By Ricky Rogers
sports@salisburypost.com
DURHAM ó The success the Livingstone Blue Bears found last week couldnít be duplicated Saturday as Livingstone managed only 33 yards of total offense in a 54-0 loss to the Shaw University Bears in a CIAA Southern Division contest.
Livingstoneís second possession ended with a botched punt and Shaw needed to move only 17 yards to reach the end zone. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by freshman John Paplillion and Shaw recovered. The Bears added a field goal off the turnover to go up 10-0. Another field goal was added only 2:07 into the second quarter to put Shaw up 13-0
The turnover bug bit the Blue Bears again as the pass from sophomore quarterback Jaren Troutman was picked off. Shaw marched 39 yards on four plays for a score to go up 20-0.
Shaw added two more touchdowns before the half, including a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with less than a minute to play in the first half. The two scores put the Bears up 34-0 at halftime.
The Blue Bear defense stepped up to start the second half but he offense still sputtered and punted back to Shaw after three plays of its own. Shawís next possession went for a score after another long drive. The Bears went another 80 yards on seven plays in only 2:51 to go up 41-0.
Shaw put two more touchdowns on the board in the fourth quarter on a nine-play, 60-yard and four-play, 51-yard drive.
Livingstoneís best chance to score came late in the fourth quarter. The Blue Bears took the ball on their own 37-yard line and almost completely on the ground, the Blue Bears took the ball to a first-and-goal from the two yard line. On fourth down, quarterback Craig Murdock was sacked for a loss of two yards.
The Blue Bears finished with 30 yards on the ground and three yards passing. Junior Terrill Gourdine was the teamís leading rusher with 24 yards. Troutman completed four passes for the five passing yards.
Defensively, the Blue Bears were led by junior Dorian Edwards who finished with a career-high 15 tackles one sack and two tackles for loss. Senior Travis Holliday also finished with 10 tackles.
Livingstone will play its final non-conference contest, Saturday, October 8 in Jacksonville, FL against Edward Waters.
Game time is set for 3 p.m.