Virginia Union 32, Livingstone 15

September 10, 2005

Salisbury, NC – Livingstone College hosted the Panthers of Virginia Union tonight in its home opener in Alumni Memorial Stadium. Both teams entered the game in desperate need of a victory, as with last season, but the tables turned this year as VA Union (1-2 overall) defeated the Blue Bears 32-15. Livingstone (0-3 overall) is now averaging 124.7 yards in penalties. Tonight, yellow flags were thrown 12 times for 125 yards.

Virginia Union helped itself to 68 plays and 412 yards. The majority of the yards were done on the ground with 47 rushes for 330 yards. Elihu Smith ran 28 times for 222 yards and one touchdown. His longest rush for the Panthers was for 50 yards. VUU connected eight passes for 82 yards. Livingstone rushed 31 times for 74 yards and grabbed six catches for 69 yards. Chris Jeter grabbed four passes for 67 yards and one touchdown while Tyrone Baisden rushed ten times for 65 yards and a touchdown. Baisden returned three punts for 26 yards and three kickoffs for 105 yards.

Livingstone stopped the Panthers in six plays on its opening drive. On the Blue Bears opening drive, LC faced 4-6 on its own 23rd yard line. The snap for punt went over Chris Jeter’s head and into the end zone for a safety. On the next drive, VUU’s John Grier connected with Phillip Taylor for a five-yard pass into the end zone. (VUU 9 – LC 0) The drive ended in six plays and 56 yards. Livingstone returned the kickoff to its 14-yard line and fumbled it on its first play on the eight-yard line. VUU advanced the ball back into the end zone three plays later for a quick 15-0 lead. Grier threw the ball 18 yards to Herb Jones for the score. Livingstone’s Chivas Newell blocked the extra point kick.

Late in the second quarter, with 4:04 remaining in the half, Virginia Union scored again with a 14-yard run by Michael Dolby. The drive went three plays for 38 yards. (VUU 22 – LC 0)

Tyrone Baisden scored the first points for Livingstone with a five-yard run with 2:20 remaining in the half. Baisden opened the drive with a 22-yard kickoff return that was called back due to an offside penalty on VUU. On the next try, Baisden ran the return 73 yards to the VUU 17-yard line. Three plays later, Tyrone enters the end zone.

Prior to time expiring in the first half the Blue Bears prevented the Panthers from running or throwing for another touchdown. Instead, Virginia Union settled for a 22-yard field goal by Tony Oby. (VUU 25 – LC 7).

Elihu Smith, who was all over the field; rushed for his only touchdown in the fourth quarter with 9:26 on the clock. With the ball on the Livingstone 32, He hit pay dirt on his third attempt which was from two yards out.

With the game already decided Livingstone scores off of a spectacular catch and run by Chris Jeter. Jason Mitchell threw a short pass to Jeter, while he broke several tackles and scampered 58 yards to the other end of the field.

Livingstone will hit the road for the next three weeks and begin conference play with Bowie State University (3-0 overall). Bowie State defeated Morgan State tonight 35-21.