Staff report

SALISBURY — Livingstone football fans looked at the schedule and knew it would be a challenging opening night.

The Blue Bears were 25-point underdogs against the University of Charleston, a West Virginia school coming off the best season in program history. University of Charleston’s Golden Eagles won the Mountain East Conference in 2023 and even won a Division II playoff game.

UOC is still good, was eager to prove it and pounded Livingstone 38-7 on Saturday night on the blue turf at Alumni Memorial Stadium.

Livingstone barely averted a shutout when Zorian Williams, the third QB employed the Blue Bears, threw a 54-yard scoring pass to Chris Washington with 1:06 left on the clock. Jason Zapata kicked the PAT.

Turnovers hurt. The visitors picked off three passes. Two were intercepted by UOC graduate student Ra’Shaad Morris.

UOC damaged the Blue Bears through the air early and rolled on the ground in the second half after spreading them out.

Javonte Howard, another grad student, threw for 226 yards. His two touchdown passes to Marquan Hesson gave the Golden Eagles a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Levi Paxton kicked a field goal to make it 17-0 at halftime.

UOC added three rushing TDs in the second half to lead 38-0. Chavon Wright had 159 rushing yards, including two short scoring runs.

UOC used six minutes to move the ball 75 yards for that 38-0 lead, but the Blue Bears were able to score late in the contest.

Iverson Small had an interception for the Blue Bears. Jaden Echols and Salehe Koonookah-Williams were in on eight tackles each.

Livingstone ran the ball by committee. Former Salisbury High star JyMikkah Wells had 10 yards on two carries.

The Blue Bears have a home-heavy schedule and will host Virginia University at Lynchburg next Saturday.