Staff report

SALISBURY — Six home games highlight Livingstone College’s 2019 football schedule, the school announced on Thursday.

In addition to the home games, the travel-friendly schedule has the Blue Bears leaving North Carolina just twice — the opener at Clark-Atlanta on Sept. 7, and a trip to Lincoln (Pa.) on Sept. 28.

Livingstone’s home opener will be on Sept. 14, a 4 p.m kickoff with CIAA foe Elizabeth City State — the West End Classic. LC’s first three games will have the 4 o’clock starts, before switching to 1:30 in late October.

Second-year program Allen, an NAIA school in Columbia, S.C., comes to Alumni Memorial Stadium on Sept. 21 — Church/Organization Day. Livingstone won, 19-0, at Allen last season during the Yellow Jackets’ first year.

Allen actually reinstated football after a long absence. The previous time the school had football, it visited Livingstone in 1964.

After the long trip to Lincoln on Sept. 28, the Blue Bears return to host Virginia Union on Oct. 5 — Youth/Community Day, and the last 4:00 kickoff.

The CIAA Southern Division games begin on Oct. 12 with an away game at St. Augustine’s, followed by another trip to Raleigh-Durham the next Saturday for a battle with Shaw.

The Blue Bears then conclude the regular season with a three-game, Southern Division homestand.

Winston-Salem State visits on Oct. 26 (1:30) — Military/Public Safety Day, followed by Fayetteville State on Nov. 2 (1:30) — Homecoming.

The next week, on Nov. 9 (1:30), Johnson C. Smith comes to Salisbury for the annual Commemorative Classic.

“We are looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Livingstone coach Daryl Williams, who will enter his seventh season this fall.  “With a strong fan base and home field advantage, I think our schedule is a pretty competitive.”

Livingstone was 3-6 overall last season and had a game at Lane College (Tenn.) canceled by hurricane-related weather concerns. In addition to the Allen victory, the Blue Bears had wins over Lincoln (30-0) and J.C. Smith (20-9).

The Blue Bears will be seeking their first winning season since 2015.

2019 LIVINGSTONE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (Home games in all caps)

Sept.    7            at Clark-Atlanta                    7:00

SEPT. 14          ELIZABETH CITY ST.         4:00

SEPT. 21          ALLEN                                    4:00

Sept. 28           at Lincoln (Pa.)                      TBA

OCT. 5             VIRGINIA UNION                4:00

Oct. 12              at St. Augustine’s                  TBA

Oct. 19              at Shaw                                   TBA

OCT. 26           WINSTON-SALEM ST.       1:30

NOV. 2             FAYETTEVILLE ST.            1:30

NOV. 9             JOHNSON C. SMITH         1:30