Clark Atlanta fell behind early and couldn't catch up late as Shorter University defeated CAU 38-17 Saturday at CAU Panther Stadium.

Clark Atlanta (1-2) fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter after Shorter's (2-1) Aeneas Dennis threw his second touchdown of the day.  Shariif Brown, in his first start at quarterback for Clark Atlanta, drove the Panthers 66 yards in 11 plays to set up Carlos Saldana for a 40-yard field goal to make it 14-3.

Shorter answered by closing out the half with two more touchdowns – a 38-yard Jaiden Dollard TD run and another Dennis TD pass – to go up 28-3 at halftime.

Shorter added a field goal just after halftime to take their largest lead at 31-3.   CAU could only muster two touchdowns in the second half – a 12-yard Brown touchdown pass to Jeramie Tate just before the end of the third quarter, and Brown's TD toss to Kendall Wimberly midway through the fourth quarter.

CAU defense gave up 500 yards of total offense, 238 yardss passing and 262 rushing. 

Dennis finished 16-of-21 for 238 yards and three touchdowns, while Dollard rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown and Tyrell Owens ran for 102 yards and a touchdown.  Nemo Reddish and Kolby Reynolds both had seven tackles for Shorter.

Clark Atlanta was led by Brown, who was 22-for-42 for 255 yards and two touchdown passes Saturday. He also led the Panthers in rushing with 24 yards.  Wimberly had a big day with five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Drakar Jerry hauled in four passes for 40 yards.  Tate and Anthony Brown each caught three passes, while Jeremiah Gibbs hauled in a 43-yard catch.

Defensively, Aderrius Barron had 11 tackles, eight of them solo.  Timothy Jones had seven solo tackles, while Owein Blas and Tyrese Ross each finished with six stops. Travis Taylor and Rodney Lewis both finished with four tackles and a sack.

The Panthers head back out on the road next Saturday when they visit Albany, Ga., to take on SIAC East foe Albany State University.  Albany State defeated Shorter 28-12 last weekend.