By Rick Rogers
sports@salisburypost.com
DURHAM ó Livingstoneís football team fell to the St. Augustineís Falcons 45-14 on Saturday at Durham County Stadium.
Livingstoneís defense boosted the Blue Bears at the start the game by forcing a three-and-out and forcing a punt.
The poor punt gave Livingstone field position at the St. Augustineís 46-yard line.
Livingstone then took a 7-0 lead on quarterback Craig Murdockís 22-yard rush and his 24-yard TD pass to Carl James.
St. Augustineís tied the game on its third possession, a 15-play, 82-yard drive that spanned more than five minutes .
The Falcons extended their lead early in the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal.
A Murdock fumble handed St. Augís the ball on the LC 17, and the Falcons punched in another score for a 17-7 halftime lead.
Livingstone couldnít move the ball at the outset of the second half, and St. Augustineís opened a 24-7 lead with a 16-play, 67-yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock.
Another Livingstone fumble, this one recovered at the Blue Bearsí 21, led to another St. Augís TD and a 31-7 lead.
Livingstone got its final TD when linebacker Tyheim Pitt intercepted a Joaquin Green pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.
St. Augís tackled on two TDs in the final 2:50, including a 65-yard scoring pass with 1:24 remaining.
Murdock finished 9-for-20 for the Blue Bears for 118 yards. Javon Williams was the teamís leading rusher with 18 yards. James made three catches for 56 yards.
In addition to his pick-6, Pitt led the Blue Bears with 17 tackles.
The Blue Bears finish the season next Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Johnson C. Smith in the Commemorative Classic at Charlotteís Memorial Stadium.
n
Rick Rogers is Livingstoneís sports information director.