The Livingstone offense showed some promise in last week’s loss to Fayetteville State.
Promise that presented itself after the fact.
The Blue Bears eclipsed their two-game total for offensive yards in the defeat, but two giveaways put them in a 12-point hole three minutes into the game.
Coming into today’s matchup with Virginia State at 6 p.m. in Statesville, Livingstone coach Greg Richardson is stressing how quickly turnovers can turn the tide of a game.
“It’s pretty tough to control it,” Richardson said. “What you have to try to do is make your players mentally conscious of the fact that turnovers will determine a football game.
“I think they’re beginning to understand that you can take yourself out of a ballgame very quickly by turning the ball over.”
The Blue Bears (1-2) have lost seven fumbles and turned the ball over 12 times in three games.
Wideout Shannon Gainey epitomized Livingstone’s down-and-up performance against the Broncos. He lost two fumbles but also caught a 74-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Gainey has eight catches for 169 yards this season and ranks second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in receiving yards per game.
“We need for him to become a playmaker,” Richardson said. “What we also need him to do is lead us as far as getting kids to understand you have to limit the turnovers you have. Turnovers will become your demise.”
If Livingstone can take care of the ball, it has a chance to move it against the VirginiaState defense.
The Trojans (1-2) allow 312.7 yards a game, which ranks seventh in the CIAA.
Virginia State’s offense, with its giant line, mixes the pass and run to the tune of 247.0 yards a game.
Three of theTrojans’ starters on the offensive line weigh at least 315 pounds. Reserves Rory Canady and Kyle Jackson tip the scales at 350 and 358 pounds, respectively.
“Because we do know their size, we can gameplan some things a little differently than we did for Fayetteville State,” Richardson said.
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Notes:Livingstone has some players banged up on its defensive line. Albert Jefferson, a starter at defensive end, will be out for several weeks with a broken hand. … Mylin Sinkler, a freshman reserve at nose tackle, is week-to-week with tendinitis in one knee.
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Contact Bret Strelow at 707-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com
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