DURHAM — Livingstone dropped a 45-21 decision to Shaw Saturday at Durham County Stadium in its third-straight defeat.
After the Blue Bears (2-5, 1-3) scored the first points, Shaw hammered off 31 in a row and outgained LC 498-298 in total offense. Shaw (4-3, 2-2) also forced six sacks and three interceptions.
“What it came down to was Shaw’s a program that’s been together longer than we have,” Livingstone coach Daryl Williams said. “We didn’t have the depth and strength to match those guys.”
Shaw scored a deflating touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half and found the end zone on the first play of the second half to take command.
Shaw quarterback Quinshon Odom threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns, one of which started the second half.
LC starting quarterback Drew Powell completed 20 of 38 passes and scored three touchdowns, but threw two interceptions and had a nagging shoulder injury dampen his day as he left the game in the final minutes.
“He didn’t throw a ball all week,” Williams said. “The first ball he threw this week was in warmups today.”
Williams hopes for Powell to be ready for next week’s game against defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State.
Shaw’s Marquise Grizzle ran for 161 yards, 74 of which came on a touchdown run with 5:57 left to put a bow on it.
“Outside of that one run, I felt like we held him in check,” Williams said.
Powell gave the Blue Bears a 7-0 lead on the opening possession with a 12-yard TD pass to Avery Collins.
West Rowan grad Isaiah Laster came on in relief and completed one of five passes with an interception.
Grizzle’s 12-yard TD run late in the first quarter gave Shaw a 10-7 lead, one it didn’t lose. Shaw compiled a 91-yard scoring drive at the end of the half that included a key fourth-and-seven conversion.
Odom found Ta’Juan Brown on a 50-yard touchdown pass to start the second half and Odom punched it in from a yard out to push Shaw’s lead to 31-7.
The Blue Bears answered with a touchdown throw from Powell to Jalen Hendricks to cap a nine-play, 75-yard possession. Early in the fourth quarter, Powell found Anthony Holland in the end zone to cut the deficit to 31-21.
But Shaw didn’t lie down. With 8:20 left, Odom tossed his third touchdown of the day to Brown to cap a 9-play, 51-yard drive. Grizzle’s TD came one possession later to cap the day.
Livingstone hosts WSSU next Saturday at 1 p.m.