClenney in game where they were limited to a scant 162 yards (115 rushing yards; 47 yards passing) of total offense by a stiff Shaw defense.
With the win Shaw improves to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the CIAA while ECSU, who came into the season as the Eastern Division favorite, falls to 0-4 and 0-1 in the conference.
Conference Scoreboard
Bowie
State
10
Fayetteville
State
7
Johnson C. Smith
33
Saint Augustine's
30
Virginia
State
30
Livingstone
7
Shaw
20
Elizabeth City State
17
Virginia
Union
28
Saint
Paul's
3
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