CHARLOTTE – Johnson C. Smith rallied late to defeat Livingstone 26-21 on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Complex, improving to 9-1 on the season while dropping the Blue Bears to 5-5. The victory clinched a spot in the CIAA championship game next Saturday against Virginia Union at Durham County Stadium.

The Golden Bulls led 20-14 at halftime but fell behind 21-20 early in the third quarter before regaining the lead for good on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kelvin Durham to Deandre Proctor with 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. Durham found Proctor on a left sideline route that capped a six-play, 50-yard drive and gave Johnson C. Smith the lead back after trailing for most of the second half.

Bobby Smith carried the offensive load for the Golden Bulls, rushing 37 times for 164 net yards and a touchdown. His 36-yard run with 3:55 left in the game set up the winning score, moving the ball from the Johnson C. Smith 40 to the Livingstone 24. Smith averaged 4.4 yards per carry and consistently moved the chains on third- and fourth-down situations.

Durham completed 16 of 29 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked twice but also contributed 16 net yards on six rushing attempts when the pocket collapsed. Proctor emerged as his primary target, catching seven passes for 79 yards and the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown.

Johnson C. Smith opened the scoring when Bobby Smith rushed 8 yards for a touchdown with 9:20 left in the first quarter, finishing an eight-play, 80-yard drive. The Blue Bears answered just 13 seconds later when Elijah Alexander connected with Davyn Reid on an 80-yard touchdown strike down the right side, tying the game at 7-7.

The Golden Bulls built their halftime lead with three consecutive scoring drives in the second quarter. Lukasz Smolen kicked a 40-yard field goal with 10:02 remaining in the half to put Johnson C. Smith ahead 10-7. The 16-play, 71-yard drive consumed nearly 10 minutes and featured Bobby Smith's power running and short Durham completions to Proctor and Brian Lane.

Rontay Dunbar returned an interception for a touchdown at 8:31 of the second quarter, extending Johnson C. Smith's lead to 17-7. The pick-six came during a Livingstone drive that had reached the Johnson C. Smith 42-yard line.

Livingstone cut the deficit to 17-14 when Alexander hit Reid for a 65-yard touchdown with 1:49 left in the second quarter. The score came on the second play of a four-play, 98-yard drive that took just 54 seconds and marked the second time the duo connected on a long scoring play.

Johnson C. Smith answered with a 10-play, 44-yard march that ended with Smolen's 48-yard field goal as time expired in the half, giving the Golden Bulls a 20-14 halftime advantage.

The momentum shifted dramatically seven seconds into the third quarter. E'shawn Carter intercepted Durham at the Livingstone 15 and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Blue Bears their first lead since the opening quarter at 21-20 after Jason Zapata's extra point.

Johnson C. Smith's offense struggled for much of the third quarter but the defense kept Livingstone from extending its lead. Vincent Hill led the Golden Bulls with seven solo tackles and three tackles for loss. The defense forced Livingstone into difficult situations throughout, holding the Blue Bears to 0-for-9 on third-down conversions for the game.

Livingstone managed just 38 net yards rushing on 19 attempts, averaging 2.0 yards per carry. Javen Parker led the Blue Bears with 24 net yards on 12 carries, but the offense could not sustain drives on the ground. The Blue Bears completed just 7 of 21 passes, with Alexander going 4-for-7 for 161 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by Trisitan McClary, who went 3-for-14 for 38 yards and two interceptions.

Reid provided the offensive spark for Livingstone, catching three passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns while also returning two kickoffs for 39 yards. His ability to stretch the field vertically kept the Blue Bears competitive despite their offensive struggles.

Johnson C. Smith converted 7 of 17 third-down attempts and possessed the ball for 41 minutes and 14 seconds compared to Livingstone's 18:46. The Golden Bulls controlled the game through Smith's ground attack and their ability to sustain long drives.

The Blue Bears' special teams struggled in key moments. Javon Pray punted eight times for a 41.3-yard average. Johnson C. Smith averaged 24.7 yards per punt on seven attempts by Smolen.

Johnson C. Smith's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter started at the 50-yard line following a punt. Durham completed a 21-yard pass to Maliek Carter on third-and-8 to move the ball to the Livingstone 27. Bobby Smith then rushed three times for 3 yards total before Durham found Proctor for the winning touchdown.

