By Ricky Rogers
sports@salisburypost.com
RALEIGH ó Senior quarterback Steven Williams broke the Livingstone career completions record Saturday, but the Blue Bears fell to CIAA rival Shaw 54-3.
Shaw improved to 7-2 and 4-2 in the CIAA with the victory.
Livingstone finished with 99 yards on 66 offensive plays. Williams completed three passes for 48 yards.
Livingstone (0-9, 0-6 CIAA) didn’t get off on the right foot as Shaw’s De’Andre Okonji took the opening kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown to go up 7-0 less than 10 seconds into the contest.
Livingstone went three-and-out on its first offensive possession and punted. Shaw took over at the Livingstone 48 and traveled four plays in 1:28 to go up 14-0.
Devonta Harmon picked off a Shaw pass in the end zone to turn away another scoring drive, but Williams fumbled and Shaw recovered at the Livingstone 18. Shaw punched in a TD for a 20-0 lead just eight minutes into the game.
Harmon’s second pick helped Livingstone shut out Shaw the rest of the half, and the Blue Bears got on the scoreboard after Shaw fumbled at its 10-yard line. Livingstone gained only 1 yard in three plays, but Jordan Beckham’s 26-yard field goal cut the deficit to 20-3 at halftime.
Livingstone got the ball to start the second half but lost 6 yards in three plays. Then Beckham’s punt was blocked out of the end zone for a safety for a 22-3 Shaw edge.
Then Shaw returned the ensuing free kick to the Livingstone 31 and scored four plays later for a 28-3 lead.
Shaw kept piling up points, including a passing TD with 1:23 remaining for the final margin.
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NOTES: Livingstone’s Sebastian Hepburn blocked a PAT attempt. … Livingstone finishes the season with a home game against Fayetteville State on Saturday. It will be Senior Day. … While Beckham threw a pass (it was incomplete), former West Rowan star quarterback Bryan Aycoth did not have an attempt.