DURHAM – Shaw had a choice.
Kick the extra point and keep playing.
Or end it.
The Bears chose the latter.
After Livingstone scored first in overtime Saturday afternoon, Shaw answered with an Alexander Marsh touchdown pass to Jeffrey McDonald Jr. and then kept its offense on the field. Fabian Diggs powered in the two-point conversion, giving the Bears a dramatic 28-27 victory over their in-state CIAA rival at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Shaw improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play, while Livingstone fell to 2-3 and 2-2.
The finish provided a fitting conclusion to an afternoon in which neither team could pull away.
Livingstone struck first when Javen Parker finished a 65-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter.
Shaw finally answered midway through the second when Marsh found Cobie Bates for a 54-yard touchdown. A missed extra point left the Blue Bears ahead, and Jason Zapata's 44-yard field goal later sent Livingstone into halftime leading 10-6.
Shaw emerged from halftime with an answer.
Trey Thorpe capped a 69-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Bears their first lead, 12-10. But Livingstone responded with perhaps its biggest play of regulation.
Facing third-and-two, Tikey Hayes broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown, putting the Blue Bears back in front 17-12.
That lead lasted less than two minutes.
Thorpe ripped off a 48-yard run on Shaw's ensuing possession, and Jerry Eaton eventually scored from two yards out. Marsh connected with McDonald on the two-point conversion to make it 20-17.
Livingstone had one more answer.
The Blue Bears put together an 11-play drive early in the fourth quarter and appeared to score when Andrew McClain reached the end zone, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown. Livingstone ultimately settled for Zapata's 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 8:37 remaining.
Neither team scored again in regulation.
Livingstone got the football first in overtime and methodically worked its way toward the goal line before Maliq Staten scored from one yard out. Zapata's extra point gave the Blue Bears a 27-20 advantage.
Shaw needed considerably less time.
The Bears scored in only two plays, with Marsh finding McDonald for a 13-yard touchdown.
Then came the decision.
Rather than kick to extend the game, Shaw put the offense back on the field needing two yards to win it.
Diggs got them.
His successful two-point conversion ended the game immediately and set off a Shaw celebration after nearly four hours of football.
The statistics reflected just how evenly matched the two North Carolina programs were.
Livingstone actually outgained Shaw 448-431 and ran 85 offensive plays to the Bears' 59. The Blue Bears also held the football for more than 34 minutes and converted 11 of 20 third downs.
Shaw, however, was far more explosive, averaging 7.3 yards per play compared with Livingstone's 5.3.
Thorpe led the Bears with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while Marsh completed 16 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Bates turned his two receptions into 101 yards and a score.
Hayes led Livingstone with 90 rushing yards, including his 55-yard touchdown, while Brandon Edinburgh Jr. threw for 231 yards.
For 60 minutes, there was almost nothing separating the two teams.
So when Shaw finally had an opportunity to decide the game with one play from two yards away, the Bears didn't leave the outcome for another overtime.
They went for two.
And they got it.
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