Livingstone's final chance came with 1:11 remaining when McClary took over at the Blue Bears' 19-yard line. However, TyQueron Hines intercepted McClary's first pass attempt, giving Johnson C. Smith possession and allowing the Golden Bulls to run out the clock.

Johnson C. Smith's defense recorded three interceptions and held Livingstone to nine first downs. Elijah Wilson intercepted a pass in the second quarter that he returned for minus-15 yards before Dunbar's pick-six gave the Golden Bulls a double-digit lead.

The victory sends Johnson C. Smith to the CIAA championship game against Virginia Union, the team responsible for the Golden Bulls' only loss this season. The Panthers defeated Johnson C. Smith 28-10 earlier this year at Virginia Union, and the Golden Bulls will have a chance to avenge that defeat in next Saturday's title game.

Key Performers

Johnson C. Smith:

• Bobby Smith: 37 rushes, 164 yards, 1 TD
• Deandre Proctor: 7 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD
• Kelvin Durham: 16-of-29 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Vincent Hill: 7 solo tackles, 3 TFL
• Lukasz Smolen: 2-for-2 field goals (40, 48 yards)

Livingstone:

• Davyn Reid: 3 receptions, 156 yards, 2 TD
• E'shawn Carter: 1 interception return for TD
• Elijah Alexander: 4-of-7 passing, 161 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
• Velson Seide: 8 solo tackles, 9 total tackles

WINSTON-SALEM – Winston-Salem State scored on six of its first eight possessions and cruised to a 42-10 victory over Livingstone on Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Rams (4-4, 2-3 CIAA) rushed for 302 yards and controlled the line of scrimmage throughout, holding the Blue Bears (3-4, 2-3) to just 216 total yards. WSSU scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives spanning the first and second quarters to build an insurmountable 28-3 halftime lead.

Quarterback Daylin Lee connected with Jayden Grimes for a 54-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, capping a two-play, 57-yard drive that took just one minute. The quick strike set the tone for an afternoon in which the Rams averaged 9.0 yards per play.

Running back JaQuan Kelly added a 6-yard scoring run midway through the first quarter to push the lead to 14-0. The Blue Bears responded with their best drive of the half, marching 56 yards on 14 plays before settling for Jason Zapata's 41-yard field goal.

That would be Livingstone's only first-half points. Winston-Salem State answered with Noah Marshall's 3-yard touchdown run following an 85-yard drive, then extended the margin to 28-3 when Lee found Kaleb Washington for a 16-yard score with 1:02 remaining in the second quarter.

The Blue Bears struggled to establish any offensive rhythm. Quarterback Elijah Alexander was intercepted by Zy Brown on Livingstone's first possession, setting up WSSU's second touchdown drive. Alexander completed 5 of 17 passes for 49 yards and the interception before giving way to Alfredo Sotelo, who finished 6-of-9 for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Winston-Salem State's rushing attack proved unstoppable. Kelly carried 18 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while Timothy Ruff II added 135 yards and a score on 11 attempts. The duo averaged 7.7 and 12.3 yards per carry, respectively, exploiting gaps in Livingstone's defensive front.

The Rams opened the second half with a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:24 of the third quarter. Kelly capped the series with a 12-yard scoring run, his second of the game, giving WSSU a 35-3 advantage.

Livingstone finally found the end zone early in the fourth quarter when Sotelo directed a 13-play, 98-yard drive. The freshman quarterback completed 4 of 6 passes on the series and hit Jamal Haizlip for a 13-yard touchdown, pulling the Blue Bears within 35-10 with 9:01 remaining.

Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished. Ruff broke off a 20-yard touchdown run with 3:56 left to restore the 32-point margin and account for the final score.

Lee finished 11-of-15 for 202 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. His efficiency (13.5 yards per attempt) stood in stark contrast to Livingstone's passing game, which managed just 3.9 yards per attempt and was sacked five times for 27 yards.

Grimes caught two passes for 71 yards and the opening touchdown, while Washington added three receptions for 31 yards and a score. Marshall contributed 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground, giving the Rams four different players with rushing scores.

