By Nick Bowton
nbowton@salisburypost.com
Livingstone knows the circumstances surrounding its season-ending game today at Fayetteville State.
The Broncos (7-2, 5-1) enter the game with a chance to play for the CIAA championship next week. Livingstone, meanwhile, has no more postseason aspirations with a record of 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the conference.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Livingstone coach Lamonte Massie said. “They have to beat us in order for them to make it because they lost to Shaw. We believe this is an opportunity for us to win a football game.
“Their scenario is not our business. Our scenario is that we want to win.”
For the second consecutive week, the Blue Bears should have a tough time doing so.
Against Shaw last week, Livingstone faced a team that led the conference in total offense and total defense. Fayetteville State isn’t too far behind Shaw in offense, ranking second with 376.3 yards per game. The Broncos also rank second in the CIAA in scoring defense and third in scoring offense.
Running back Richard Medlin leads the league in all-purpose yards per game and total touchdowns, and he’s returned three kicks for scores.
The Broncos can pass the ball as well, as quarterback Bryan Hardy hasn’t thrown an interception all season in 116 attempts. His top target, Darryl Barnett, has nine touchdown receptions despite just 27 receptions overall.
Livingstone will have to stop all of those offensive weapons to finish with a winning record in the conference.
“We feel this game can propel us into the offseason as far as strength and conditioning programs, as far as recruiting, as far as coaching development, things of that nature,” Massie said. “We look at it as a game that’s very important to us as a program to get the best conference record in the last 10 years.”