Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – Missed opportunities cost the Livingstone Blue Bear football team Saturday afternoon as they fell 10-0 to the Lincoln University Lions at Alumni Memorial Stadium in CIAA action.
With the loss the Blue Bears fall to 0-5 on the season and 0-2 in conference while Lincoln improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the CIAA.
Things got off to a rough start for the Blue Bears as the opening kickoff was mishit and the Lions started on the Blue Bears 48-yard line. Lincoln went 36 yards on 10 plays and knocked threw a field goal to go up 3-0 just under five minutes into the contest. Livingstone didn't have much success on their first drive, moving the ball only three yards on three plays before punting.
After a Livingstone fumble with 4:33 left in the first quarter, the Lions marched down 60 yards down the field on 15 plays, but ultimately turned the ball over on downs at their own five yard line. Livingstone's best chance to score in the first half came late after they recovered a fumble as Lincoln was only six yards from the end zone. Livingstone moved the ball 39 yards on nine plays in 4:47, but ultimately was forced to punt. The first half ended with Livingstone trailing 3-0.
The Blue Bears' first big missed opportunity came on their second possession of the second half. Livingstone started their drive o the Lincoln 23 yard line and got to the seven yard line. Livingstone lined up for a field goal attempt, but ran a fake pass play that resulted in an incompletion and turnover on downs.
After the turnover on downs, the Blue Bears picked off a Lion pass at the Lincoln 18 yard line. Livingstone again got the ball inside the 10 yard line, but turned it over on downs after only five plays. Lincoln got the ball on their own eight yard line and took the ball 92 yards on four plays for a touchdown to go up 10-0.
In the fourth quarter the Lions continued to cough up the ball as Lincoln lost the ball twice on fumbles. The second fumble Livingstone recovered at the Lincoln 34 yard line. Livingstone was facing a third down and six yards to go when senior quarterback Steven Williams hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Christopher Peoples for a 29-yard pass play down to the one yard line. On the next play, with the play clock running down, Williams took the snap on a quarterback sneak and fumbled the ball only inches from the goal line. Lincoln recovered and another promising Blue Bear drive ended inside the 10 yard line.
Livingstone got the ball only one more time after the last fumble and got nowhere with it. Lincoln was able to work the clock during their last two drives, holding the ball for 6:31.
Offensively, Williams threw for 137 yards on 14 completions. Peoples had 132 yards receiving on eight receptions. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Justin Johnson led the Blue Bears with 10 tackles. Three blue bears caused fumbles and sophomore defensive back Devonta Harmon had one interception he brought back for 24 yards.
Livingstone will be back in action, looking for their first victory of the season, next Saturday when they host Johnson C. Smith University in the 117th annual Commemorative Classic. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Tickets for the Commemorative Classic can be purchased ahead of time at www.eztixx.com.