Defensively, Daniel Williams led Winston-Salem State with 11 tackles (five solo, six assists) and a half-sack. The Rams recorded eight tackles for loss totaling 31 yards and held Livingstone to just 2.9 yards per rush.

Javen Parker led the Blue Bears with 77 rushing yards on 19 carries. Tavion Jackson caught four passes for 36 yards, while C. Washington added three receptions for 30 yards. The offense converted just 5 of 15 third-down attempts and managed only one red-zone trip all game.

Winston-Salem State controlled possession for 33:40 compared to Livingstone's 26:20, including a 10:36 to 4:17 advantage in the third quarter that effectively put the game away.

The Rams' special teams also contributed to the rout. Kicker Gilberto Lorenzana converted all six extra points and averaged 60.9 yards on seven kickoffs with four touchbacks, consistently forcing Livingstone to start drives deep in its own territory.

Livingstone committed five penalties for 52 yards but was hurt more by WSSU's 11 penalties for 96 yards, several of which extended Blue Bears drives. The Rams were flagged for two delay-of-game penalties on the same possession in the second quarter and committed infractions for holding, false start, illegal shift, sideline interference and two unsportsmanlike conduct calls.

Despite the penalty discrepancy, Winston-Salem State's physical advantages proved decisive. The Rams averaged 7.4 yards per rush compared to 2.9 for the Blue Bears and held a commanding 504-216 edge in total offense.

Top Performers

Winston-Salem State

• Daylin Lee: 11-15, 202 yards, 2 TD passing
• JaQuan Kelly: 18 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD
• Timothy Ruff II: 11 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
• Daniel Williams: 11 tackles (5 solo)

Livingstone

• Javen Parker: 19 carries, 77 yards
• Alfredo Sotelo: 6-9, 65 yards, 1 TD passing
• Tavion Jackson: 4 receptions, 36 yards

FAYETTEVILLE – Fayetteville State shook off an early deficit and seized control with 31 unanswered points across the second and third quarters, beating Livingstone 38-14 on Saturday at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The Broncos improved to 4-3 overall and remained undefeated in CIAA conference play at 4-0, while the Blue Bears fell to 3-3 and 2-2 in league action.

The game began with Livingstone drawing first blood. After a methodical five-play, 44-yard drive, quarterback Elijah Alexander punched in a one-yard touchdown run with 2:52 remaining in the opening quarter. Jason Zapata's extra point gave the Blue Bears a 7-0 advantage.

Fayetteville State answered before the quarter ended. Following a 37-yard completion from Demari Daniels to Kristian Golden that moved the ball to the Livingstone 28, running back Bryce Council capped a six-play, 65-yard march with a four-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the first. John Hernandez-Vargas converted the kick to level the score at 7-7.

The Broncos took their first lead early in the second quarter after capitalizing on a blocked punt. Kadynce Watson blocked Isaac Gallagher's kick at the Livingstone 18, and Brian Seagraves recovered at the Blue Bears' 37. Five plays later, Caden Davis connected with Kavase Towns on a five-yard touchdown pass at the 11:43 mark, putting Fayetteville State ahead 14-7.

With five seconds remaining before halftime, the Broncos extended their lead following a 10-play, 56-yard drive. Daniels found Golden on an eight-yard touchdown strike, and Hernandez-Vargas added the point-after to make it 21-7 at the break.

Fayetteville State opened the second half with a nine-play, 64-yard scoring drive that consumed more than four minutes. Daniels converted a critical fourth-and-three situation with a 23-yard scramble to the Livingstone six-yard line. Two plays later, Wilson Kargbo Jr. hit Braylon Vinson for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Hernandez-Vargas' kick pushed the margin to 28-7 with 10:26 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos scored again just 63 seconds later. Defensive end Aaron Johnson sacked Alexander on third-and-10, forcing a fumble that cornerback Shawn Robinson recovered at the Livingstone 12. On the next snap, Vinson took a handoff 12 yards for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 35-7 at the 9:23 mark.

