SAU Football Edges Livingstone 38-37 In Two-Overtime Thriller

Box Score

Falcons Win On D.J. Johnson's TD And Sean Smith's Extra Point

SALISBURY, NC (Oct 10) – On Sunday, D.J. Johnson (So./Richmond, VA) scored on a 10-yard run and Sean Smith (So./Valdosta, GA) made the critical extra point in double overtime as Saint Augustine's University slipped past Livingstone College 38-37 in the CIAA Southern Division football opener at Alumni Memorial Stadium.

With the win, the Falcons improved to 2-1 in the CIAA and 2-4 overall. More importantly, they are one of three teams with a 1-0 record in the Southern Division.

The Falcons erased an early deficit to gain their first road win of the season. They have won three of their last four CIAA contests dating back to last season. The overtime contest was the first for the Falcons since Sept. 7, 2013 when they lost to Division I FCS opponent North Carolina Central University 23-20 in double overtime.

The game against Livingstone was postponed one day to Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew.

"It feels good to get the win," SAU Head Coach Tim Chavous said. "It took us a while to get going, but we pulled out the victory."

Johnson finished the day with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. He threw for 244 yards with no interceptions and led the Falcons in rushing with 87 yards on 19 carries.

His touchdown in the second overtime capped a two-play drive which tied the score at 37-37. With SAU starting at the Livingstone 25-yard line, Johnson found Lenwood Joyner (So./Miami, FL) for a 15-yard pass to the 10 before scoring on a quarterback draw. Smith calmly booted the extra point for the game-winner.

"I approached it as another extra point," said Smith, who was 5-for-5 on point after attempts in the contest. "There was no pressure at all. I had to do my part after the team put me in position to win the game. It was a great team victory."

The Blue Bears (0-1 Southern Division, 0-3 CIAA, 1-5 overall) scored first in the second overtime on a one-yard run by Jarius Richardson but the extra point kick was low.

Both teams kicked field goals in the first overtime. Smith kicked a 26-yarder to give the Falcons a brief lead. Tyler Keene of the Blue Bears sent the game into a second overtime with a 24-yard field goal.

The Falcons nearly sealed the win in regulation. After the Blue Bears tied the game at 28-28, the Falcons drove 48 yards in 16 plays which ate 9:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter. The drive ended at the Blue Bears 12 where Smith's 30-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with six seconds left.

After a slow start in the first half, the Falcons found their offensive rhythm in the third quarter. They took their first lead at 21-14 on Johnson's six-yard touchdown pass to Justin Shaw (Jr./Durham, NC) and Smith's extra point. The Blue Bears closed within 21-20 but the Falcons struck quickly to regain momentum.

On the series' first play, Johnson found Sam Boyd (Jr./Houston, TX) streaking down the field for an 80-yard touchdown bomb. The pass play was the longest for the Falcons this season.

Smith made the extra point for a 28-20 lead, but the Blue Bears rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Xavier Longerbeam hit Latrell Flowers for a six-yard touchdown pass and Flowers scored the two-point conversion which ultimately sent the contest into overtime.

Johnson ran for one touchdown and passed for another in the first half for the Falcons, who entered halftime tied 14-14 with the Blue Bears.

His 22-yard touchdown pass to Dre Williams (So./Miami, FL) and Smith's extra point put the Falcons ahead 14-7 in the second quarter after trailing most of the
first half. Williams made a leaping grab and managed to get one foot inbounds for the touchdown. The Blue Bears tied the game right before halftime on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Longerbeam to Andrew Gamble.

Chasz Cosby (So./Charlotte, NC) set up the Falcons' first score in the second quarter with a sack and forced fumble which Travis Pratt (Fr./Raleigh, NC) recovered at the Blue Bears 8. After a pass interference penalty, Johnson scored on a one-yard sneak and Smith made the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

The Falcons fell behind quickly when the Blue Bears scored nearly three minutes into the contest. Richardson caught a short screen pass from Longerbeam and rambled 79 yards for a touchdown.

Offensively, Boyd led the Falcons with three catches for 97 yards. Williams grabbed five passes for 52 yards for the Falcons, who gained 368 total offensive yards.

Defensively, Cosby tallied nine tackles and Shaw, playing defense for the first time this season, added eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception at linebacker to go along with his touchdown at fullback on offense. He is the first SAU player in recent memory to record a sack, interception and touchdown in the same game.

"I wish MVP awards were given to players like Justin," Chavous said. "He plays on all the special team units and starts on offense. We moved him to defense this week and he responded with a great game. He is a natural ballplayer."

For the Blue Bears, Longerbeam passed for 229 yards and four touchdowns. Spencer Ludin had six catches for 78 yards and DeMarcus Nolan tallied 12 tackles
including three tackles for loss and a sack. The Blue Bears gained 328 total offensive yards.

The Falcons hit the road for the third consecutive week when they visit defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State University on Saturday, Oct. 15. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Players Mentioned

#41 Chasz Cosby: DL; 6' 3"; Junior

#14 Darryl "D.J." Johnson: QB; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#15 Justin Shaw: FB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#42 Sean Smith: PK/P; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#2 Lenwood Joyner: WR; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#5/16 Dre Williams: WR; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#96 Travis Pratt: DL; 6' 2"; Freshman

#1 Sam Boyd: WR; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#41 Chasz Cosby
: 6' 3"; Junior
: DL

#14 Darryl "D.J." Johnson
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: QB

#15 Justin Shaw
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: FB

#42 Sean Smith
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#2 Lenwood Joyner
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: WR

#5/16 Dre Williams
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: WR

#96 Travis Pratt
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: DL

#1 Sam Boyd
: 6' 4"; Junior
: WR

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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