Box Score SALISBURY, N.C. – John'ta Cooper (Sr./Cairo, GA) was in the right place at the right time and it resulted in a 31-30 Saint Augustine's University victory over Livingstone College in an important CIAA Southern Division football contest at Alumni Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
The win keeps the Falcons in contention for the division title with four games remaining. Tied for second with Fayetteville State University, the Falcons (2-1 CIAA, 2-4 overall) visit division frontrunner Winston-Salem State University next Saturday (Oct. 18) in a huge conference game at 1:30 p.m. Winston-Salem State, ranked 15th nationally this week, is 3-0 in the division.
"This goes out to the team," SAU Interim Head Coach Michael Morand said. "They fought from the time the ball was kicked off to the final whistle. We are getting better and better each day. I am proud of the team. I want to enjoy the victory with the kids and then get ready for Winston-Salem State. It is going to be a tough game."
The Falcons showed they have the mettle to compete with the Rams against Livingstone, the surprise team in the league. The Blue Bears (1-2 CIAA, 4-2 overall) entered their Homecoming game with a hot quarterback in Drew Powell and four victories under their belt, which is more than all of last year.
Down by one point late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Bears drove in Falcons' territory but Cooper halted a potential game-winning drive with his team-high third interception of the season. His pick off at the Falcons' 19-yard line ended the Blue Bears' threat and the Falcons simply ran out the clock for their second win in three games.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Cooper blocked an extra point which turned out to be huge. The Blue Bears still led 30-24 but the Falcons capitalized on Cooper's block when Justin Shaw (Redshirt Fr./Durham, NC) ran seven yards up the middle for a touchdown. Michael Lima (Redshirt Sr./Miami, FL) booted the extra point for a 31-30 Falcons lead which turned out to be the winning score. The Blue Bears were wide right on a 45-yard field goal attempt and their last drive ended in a turnover, courtesy of Cooper.
The Falcons have shown fortitude in pressure situations under Morand's direction. Two weeks ago, the Falcons defeated Chowan University 33-31 with a late touchdown and interception. Last week, they nearly rallied from a 28-point second-half deficit against defending Northern Division champion Virginia State University in a 42-35 loss.
"My shoutout goes to the defense, offense and special teams," Morand said about Saturday's win. "Each unit played 60 minutes of football to close out the game."
On Saturday, the Falcons rallied after falling behind 24-17 at halftime. The Blue Bears scored first on a 35-yard field goal by Leonardo Manzo but the Falcons quickly answered with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Cyril Davis (Redshirt So./Orangeburg, SC) to Tyson McDonald (Fr./Meridian, MS) and a Lima extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Powell found Brandon Bennett for a 29-yard touchdown, but Roderick Davenport (Redshirt Jr./Orangeburg, SC) scored from eight yards out and Lima booted the extra point for a 14-10 lead. Davenport, the CIAA's leading rusher, finished with 147 rushing yards.
Powell scored on a short run as the Blue Bears regained the lead 17-14 in a wild first quarter. Lima drilled a 25-yard field goal to tie the score in the second quarter, but Powell connected with Kemuel Brown right before halftime to push the Blue Bears back ahead 24-17.
After a long halftime which included an hour weather delay, both teams resumed action in the second half. Davis hit a wide-open Claytin Lewis (Fr./Raleigh, NC) for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter, but the Blue Bears surged ahead again, this time on an Anthony Green 20-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. The deficit stayed at six points, however, on Cooper's block on the point after touchdown attempt which keyed the Falcons to victory.
Davis completed 15 of 25 pass attempts for 210 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons. He has not thrown an interception in three games. Jamal Parker (Redshirt So./Hampton, VA) led the Falcons with six catches for 85 yards.
Powell threw for 153 yards and rushed for 188 yards for the Blue Bears. He threw two touchdown passes but it was his interception to Cooper which sealed the win for the Falcons. Jalen Hendricks had nine catches for 102 yards.
Despite the offensive numbers from both teams, it was Cooper's play on defense and special teams which helped make the difference for the Falcons.
