Blue Bears Power Past Yellow Jackets 28–17
Winnsboro, SC- Livingstone College earned a hard-fought 28–17 road win over Allen University on Saturday night, powered by a tenacious defense and the leadership of linebacker Jayden Reeder. The Blue Bears forced six turnovers and controlled the game from start to finish, securing their first-ever road victory over the Yellow Jackets.
The Blue Bears wasted no time making an impact. On Allen's opening drive, pressure from the defense led to an interception by Zavion Lloyd, who returned it for a touchdown to give Livingstone a 7–0 lead before the offense even took the field.
That defensive spark carried through the first half. Two more turnovers gave quarterback Alfredo Sotelo and the offense short fields to work with, resulting in two additional touchdowns. Livingstone entered halftime with a 21–10 lead and full control of the game.
Jayden Reeder anchored the defense with a standout performance, recording 12 tackles (8 solo) and providing emotional and physical leadership throughout the night. His energy and discipline helped the Blue Bears contain Allen's passing game and dominate the line of scrimmage.
Livingstone's front seven consistently disrupted plays, stuffed the run, and forced Allen into long-yardage situations.
With 34 seconds left in the third quarter, lightning forced a delay of over an hour. Despite the interruption, Livingstone's momentum remained intact.
Allen's running back Fabian Duncan tried to rally the Yellow Jackets with a career-high 198 rushing yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. But the Blue Bears defense held firm in the red zone, forcing two more turnovers in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead.
Livingstone's offense played smart, complementary football—protecting the ball and capitalizing on defensive stops. A final touchdown extended the lead to 28–10 before Duncan's late score brought Allen within 11.
The Blue Bears defense closed the game with back-to-back stops, silencing the home crowd and sealing the win.
Coach Gilbert's Reaction
"We challenged our guys to play with heart and discipline, and they responded," said Head Coach Sean Gilbert. "Jayden Reeder was phenomenal tonight, but it was a full team effort. We're proud of how we handled adversity and stayed locked in through the weather delay. This win is a step forward."
With the win, Livingstone improves to 1–1 on the season and builds momentum heading into next Saturday's CIAA matchup on September 20th against Bowie State University at 4pm.