Livingstone responded immediately with its most explosive sequence of the afternoon. Running back Javen Parker broke free for a 53-yard run to the Fayetteville State 22 on first down. Backup quarterback Alfredo Sotelo then connected with Tavion Jackson for a 21-yard completion to the one-yard line, and Caleb Stokes finished the three-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Zapata's extra point cut the deficit to 35-14 with 7:43 remaining in the third.

Fayetteville State added a 21-yard field goal from Hernandez-Vargas early in the fourth quarter following an eight-play, 31-yard drive to close out the scoring at 38-14.

Daniels completed 11 of 20 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown while rushing 11 times for 53 yards. Council carried the ball 14 times for 46 yards and a score. Vinson finished with 44 yards and a touchdown on six rushing attempts and added one reception for 11 yards and another score. Golden led all receivers with four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Broncos controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the contest, racking up seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Kaydin Thomas recorded two sacks and two tackles for loss, while Johnson added two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Keyshawn Monk contributed six tackles and an interception. Ryan Debow recovered a muffed punt in the fourth quarter, and Robinson's fumble recovery set up a touchdown in the third.

Fayetteville State held Livingstone to 206 total yards—65 rushing and 141 passing. The Broncos won the turnover battle 3-0, forced the Blue Bears into 14 third-down attempts and allowed just two conversions, and went a perfect six-for-six in the red zone with five touchdowns and one field goal.

Parker led Livingstone with 91 yards on 13 carries, including the 53-yard burst in the third quarter. Alexander completed six of 14 passes for 106 yards but was sacked five times and threw one interception. Sotelo came on in relief and went two-for-eight for 35 yards. Jackson caught three passes for 52 yards, and Davyn Reid added three receptions for 50 yards.

Defensively, Kenyon Garner paced the Blue Bears with seven tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Kevin Larkins Jr. recorded eight tackles, while Malachi Adkins and Zavion Lloyd each finished with seven. Jayden Reeder added three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Fayetteville State outgained Livingstone 294-206 and held a decisive 156-65 edge in rushing yards. The Broncos converted four of 14 third-down opportunities and controlled possession for 33:56 compared to 26:04 for the Blue Bears. Fayetteville State also averaged 4.3 yards per play to Livingstone's 3.6.

The game featured a halftime ceremony honoring former Fayetteville State standout Joshua Williams, who now plays cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs. The university retired his jersey in recognition of his contributions to the program.

Fayetteville State will enjoy a bye week before traveling to face Shaw at 1 p.m. on October 25 at Durham County Stadium. Livingstone returns to action next Saturday, October 18, when it hosts Winston-Salem State at 1 p.m.

Top Performers

Fayetteville State:

• Demari Daniels: 11-of-20 passing, 114 yards, 1 TD; 11 rushes, 53 yards
• Kristian Golden: 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
• Bryce Council: 14 rushes, 46 yards, 1 TD
• Braylon Vinson: 6 rushes, 44 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 11 yards, 1 TD
• Kaydin Thomas: 2 sacks, 2 TFLs
• Aaron Johnson: 2 sacks, 2 TFLs, 1 forced fumble

Livingstone:

Javen Parker: 13 rushes, 91 yards

Elijah Alexander: 6-of-14 passing, 106 yards; 1 rushing TD

Tavion Jackson: 3 receptions, 52 yards

Kenyon Garner: 7 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks

Kevin Larkins Jr.: 8 tackles

ELIZABETH CITY – Christopher Perkins delivered the signature performance Elizabeth City State had been searching for, accounting for five touchdowns as the Vikings defeated Livingstone 39-27 on Saturday afternoon at Roebuck Stadium.

The junior quarterback completed 17 of 20 passes for 190 yards and four touchdowns while adding 130 yards and another score on the ground, leading ECSU to its first win of 2025. The Vikings improved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in CIAA play, while Livingstone dropped to 3-2 and 2-1 in conference action.

Elizabeth City State controlled possession for more than 27 minutes and racked up 397 total yards, including 197 on the ground. The Vikings converted six of 10 third-down attempts and scored on two of their four red-zone opportunities while limiting Livingstone to three conversions on 11 third-down tries.

Early Exchange Sets Stage

The Vikings opened the game with a methodical nine-play, 43-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Traquan Johnson capped the march with a one-yard touchdown run at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter, and Wyatt Jackson's extra point gave ECSU an early 7-0 lead.

