ROME -- The Hawks dropped a heartbreaker at Barron Stadium Thursday night; falling to Clark Atlanta, 27-23.

Shorter (0-6) got off to a strong start, scoring on its first drive as Dante Borders took a one yard run into the end zone for his first touchdown of the year. Brady Hammel delivered the extra point to make it a 7-0 game with 10:59 to play in the opening period. And, added to it with 11:34 remaining in the second when they forced the Panthers' quarterback into the end zone for the 9-0 score.

The Hawks then made it 16-0 on a Lemuel Cobbs touchdown with just over five minutes remaining in the half as the Tyler Pullum connected on a 35-yard pass.

Clark Atlanta (4-2) cut into the lead before the break on a 14-yard reception from Trenton Earl to make it a 16-7 game at the intermission.

Shorter then opened the second half on what would be its final score of the game, as Pullum added his second touchdown of the year on a one yard run with 11:25 to play in the third for the 23-7 score. But, from there, it was all CAU as the Panthers tacked on 20 unanswered points to earn the 27-23 win.

As a team, the Hawks tallied their best offensive game this year, rolling up 371 yards of offense with 249 coming in the air; while the Panthers finished with 386 yards of offense.

Pullum was 21-36 on pass attempts in the game, throwing for a new Shorter record 249 yards with a touchdown. He also added 46 yards rushing with his second touchdown of the season.

Lemuel Cobbs led the Hawks with 109 total yards in the game - 57 yards rushing on eight carries and 52 yards on two receptions. While, Maurice Sutton added 88 yards on nine receptions on the night.

Defensively, Jevaris Jones led the effort; tallying 12 tackles (10 solo). Kevin Knight and Randall Blash each finished with six in the game.

Shorter travels to North Alabama next week for a 7:00pm EST start on Saturday, October 15.