Saint Augustine's 31, Livingstone 16

October 21, 2006

RALEIGH, NC – Saint Augustine’s College usually relies on defense to win games, but offense sparked the Falcons to victory Saturday (October, 21, 2006) on Homecoming Day.

The Falcons set season-highs for total offensive yards (342), rushing yards (205) and points (31) in a 31-16 victory over Livingstone College in a CIAA football contest before 4,500 fans. Travoris Carter (Anderson, SC) led the way by rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. It marked the second straight game that Carter gained over 100 yards, becoming the first Falcon to post consecutive100-yard games since the school restarted football in 2002.

“It is a blessing to get 100 yards back-to-back,” Carter said. “I have to give credit to the offensive line.”

Quarterback Duane Smith (Temple Hills, MD) ran for a score and passed for another, and Rashard Wilson (Charlotte, NC) caught 3 passes for 72 yards.

After a slow start, the Falcons (3-5, 3-3 CIAA) have won two consecutive games with two more remaining. Head Coach Michael Costa wants the Falcons to finish strong unlike last season when they stumbled down the stretch with two straight losses after an 8-0 start.

“We will try to finish strong this time,” Costa said.

The Falcons wasted no time against the Blue Bears (1-7, 1-4 CIAA) as Carter ran 52 yards for a score on the game’s first offensive play. The touchdown set the tone for the Falcons’ offense, which moved the ball at will.

Smith scored on a one-yard sneak to pad the Falcons’ lead to 14-0 early in the first quarter. Sean Vary kicked a 30-yard field goal for Livingstone in the second quarter which made the score 14-3 Falcons at halftime.

Smith threw a 13-yard pass to Andre McGlone (Hampton, VA) in the third quarter to pad the lead to 21-3. Livingstone scored its first touchdown in the third quarter when Steven Williams found a wide-open Michael Sullivan for a 59-yard touchdown pass, but Carter scored from the one-yard line to open a 28-10 Falcons’ lead.

Addison Daniels (Raleigh, NC), who kicked four extra points, booted a 20-yard field goal – the first of his college career – to make the score 31-10 early in the fourth quarter. Tyrome Baisden of Livingstone scored on a 4-yard pass from Williams, his second TD toss, with four seconds left in the contest to make the score respectable.

But this was a game that the Falcons dominated. The offense scored more than enough points for the Falcons’ defense, the CIAA’s No. 2 ranked unit. Despite giving up 256 yards, the Falcons forced two first-quarter fumbles including one which led to a touchdown.

Middle linebacker Kevin Jones (South Hill, VA), one of the nation’s top tacklers, had a stellar day with a team-high 10 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Alex Hall (Glenarden, MD) followed up last weekend’s 4.5 sack performance against Johnston C. Smith with one sack and Cedric Clark (Statesville, NC) added a sack as the Falcons totaled four sacks.

The Falcons remain unbeaten in homecoming games. It was also Senior Day as Falcons’ players were honored before the game including Kente Blount (Hampton, VA), Fritz Charles (Miami, FL), Calvin Frazier (Camden, NJ), Demius Frazier (Opelika, AL), Tony Gibson (Forestville, MD), Curtonio Marshall (Belle Glade, FL), Eric McLaughlin (Danville, VA), Corey Miller (Tampa, FL), Marcus Montgomery (Oxen Hill, MD), Michael Morle (Hartford, CT), Bruce Mount (Orlando, FL), Tim Riley (Temple Hills, MD) and Quintell Williams (Miami, FL) were honored along with Carter, Jones, Smith, McGlone, Wilson and managers Devin Freeman and Shante’ Barber.

The Falcons will attempt to win three straight this coming weekend (October 28, 2006) when they visit Fayetteville State in a televised contest. Kickoff begins at 1 p.m.