BY STAFF REPORTS
SALISBURY POST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but Livingstone coach Greg Richardson’s not complaining.

Richardson and his Bears got exactly what they needed Saturday in Jacksonville — a win.

The Bears’ 14-7 victory over Edward Waters (0-2) evened their season mark at 1-1 and wiped away most of the sour taste from last week’s 55-0 season-opening pounding at the hands of Catawba.

The Bears’ defense came up with the game’s first score, as freshman defensive end Albert Jefferson picked up a fumble midway through the second quarter and rumbled 10 yards to the end zone to make it 7-0.

The Bears made it 14-0 early in the second half when quarterback Joel Ward broke loose on a 26-yard scoring scamper that finished off a 57-yard drive.

Then it was up to the Bears’ defense — eager to restore some pride after last week’s debacle against the Indians — to make the lead stand up. It did, allowing only a Thaddeus Hampton 8-yard TD run with 5:42 left in the ballgame.

Livingstone linebacker Jason Ocean was, as usual, spectacular, making 18 tackles, getting six hits for losses and recovering a fumble.

Demetrius Rudolf forced two fumbles and Adam Gold and Dontaé Grant picked off passes. All told, the Bears’ defense came up with seven turnovers.

The victory belonged largely to the defense, as the offense didn’t put up any big numbers. Ward rushed for 45 yards and threw for 33. Backup QB Malcolm Weed added 21 yards through the air. Shannon Gainey caught two passes for 46 yards.

Kicker Ibrahim Bah nailed a pair of PATs.