SALISBURY, NC – Despite a career high in rushing yards by senior Linwood Jenkins, the Livingstone Blue Bear football team fell the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls 30-15 Saturday in the inaugural Commemorative Classic at Alumni Memorial Stadium.
With the loss, the Blue Bears remain winless with an overall record of 0-6 and a 0-3 record in the CIAA. JCSU improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Jenkins had his best rushing performance of his time at Livingstone as he rushed for 167 total yards on 25 carries and scored one touchdown. Senior quarterback Steven Williams threw for 134 yards and one score. Defensively, junior defensive back Alkeem Deloatch totaled 10 tackles. Sophomore Devonta Harmon and junior Jamar Graham both had one interception.
Livingstone started the game the best they had all season. The Blue Bears forced the Bulls to punt after only three plays and 59 seconds. The Blue Bears marched down the field for 55 yards on seven plays behind 40 rushing yards from Jenkins. Williams found sophomore Christopher Peoples in the endzone for a 10-yard connection. The extra point attempt failed and Livingstone led 6-0. The touchdown was the first points that Livingstone had scored in the first quarter on the season.
Each team then traded three and outs and Johnson C. Smith got on the board with 24 seconds left in the first quarter as kicker Julius Wright connected on a 34-yard field goal to cut the Blue Bear lead to 6-3. Livingstone responded on its next possession as it added a field goal of it's own to go back up six at 9-3.
With less than two minutes left in the half, the Golden Bulls put together a five-play, 63-yard drive, but quarterback Ryan Carter fumbled the ball at the two-yard line. The ball was recovered in the end zone by the Blue Bears for a touchback. Livingstone took a knee on their first snap to end the half. The halftime score was 9-3.
Livingstone got the opening kickoff of the second half, but punted after three rushes by Jenkins. On the ensuing punt, JCSU's Jeremy Franklin brought the punt back 47 yards to the Livingstone 27. The Golden Bulls went 27 yards on four plays in 1:32 to go up 10-9.
On the Blue Bears' next possession they were again forced to punt after only three plays. Johnson C. Smith was given good field position after the kickoff due to a personal foul on Livingstone. The Blue Bears were penalized 65 yards on seven penalties. The Golden Bulls to 2:11 to go 62 yards on five plays for a touchdown to go up 16-9.
Livingstone started its next scoring drive with one minute left in the third quarter on the one yard line. After three plays and only gaining five yards, the Blue Bears were forced to punt. Bryan Aycoth's punt went only 24 yards, but the play was called back due to a running into the kicker penalty on the Golden Bulls. The penalty gave the Blue Bears a first down and new life.
On the second play after the penalty, Jenkins ripped off a 52-yard run down the right sideline and was tackled at the JCSU 33 yard line. After five more plays got the Blue Bears down to the six yard line, Jenkins took a pitch from junior Marcel Roberson to the right side and took it into the end zone. Freshman kicker Jordan Beckham missed the extra point and Livingstone trailed 16-15.
Johnson C. Smith put another touchdown on the board with just under five minutes remaining when Quinton Toomer rushed for a 60-yard touchdown. Johnson C. Smith went up 23-15.
On Livingstone's next drive it moved the ball 20 yards on four plays, but was then forced to punt. After the punt, the Golden Bulls went 98 yards on 4 plays with a 73-yard rush by Toomer for a touchdown to go up 30-15 which ended up being the final score.
Each team had a Most Valuable Player named. Linwood Jenkins took the award for Livingstone while Quinton Toomer took the award for Johnson C. Smith.
Livingstone had 298 offensive yards, which was their highest offensive output of the season. Livingstone rushed for 164 yard and passed for 134 more.
Livingstone will again look for that first victory next Saturday when they host Chowan at 1:30 p.m. Saturday's contest will be Livingstone's Homecoming.
