The Livingstone notebook ...

Blue Bears head football coach Greg Richardson knows this weekend’s opponent quite well. That’s because he was Virginia Union’s defensive coordinator for two seasons.

Livingstone takes on a strong Union team at 4 p.m. Saturday in Roanoke, Va.

Richardson was a successful defensive coordinator at Livingstone under Rudy Abrams before leaving the Bears to become Union’s defensive coordinator during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He returned to Salisbury as Livingstone’s head coach in 1999, after Abrams moved on to North Carolina Central as head coach.

“Virginia Union is a very good team. They are one of the top-ranked teams in (NCAA) Division II,” said Richardson of the Panthers, who are 2-0 overall after defeating Morehouse 43-21 in Richmond, Va., on Saturday. The Panthers opened the season with a 36-21 triumph over Elizabeth City State in a CIAA contest.

“I rank them pretty much on a level with Catawba,” said Richardson. “They have a good offense, a veteran offense, a really fine quarterback (Jason Thompson) and a really fine running back (Andre Braxton).”

Braxton had 21 carries for 103 yards last Saturday and is the CIAA’s leading rusher with 145.5 yards per game. He has 291 yards in 44 carries, a 6.6 average.

Thompson is tied for fourth in passing yardage at 88.0 per game and sixth in passing efficiency with a 104.1 rating.

“They run the ball. Andre Braxton is an awfully fine player. Their offensive line makes it go,” said Richardson. “They are big, experienced and strong. ... They have outstanding special teams. Their special teams have scored four touchdowns and blocked several kicks.”

Richardson added, “Their defense has been one of top defenses in Division II for the last four years, the two years I was there, last year and this year. They’ve got veteran kids. ... They are going to be a tough team.”

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LEAGUE OPENER: Livingstone (0-2) is playing its first CIAA contest after losing to two South Atlantic Conference foes, Catawba (49-0) and Tusculum (26-0).

“I think our guys are excited about the opening of conference play,” said Richardson. “They realize they have made mistakes. The kids see that a block here or going the right place here would have made the difference in a 2-yard gain and a 50-yard gain. ... They are gaining confidence in the offense as the weeks go along. They need some success in game-type situations to give them more confidence. ... If we ever get our timing offensively, we’ll be hard to deal with. Right now, timing and consistency is an issue for us. If we can go into this game and gain some consistency and confidence, then we’re going to be all right.”

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STARTER AGAIN: Senior D'Andre Hopper, the all-CIAA quarterback last year, will start for the second straight game. Antonio Kirkpatrick started the season opener.

“D’Andre is our quarterback at this point. His 2-for-16 (against Tusculum) is not indicative of the kind of passing game he had. He had six dropped balls. He did a good job of hitting receivers,” said Richardson, who used freshman Joel Ward late in the game against Tusculum. Ward was impressive in his few plays.

“It’s a game-by-game situation with Ward. We definitely think Joel is the future of the program,” said the coach. “He understands the option game. He’s an unusual freshman in terms of his confidence. ... We’re excited to have three good quarterbacks that can run our offense once we get everything meshed up.”

A young offensive line is, according to the coach, a big key to the offense.

“If our offensive line gets on their blocks and stays on their blocks, we think we’ll be able to get D’Andre, Carl Jones and Shannon Gainey one on one out in the open field. If we get any of those three in the open field, we’ll win those battles,” he explained.

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INJURIES: Running back Jones and wide receiver-kick returner Gainey have both been fighting early season injuries.

Jones sat out the season opener with a sprained ankle, then played sparingly last week, running nine times for 29 yards.

“He’s getting there. He’s not 100 percent yet. He’s in a position now where he can practice during the course of the week. That’s important for timing,” said Richardson.

Gainey has missed the second half of the Catawba game and all the Tusculum contest with a hamstring injury.

“It’s a day-by-day situation with him. Later on in the week we’re going to practice him to see if he can go full speed. We’ll make a decision whether he can play or not. He’s questionable now,” said the coach.

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WAITING HIS TURN: Ward, who played high school football at Fayetteville 71st, is taking a low-key approach to the starting quarterback situation, pointing out that seniors Hopper and Kirkpatrick are “some good role models. Whatever complements the team, whatever it takes for us to win ... We’re 0-2 right now. If it means me getting in there and having to get some more playing time to win: Whatever it takes. If it means me being on the sidelines cheering guys on, that’s what I’m all about right now,” said Ward.

As for deciding to attend Livingstone on a football scholarship, he added, “I understood that they (Hopper and Kirkpatrick) were both seniors, so next year I might have a good bet at a starting position. I was looking into that before I was coming here.”

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DEFENSIVE CHANGE: Another freshman, Jeremy White of Washington, D.C., has earned a starting spot at cornerback.

“He came in during the Tusculum game and did a great job. We think he’s earned a spot on the field,” said Richardson. “He replaces another freshman, Marcus Richardson. Richardson is a very good player. They both need that experience. Richardson will play a lot.”