Livingstone needed just 73 seconds to respond. On the third play of the ensuing drive, quarterback Elijah Alexander connected with Tavion Jackson on a 67-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 7-7 with 7:13 left in the opening period.

The Vikings regained the lead late in the second quarter when Perkins broke loose on a 73-yard touchdown run, cutting through the middle of the Livingstone defense and outrunning the secondary to the end zone. The Vikings missed the extra point but led 13-7 with 9:41 remaining in the half.

That score came one play after Sterling Chavis intercepted Alexander at the ECSU five-yard line, halting a Livingstone drive that had reached the Vikings' seven. Chavis returned the pick 22 yards to give Perkins and the offense excellent field position.

Third-Quarter Surge

Elizabeth City State broke the game open in the third quarter, scoring on three consecutive possessions to build a commanding 33-7 advantage.

The onslaught began on the Vikings' opening drive of the second half, an eight-play, 64-yard march that featured a key third-down conversion when Perkins hit Troy Smith for eight yards. Two plays later, Perkins found Smith again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown pass that extended the lead to 20-7 at the 9:26 mark. Benjamin Turner's extra point was good.

After forcing a Livingstone three-and-out, ECSU took over at its own 29-yard line. Perkins was sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down, but he quickly made up for it. He completed passes to EJ Gatling and Holland for minimal gains before hitting Holland again on second-and-15 for a 29-yard gain to the Livingstone five. On the next play, Perkins found Johnson for a five-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 26-7 with 6:19 left in the third.

The Vikings tacked on another score just before the end of the quarter. Following a fumble by Livingstone's Davyn Reid on the kickoff return, ECSU took over at the Blue Bears' 29. Perkins needed just two plays, scrambling 30 yards to the 20-yard line before hitting Holland for a 20-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the third quarter. Turner's kick made it 33-7.

Livingstone Responds Too Late

The Blue Bears finally found some offensive rhythm late in the third quarter. Alexander led a six-play, 51-yard drive that he finished with a two-yard touchdown run as the third quarter expired, cutting the deficit to 33-14.

Livingstone's defense then forced a three-and-out to start the fourth quarter, and the offense capitalized. Alexander directed a seven-play, 32-yard drive that he capped with a two-yard touchdown pass to Chris Washington. Jason Zapata's extra point made it 33-21 with 7:12 remaining.

But Perkins answered immediately. On the Vikings' next possession, he completed passes to Holland twice and Smith once during a seven-play, 63-yard drive. The march ended with a 34-yard touchdown strike to Shamar Sutton at the 8:14 mark, restoring the 18-point cushion at 39-21. The Vikings failed to convert the two-point attempt.

Livingstone tacked on a late score when backup quarterback Salomon Georges Jr. led a six-play, 40-yard drive and hit Ronald Lindsey for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:55 left. The two-point conversion failed, and the Vikings recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.

Balanced Attack

Perkins spread the ball effectively throughout the afternoon. Holland led all receivers with six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Smith hauled in four passes for 59 yards and a score. Sutton added three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown, and Johnson contributed one catch for five yards and a score.

On the ground, Perkins carried 15 times for 130 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. Johnson added 37 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and Ameil Braswell chipped in 17 yards on three attempts.

For Livingstone, Jackson caught eight passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Lindsey had four receptions for 53 yards and a score. Alexander completed 15 of 23 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and one interception before giving way to Georges Jr., who finished 4-of-8 for 41 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Blue Bears managed just 91 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Georges Jr. led the way with 39 yards on four carries, while Javen Parker added 36 yards on eight attempts.

Defensive Contributions

ECSU's defense registered four sacks and two interceptions while forcing two fumbles. Jaevon Branch led the unit with eight tackles, including five solo stops and a sack. Caleb Gervais-Lynch recorded a sack for a 10-yard loss, Drewvon Oxendine had a five-yard sack, and Sir'Sean Ingram brought down Alexander for a three-yard loss.

Chavis finished with five tackles and his crucial red-zone interception, while Worthy added an interception in the fourth quarter that ended Livingstone's final drive.

