Edward Waters 31, Shaw 30

By Joshua C. Jackson for EWC Sports Information

September 8, 2007

A crowd of 5000 plus packed Earl S. Kitchings Stadium on Saturday to witness a last-second victory by the Edward Waters College Tigers as they defeated Shaw University, 31-30, in the 6th Annual Willie E. Gary Football Classic.

During the first quarter Shaw used an air assault on the Tigers as Sophomore QB Travis Robinson opened the scoring with a 68 yard TD pass to fellow Sophomore WR DeAndre Okonji to give the Bears an early 7-0 lead. After the teams exchanged punts, the Bears returned to the scoreboard with an 8-yard TD carry by Sophomore RB Aaron Ellison and Shaw increased their lead to 14-0.

The Tigers hit the scoreboard in the 2nd quarter with a touchdown pass from Junior QB Kamau Leitner to Junior RB Rondez Dennis to cut the deficit to 14-7. That is where the score stood as both teams headed in to the locker room for halftime.

The Bears won the coin toss at the beginning of the game and deferred to the second half and that decision seemed to pay off for Shaw coach Darrell Asberry as Okonji took the opening kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21-7.

EWC chopped into the lead again with a TD pass from Leitner to Sophomore TB Trenttonio Stewart to make the score 21-14.

After a field goal by Shaw gave the Bears a 24-14 lead, Leitner hit paydirt again; this time on a QB keeper from 1 yard out making the score 24-21 going into the 4th quarter of play.

Shaw opened the final stanza with a TD pass from Robinson to Sophomore WR Lenell King that made the score 30-21.

The Tigers went to work after that, as Freshman Kicker Jessie Garcia hit a 30-yard field goal to bring the Purple and Orange within 6 points of the lead.

On the final drive of the game, the Tigers moved the ball 70 yards and scored when Leitner hit Freshman WR Jonathan Johnson in the end zone as time expired to tie the game at 30-30.

Shaw called a time out to try to ice Garcia from hitting the extra point, but to no avail as Garcia hit the final point to give the Tigers a 31-30 in one of the most exciting victories in the seven year history of the program.

This game had special meaning to all involved as the Tigers snapped a five game losing streak to the Bears in the Willie E. Gary Classic. The win also snapped a four game losing streak at home and it was the first victory for Kevin Clark as EWC Head Coach.

Kamau Leitner finished the contest going 22-30 for 171 yards and 3 passing TDs along with one rushing TDs. For his efforts, he was named the Offensive Most Valuable player of the contest. This was the second MVP award for Leitner this season. A week earlier he was named the MVP of the Harvey L. Moore Azalea City Classic in Valdosta.

Shaw’s Tomarcio Levy was named the Defensive MVP of the game finishing with 9 total tackles.

Johnathan Johnson led the Tigers in receiving with 4 catches, all in the 2nd half, for 42 yards and the game clinching touchdown.

Trenttonio Stewart lead EWC in rushing with 16 attempts for 60 yards and one receiving TD.

Okonji lead the Bears in receiving with five receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Raymond Williams was the leading rusher for Shaw with 22 carries for 74 yards.

Defensively, the Tigers were led by Nadens Madeus who had 10 tackles and Freshman Tevin Gibson who had 2 interceptions for 56 total yards.

The Bears were led defensively by Levy and Monte Coleman with 9 total tackles each.

The Tigers improve to 1-2 on the season and will have a bye week next week. The team returns to the gridiron on Saturday September 22nd at 5pm as they will take on the North Greenville University Crusaders in the 2nd Ralph J. Bunche Hornets Classic in Kingsland, Georgia.