Falcons Almost Rally From 28-Point Deficit With Valiant Second-Half Effort

RALEIGH, NC (Nov 5) – On Saturday, Saint Augustine's University staged a huge second-half rally, but fell short 35-32 to archrival Shaw University in the inaugural Raleigh Classic football game at the George Williams Athletic Complex.

The Falcons almost overcame a 28-0 first quarter deficit, but the comeback ended when the Bears recovered an onside kick with 24 seconds left in the game. The defeat snapped the Falcons' two-game win streak over the Bears, and it was Shaw's first victory in three tries at the George Williams Athletic Complex.

Though the Falcons lost, they gave their fans plenty of thrills in the contest. Charles Edmond (Fr./High Point, NC) played a career game, catching five passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Lenwood Joyner (So./Miami, FL) had two receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown and Julius Murphy (R-Jr./Goldsboro, NC) tossed four touchdown passes and threw for 283 yards to overcome three interceptions. Rovonta Johnson (R-So./Lakeland, FL) rushed for 70 yards.

Defensive lineman Chasz Cosby (Jr./Charlotte, NC) finished with 10 tackles including two for loss. He led a defense which held the Bears scoreless in the second half. Linebacker Tray King (Jr./Kershaw, SC) added eight tackles including one tackle for loss and defensive back Miguel Marshall (Jr./Woodbridge, VA) totaled seven tackles with one tackle for loss and an interception.

Defensive back Denzel Malone-Huff (Jr./Gadsden, AL) played an outstanding game for the Falcons. He was credited with five tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception and one blocked kick.

After spotting the Bears 28 first-quarter points, the Falcons finally found their rhythm in the second quarter. Murphy connected with Joyner on a 31-yard touchdown pass to get the Falcons within 28-6. The Falcons added another score when Murphy found Edmond for a 63-yard scoring pass. The touchdown gave the Falcons life as they closed within 28-12, but the Bears scored with less than a minute before halftime to open a 35-12 lead.

The Falcons came roaring back in the second half. Murphy connected with Edmond again - this time on a 40-yard scoring pass – and scored the two-point conversion early in the third quarter to pull the Falcons within 35-20. 

Later in the quarter, Malik Mapps (So./Miami, FL) scored on a four-yard run the slice the Bears lead to 35-26. Murphy set up the touchdown with a 21-yard scramble on fourth down and 18 to the Bears four-yard line.

The Falcons missed an opportunity to chop the deficit even more on the next series. Malone-Huff recovered a fumble in Bears territory, and the Falcons moved to the 10-yard line before the drive stalled.

Needing two scores to win with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Falcons chances appeared slim when they started a drive on their 18-yard line. But Murphy ran 20 yards and passed to Edmond for a 23-yard gain before hitting Michael Allen (Jr./Lilburn, GA) for a 39-yard score to cut the deficit to 35-32.

With the home crowd going wild, the Falcons needed to recover the onside kick to have a shot at pulling out a miracle win. But the Bears recovered and ran out the clock to win the Raleigh Classic trophy. Both the Falcons and Bears ended their seasons at 1-4 in the Southern Division, 2-5 in the CIAA and 2-8 overall.

The offensive effort was the best for the Falcons this season. Despite missing top receiver Sam Boyd (Jr./Houston, TX), starting quarterback D.J. Johnson (So./Richmond, VA) and placekicker Sean Smith (R-So./Valdosta, GA) due to injuries, the Falcons outgained the Bears 460 to 309.

For the Bears, quarterback Darron Downing tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another on a 76-yard jaunt. He rushed for 121 yards on 14 carries. Defensively, the Bears were led by linebacker Keelan Jones with 15 tackles.

Before the contest, seven Falcon seniors were honored. They were Murphy, running back Nate Whittington (Salisbury, MD), offensive linemen Donald Brinkley (Greenville, NC), Shamsiddin Crews (Richmond, VA), Brandon King (Florence, SC) and Jaron Rice (Lawrenceville, VA); and defensive end Chris Roberts (Albany, GA).