BUIES CREEK — Campbell scored touchdowns on its first five possessions and went on to defeat Shaw 42-0 on Saturday night at Barker-Lane Stadium.
Daniel Smith became CU’s all-time passing yards leader (2,811) while posting his sixth career 100-yard effort on the ground and the Camels (3-1) held the Division II Bears (1-2) to just 174 yards.
Aaron Blockmon set the school’s all-time touchdowns record (22) with a second quarter reception and the Camels held Shaw to 0-of-9 on 3rd-down conversions.
Blockmon finished with eight receptions for 89 yards, while Whitehead had five grabs for 41 yards. Justice Galloway-Velazquez and Terence Harper finished with six tackles apiece for the Camels, who logged their third shutout in the last two seasons.
A sophomore from Leesburg, Va., Smith completed 22 of 28 passes for 227 yards and two scores. He gained an even 100 yards on just five rushes as Campbell finished with a 486-174 advantage in total offense. Joshua Jones added 59 yards and Rocky Reid 52, plus a pair of TDs on the ground for the Camels, whose offense was nearly balanced between rushing (244 yards) and passing (242).
Smith scored on a 59-yard quarterback keeper on Campbell’s third play from scrimmage. The sophomore signal caller had a 27-yard run on the next possession and Rocky Reid rolled in from seven yards to push the margin to 14-0.
Campbell led 21-0 with 2:11 to play in the opening period after Reid scored from two yards out. Smith’s 28-yard completion to Caleb Snead set up the Camels with a first and goal at the two.
Shaw drove 69 yards to the Campbell 6-yard line on its next possession. However, Monchovia Gaffney deflected Keon Marsh’s swing pass and Giddel Waters picked the ball out of the air to extend CU’s streak to 30 games with at least one takeaway.
Blockmon’s 12-yard TD reception capped a 10-play, 91-yard drive to push the advantage to 28-0. Smith’s one-yard run with 5:06 left in the second provided the Camels with a 35-0 lead at the break.
Smith connected with Antonio Whitehead on a 22-yard TD strike with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter to close out the scoring.
Marsh completed seven of 14 passes for 68 yards, but was sacked four times. Dorrel McClain gained 104 yards on 10 carries. Jaleel Scroggins led Shaw with 11 tackles.
The Camels return to action next Saturday with a 6 p.m. kickoff against future Big South Conference opponent North Alabama at Barker-Lane Stadium.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)