For Livingstone, Jordan Paul led the defense with eight tackles and forced a fumble. Velson Seide added five tackles, including a sack for a six-yard loss. Kevin Larkins Jr. recorded three tackles and returned an interception 36 yards in the second quarter that set up Livingstone's final drive of the half.

Key Numbers

The Vikings dominated the possession battle, holding the ball for 27:08 compared to Livingstone's 22:21. ECSU averaged 6.5 yards per play compared to 5.2 for the Blue Bears.

Perkins was not sacked until the third quarter and finished the game having been brought down twice for 12 yards in losses. By contrast, Alexander and Georges Jr. combined to be sacked four times for 29 yards.

The Vikings also won the field-position battle, averaging 56.6 yards per kickoff compared to 35.6 for Livingstone. Jackson's seven kickoffs included one touchback and one that went out of bounds.

Both teams struggled with extra points. ECSU converted just three of five attempts, while Livingstone made three of three but failed on both two-point conversion tries.

The Vikings will look to build on this performance as they continue CIAA play, while Livingstone must regroup after surrendering 32 unanswered points over a two-quarter span.

Top Performers

• Christopher Perkins, ECSU: 17-of-20 passing, 190 yards, 4 TDs; 15 rushes, 130 yards, 1 TD
• Terrance Holland, ECSU: 6 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
• Jaevon Branch, ECSU: 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack
• Tavion Jackson, Livingstone: 8 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD
• Elijah Alexander, Livingstone: 15-of-23 passing, 187 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

SALISBURY – Winston-Salem State maintained its position among the CIAA's top teams Saturday, using a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive plays to defeat Livingstone College 31-17 at Alumni Memorial Stadium.

The victory improved Winston-Salem State to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while Livingstone dropped to 5-3 (3-2 CIAA) despite a strong passing performance from quarterback De'Angelo Alston.

The Rams struck quickly in their opening drive when running back Trevon Hester capped a short two-play sequence with a 1-yard touchdown run. Livingstone answered midway through the first quarter as Alston connected with Davontay Deloatch on a 10-yard scoring pass, completing an 11-play, 73-yard drive that tied the game at 7-7.

Winston-Salem State regained the lead early in the second quarter on Gilberto Lorenzana's 36-yard field goal. The Rams extended their advantage before halftime when quarterback Daylin Lee found Kaleb Washington for a 35-yard touchdown strike, making it 17-7.

While Livingstone's offense outgained Winston-Salem State in passing yards (210-182) and collected more first downs (19-16), the Blue Bears struggled to sustain drives against the Rams' defensive pressure. Winston-Salem State recorded three sacks and forced two interceptions, including a crucial pick-six by Dante Bowlding in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 24-10.

Hester led all rushers with 87 yards on 21 carries for the Rams, who accumulated 129 yards on the ground. Livingstone's rushing attack was limited to 64 total yards, with Mohamed Nyanamukenga gaining 12 yards on 12 attempts.

Deloatch emerged as Livingstone's primary offensive threat, catching eight passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Washington paced the Rams' receiving corps with two catches for 58 yards and a score.

The defensive effort was anchored by Winston-Salem State's Camar Kyle, who recorded eight tackles including two for loss. Livingstone's Terrance McPherson Jr. led all defenders with 14 tackles, including one for loss.

Special teams played a significant role, with Winston-Salem State's coverage units holding Livingstone to an average starting field position inside their own 30-yard line. The Rams also benefited from JahTwan Strafford's 83-yard punt return that set up favorable field position.

Trailing 24-10 in the fourth quarter, Livingstone's comeback hopes dimmed when Winston-Salem State orchestrated a 13-play, 68-yard drive that consumed over eight minutes. Lee's 1-yard quarterback sneak capped the possession and effectively sealed the outcome at 31-10.

The Blue Bears managed a late touchdown when Nyanamukenga scored from a yard out with 32 seconds remaining, but the outcome had been decided.

Both teams faced penalty issues throughout the contest, with Livingstone drawing 12 flags for 73 yards and Winston-Salem State being penalized eight times for 75 yards.

Up Next

Winston-Salem State returns home next Saturday to host Johnson C. Smith in a televised contest on HBCUgo, with kickoff scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Livingstone will travel to Raleigh on November 2 to face Shaw University.