Oct. 4, 2008

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Livingstone's Rashaad Flucker rushed for 110 yards, his second consecutive 100+ rushing game to aid his team to a 32-26 victory over Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. JCSU falls to 1-5, 0-3 in the conference while Livingstone improves to 2-4, 2-1 CIAA.

Smith struck first on a 14-yard run by Kevin Hall (Milton, Fla.) but Julius Wright's point after touchdown fell wide. LC's signal-caller, Steven Williams found two different targets in the end zone but Dominic Piscitello missed both PAT's to keep the score at 12-6. Carlton Richardson (Columbia, S.C.) found his favorite target (Jeremy Franklin) in the back of the end zone but Wright once again missed the point after touchdown and left the score reading 12-12. Point after touchdowns were not on either team's side during the first half as the score would be knotted at 12-12 going into the intermission.

It is safe to say that miscues on offense put the Bulls in a hole that could not be dug out of. A huge third quarter sack of Richardson turned fumble in which Livingstone returned for 67 yards and an eventual score gave LC the 19-12 advantage. On LC's next drive, Flucker had a huge 32-yard run coupled with a 15-yard JCSU personal foul that gave the Blue Bears excellent field position at the JCSU 39-yard line. On the very next play, Williams found Christopher Peoples for a 39-yard strike and the score ready 26-19.

Piscitello connected on a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. JCSU responded on another Richardson/Franklin combo to cut the lead to 29-26. Piscitello hit another 32-yard field goal with two minutes remaining in regulation to swell the lead to 32-26.

JCSU orchestrated a hurry-up offense that led to the ball on the Blue Bear's 29-yard line. Richardson's pass, intended for Tyler Shiver (Columbia, S.C.) , ricocheted off Shiver's shoulder pads and into the hands of Brandon Rousseau with just 59 seconds left. LC took a knee on the next two plays and ended the game 32-26 in favor of the Blue Bears.

Jeremy Franklin (Casselberry, Fla.) had seven catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns but that was not enough to lead his team to victory. Defensively, Andre Saxon (Greenwood, S.C.) had nine total tackles (five solo, four assisted). Colby Harden and Michael Morgan followed behind with five total tackles.

JCSU will return to the gridiron next Saturday, October 11 when they host the Falcons of Saint Augustine's College. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m. at the Irwin Belk Complex.