SPORTS

Gibbs puts up big numbers in freshman season at Shaw University

Fred McCormick
Black Mountain News
Black Mountain native Sidney Gibbs rushed for over 1,000 yards in his freshman season at Shaw University.

With a 24-21 victory over crosstown rival Saint Augustine's University, the Shaw University Bears finished the 2019 season with its best record since 2013. 

Black Mountain native and freshman running back Sidney Gibbs, played a major role in the team's success. 

Gibbs eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season as the Bears picked up their second straight win in the Raleigh Classic. The running back carried the ball 28 times, on his way to a 131 rushing yards. 

The effort propelled Gibbs, who starred at Owen and Christ School, over the 1,000-yard mark for his rookie campaign. 

Gibbs played in all 10 games for the Bears this season, carrying the ball 179 times for 1,024 yards. He led the team with 9 rushing touchdowns. 

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound back, earned Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Association Rookie of the Week honors twice this season and was named the conference's running back of the week after tying a Shaw record with a 3 touchdowns in a 27-20 homecoming win over Livingstone, Oct. 19. 

He recorded a career-high 171 yards rushing against Johnson C. Smith the following week. 

Gibbs, who suffered a season-ending knee injury before his junior year at Owen and another devastating knee injury early in his senior season for Christ School, finished the season with 1,271 all-purpose yards for the Bears.