CHARLOTTE — A heartbreaking football loss for the Livingstone Blue Bears, who narrowly missed snapping a losing streak against CIAA rival Johnson C. Smith.
The Golden Bulls survived in overtime 36-33 to saddle the Bears with their fourth straight setback since an early-season road win at Edward Waters.
The biggest problem for coach Greg Richardson’s Bears was bruising Bull back Jimmy Bell, who rang up 207 yards and a TD in 37 workhorse carries. With Bell leading the way, the Bulls (2-4 overall , 2-2
CIAA) outrushed the Bears by 200 yards.
Livingstone got a big effort from linebacker Jason Ocean, who was credited with 16 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Quincy Hailey and Premier Posey added a dozen tackles each.
Ocean took one of his recoveries 74 yards to tie the game at 23-23 with 2:41 remaining in the game. But Ibrahim Bah’s PAT, which would have put the Bears in front, was blocked.
Jahmad Woods snagged a 74-yard TD pass from Andrew Momon to put the Bulls ahead 30-23 with 1:09 left to play.
But the Bears bounced back when QB David Melton capped a five-play, 57-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge with just 12 seconds left. Bah’s PAT forced overtime.
Livingstone got the ball first in the overtime period and Bah kicked a 40-yard field goal for the lead.
But the Bulls responded to the pressure with a touchdown on a Momon-to-Temarcus McNeil connection for the hard-earned win.
J.C. Smith led 9-3 at halftime and by 23-10 after three quarters, before the Bears (1-5, 0-4) rallied behind Melton and Ocean for 20 in the fourth.
Melton was a real bright spot for the Bears, completing seven passes for 160 yards. Shannon Gainey was on the receiving end of most of those tosses, grabbing five balls for 122 yards.
Antoine Smith scored a third-quarter TD on a pass from Melton and Tracey Blair ran for a score early in the fourth quarter.
Tramond Cobb picked off a pass for the Bears.
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