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FAYETTEVILLE —It was the longest game in Livingstone history, and one of the saddest ever for the Blue Bears.
Coach Greg Richardson’s club had its first victory of the season in its grasp late in regulation, but wound up a 12-6 double-overtime loser to Fayetteville State’s Broncos in college football here Saturday night.
Livingstone, 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the CIAA, lost despite amassing 431 yards of total offense. The Bears, however, lost three fumbles, one with nine seconds to go in regulation and another on the first possession of overtime.
“I’ve never run a team up and down the field like we did tonight and couldn’t score. I’ve never had that happen to me ever before,”said Richardson. “Again its our mistakes. When you’ve got a chance to seal the game, you’ve got to seal the game.”
Richardson had good reason to believe the game was sealed when Nathaniel Turner recovered a Fayetteville fumble at the Broncos’ 34 with 2:31 to go in regulation. Freshman quarterback Joel Ward, was in the game after injuries knocked out starter Antonio Kirkpatrick and the starter the previous two games, D’Andre Hopper.
Ward and running backs Carlton Jones, Lamonte Stephens and Sonji Mason all had big gainers on the ground as the Bears drove down two. Then Ward, playing in his hometown, fumbled on third down. Clenton Cochran recovered for the Broncos with nine seconds left.
Fayetteville won the coin toss for the first overtime and chose to go offense first at the Bears’ 25. Livingstone defensive back Michael Posey intercepted a Duane Taylor pass on first down on the one yard line.
“Ifelt like I had secured the win for us. All we had to do was push it in and score on the opening drive,”said Posey. “Ifelt like it was over with. It’s a grave disappointment.”
After his interception, quarterback Ward and running back Jones had a bad exchange on a fourth-and-two play and Dennis Best recovered the fumble.
Livingstone also reached the Broncos’ eleven before losing possession on a fourth down incomplete pass on the Bears’ second over time possession.
Then it took the Broncos, 1-0 in the CIAA and two-two overall, only five plays to go 25 yards to win the game. DeAngelo Bridges ran the final 2 yards for the TD after shaking off Livingstone’s star linebacker, Jason Ocean.
Jones led Livingstone’s offensive attack with 150 yards rushing on 23 carries. Stephens just missed 100 with 91 yards on 12 carries.
Bridges was the game’s offensive star, however, with 207 yards on 21 carries and the winning touchdown.
Kirkpatrick directed the Bears on an impressive 7-play 80 yard drive for the games first touchdown late in the first quarter.
Stephens’ 25 yard run and a 16 yard keeper by Kirkpatrick were the big gainers. Jones got the TD from 11 yards out. The Bears led 6-0 with 1:17 left in the quarter after Kedion Carter’s conversion try was wide left.
Fayettville’s Phil Crumb made the Broncos’ biggest play of the first half, but didn’t get the score. He intercepted a Kirkpatrick pass at his own 18 and headed toward the goal line on a spectacular run. However, he started highstepping in celebration and fumbled the ball into the end zone. Teammate Dominic Backman recovered for the Bronco’s TD. Alan Zero’s missed extra point try left it tied at 6-all with 11:31 to go in the half.
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NOTES:It was the second over time game in Livingstone history. The Bears won 37-34 at Newberry last year. ... The Blue Bears visit Virginia State at 7 p.m. next Saturday.
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