By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — They don’t play doubleheaders in football, but two Livingstone contests will be decided in the next few days.
Livingstone is scheduled to play at 1 p.m. today against winless St. Augustine’s at the George Williams Athletic Complex in Raleigh.
The Blue Bears also expect to have a loss to Bowie State wiped from the books.
Bowie State’s standout quarterback, Matt Goggans, has been declared ineligible for the rest of the season. Goggans had thrown for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only two interceptions.
“He’s the real deal,” Livingstone coach Daryl Williams said.
Goggans played the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Fullerton College, played in eight games in 2012 for North Carolina Central, and then played in seven games at Bowie State in 2014.
This is his fifth season of competition. That’s one over the limit, so Bowie State is certain to forfeit all four of its victories, including a 45-17 home romp against Livingstone.
While Bowie State’s wins will become losses, the schools beaten by Bowie State are unlikely to be awarded wins. Based on previous CIAA rulings, they instead will have their losses “nullified.”
As far as Livingstone’s record, it will be like the Bowie State game never happened.
The Blue Bears have a great opportunity to win one on the field Saturday.
St. Augustine’s went through a head-coaching change in late September, with running backs coach Tim Chavous elevated to head coach, so they’re experiencing an unstable season.
St. Augustine’s (0-5, 0-2 CIAA) has struggled mightily on offense. It has been shut out three times and scored seven points in the other two outings.
Still, Williams is wary going into the matchup and with good reason. Since St. Augustine’s revived its football program in 2002, it is 7-0 against Livingstone. The Falcons beat Livingstone 31-30 last season in Salisbury thanks to a blocked PAT and a game-sealing interception.
“We just haven’t beaten them, and they’ve taken the games away from us at the end the last three seasons,” Williams said. “That’s enough.”
St. Augustine’s will be playing for the first time this season on the field turf at its 2,500-seat on-campus facility. Running back Roderick Davenport keys the St. Augustine’s offense. Linebacker Terry Warren leads the defense.
Livingstone won its opener at Benedict and also won games against Virginia-Lynchburg and Central International that aren’t being counted by the NCAA or CIAA.
So the Blue Bears are 1-2 officially, pending the nullification of the Bowie State loss.
In the three games that count statistically, Drew Powell has thrown for 535 yards and rushed for 291 yards. Jalen Hendricks has 21 catches for 283 yards. Jarius Richardson has rushed for 221 yards.
Williams lauded the effort of defensive players Victor Lavell, Todd Finney and Jarod Richardson in last week’s 41-6 home loss to Elizabeth City State in terrible weather.
Williams is still upbeat and likes his chances to break the run of misfortune against St. Augustine’s. This will be the Southern Division opener, so it’s a must-win if the Blue Bears are going to make any noise.
“We’re still playing for all our goals,” Williams said confidently.