RALEIGH — Livingstone isn’t having trouble accumulating offense in the first few games with new head coach Daryl Williams.
Scoring points has been another issue, however.
St. Augustine defeated LC 21-14 Saturday despite being outgained 456-301. For the second straight week, the Blue Bears out-traveled their opponent but failed to translate that edge into points.
Livingstone (2-4, 1-3) had possession at the SA 25-yard line with under two minutes to play but couldn’t cash in on a chance to tie.
“This week it was more evident,” Williams said. “Anybody at the football game could see we beat them up and down the field.”
St. Aug’s A.J. Gilford scored three touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing.
“Our defense played lights out in the second half,” Williams said.
Justin Edwards recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter which led to a Jalen Hendricks 6-yard touchdown catch. Hendricks finished with 97 yards receving on nine catches.
The Blue Bears knocked on the door several times but had two borderline calls go against them. Hendricks had a touchdown nullified in the final minutes of the game due to holding. Late in the first half, Rodney Edwards caught a pass in the corner of the end zone that was ruled incomplete after officials deemed Edwards did not secure the ball in bounds.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way they fought,” Williams said. “These guys are buying into the process, buying into the system.”
Kenneth White took a faked punt 46 yards for a touchdown to give the Blue Bears a brief 7-6 lead in the second quarter. SA quarterback Brian Richards tossed a 16-yard pass to Gilford to give the Falcons a 13-6 lead.
Sophomore quarterback Drew Powell passed for 296 yards and a touchdown while running for 49 yards. Powell’s two interceptions were costly, as one came in the red zone. St. Aug’s held a banged-up Justin Forte to 32 yards on 14 carries.