Salisbury, N.C.- In a thrilling showdown, the Blue Bears edged out the Yellow Jackets with a nail-biting 23-21 victory.

The game began with a defensive struggle, as neither team could find the end zone in the first quarter. It wasn't until the second quarter that Livingstone struck first. Jason Zapata kicked a 24-yard field goal at 11:04, capping off a 9-play drive that covered 41 yards and took nearly four minutes off the clock. With that, the Yellow Jackets took a 3-0 lead.
As the clock wound down in the half, Chancellor Bryant electrified the crowd with a stunning 50-yard punt return for a touchdown, pushing Livingstone's lead to 10-0 just before halftime.

The third quarter opened with a spark from Allen. Beau Herrington broke through for a spectacular 48-yard touchdown run, closing the gap to 10-7. Just when it seemed Livingstone had regained control, Jamir Dismukes connected with Kaleb Commings for a breathtaking 74-yard touchdown pass, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead 14-10.

With the stakes higher than ever, the fourth quarter saw Livingstone rally back. Brenton Hilton connected with Chris Washington on a 14-yard touchdown pass, giving the Blue Bears a 17-14 lead after a successful kick by Zapata. But the excitement didn't end there. Zapata added a 25-yard field goal shortly after, extending Livingstone's lead to 20-14. However, the Yellow Jackets were not done yet. Just seconds later, Allen's Lawrence Nanders made an incredible 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, flipping the momentum back to the Yellow Jackets and putting them ahead 21-20. With the clock quickly winding down, Livingstone fought back fiercely. They moved the ball down the field and, with just over three minutes left, Zapata sealed the deal with a 22-yard field goal, pushing Livingstone to a 23-21 lead.

The Blue Bears are on the road for the next two games, kicking off their series at Bowie State on Saturday, Sept 21, with kickoff set for 4 PM.