The Livingstone notebook ...

Livingstone will have a new starting quarterback when the Blue Bears play host to Johnson C. Smith in a CIAA contest at Alumni Field on Saturday.

Coach Greg Richardson said senior D’Andre Hopper would not play in the big rivalry against the Golden Bulls, set for 6 p.m.

“It’s a disciplinary situation. It’s kind of an in-house situation that we’re dealing with. We’re hoping that it’s going to work out O.K. for him and for our team,” said Richardson.

Hopper, the all-CIAA quarterback last season, accounted for 144 of the Bears’ 236 total yards in last Saturday’s 28-7 loss at league-leading Winston-Salem State. He ranks 10th in the conference in rushing with 233 yards and 10th in passing yardage with 263.

“Right now it will be either Joel Ward or Antonio Kirkpatrick,” said Richardson. Kirkpatrick started in the season-opening loss to Catawba but has been used some as a wide receiver (A-back)since then. Ward is a freshman who has seen some action.

“Antonio Kirkpatrick, when he has been moved to A-back, has done a real good job catching the football for us and doing some things. We’d like to play him at A-back some. If we do, of course, and he gets course, then we don’t have a back-up quarterback after Joel Ward. That’s a consideration that we’re mulling around right now. By gametime we’ll have the correct decision made,” said the Livingstone coach.

Hopper is also the Bears’ punter. He’s No. 5 in the CIAA with a 35.9-yard average.

“He’s turned out to be a very good punter for us,” said Richardson. “A guy who is as hard-nosed as he is, it’s going to hurt a little bit. Our guys just have to learn to step up and be ready to play no matter what, and I think they’ll do that.”

DEFENSIVE HONOR: Livingstone linebacker Nathaniel Turner was selected CIAA defensive lineman of the week for his performance in the loss to Winston-Salem.

Turner, a 6-1, 190-pounder from Fort Washington,Md., was in on 17 tackles — 11 solo and six assisted. He had two tackles for losses of 7 yards.

“Nate’s a small player, but he played real well.He had to make a lot of tackles, because they ran the ball, I think, fairly well. He responded. He did a good job. We’re hoping this is something that’s going to propel him to do an even better job,” said the Livingstone coach.

Turner is listed on the roster as a sophomore.

“Nate’s just a redshirt freshman.He didn’t play at all last year. He’s a smart kid. He understands the defense. We just think he can get better,” said Richardson.

CATCHING PASSES: Livingstone’s junior wide receiver, Shannon Gainey, has seen limited action this season because of an injury, but he caught two passes on Saturday for 26 yards. An excellent kick returner, he still hasn’t been used in that capacity because of the injury.

“We’re real happy about that,” said Richardson of Gainey’s returning to action. “We’re hoping that as he becomes acclimated, he’ll do an even better job these last four games. We really do need him to step up and make some big plays. That’s one of the things that we’re lacking on offense. We’re lacking the big-play potential. We’re hoping that once he becomes familiar again with the offense that he’ll be able to provide that for us.”

Gainey was hurt in the season opener and saw brief action in a 23-20 loss at Virginia State.

Senior sports writer Ed Dupree covers Livingstone football for the Post.