Box Score
ROCKY MOUNT, NC – The Livingstone football team fell Saturday, 49-7, to the Elizabeth City State Vikings in the 14th Annual Down East Viking Classic.
Elizabeth City got the scoring started with 6:48 left in the first quarter, grabbing a touchdown after a 13-play, 84-yard drive.
Late in the first quarter the Vikings were driving but sophomore Justin Avery came up with his second pick in two games to give the Blue Bears a chance to tie the game. Despite the interception, Livingstone punted, but the punt was fumbled by the Vikings and recovered by Livingstone's Rufus Mosley only two yards from the endzone. With 14:14 left in the second quarter, senior Jamel Moore took the ball into the endzone on the ground to tie the game 7-7.
Elizabeth City regained a 14-7 edge over the Blue Bears with just under eight minutes remaining in the half. The remainder of the half went scoreless and the Vikings took a 14-7 lead into the break.
Livingstone got the opening kick of the second half, but managed only one yard on three plays and punted. Elizabeth City took the ball 43 yards on eight plays to take a 21-7 edge over the Blue Bears. On the first play of Livingstone's next drive, freshman quarterback Craig Murdock fumbled and the Vikings took over. Elizabeth City capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown to go up 28-7.
The Blue Bears were unable to get anything going offensively in the second half. Elizabeth City increased its lead to 35-7 before the end of the third quarter and put in two more touchdowns before the end of the contest to win 49-7.
Livingstone managed only 46 total yards of offense Saturday with 41 coming on the rush and five yards coming via the pass. Jamel Moore led the Blue Bears with 26 rushing yards and one touchdown. Craig Murdock completed 3-of-9 passes for five yards.
Defensively, sophomore Justin Avery led the Blue Bears with 10 total tackles and also had two interceptions, returned for a total of 60 yards. Sophomore Tyheim Pitt also recorded nine tackles. Freshman Kirkland Davidson also grabbed an interception, returning it for 35 yards.
The Blue Bears will continue on the road next Saturday, September 17 when they travel to Bowie, MD to take on the Bulldogs of Bowie Stat e University in a 1 p.m. contest.
