Defensive end Dylan Steele named 2011 Commemorative Classic MVP after his two tackle, one sack, and one interception performance in a 31-0 victory. Steele returned the interception 81 yards for a TD.
Box Score vs. Livingstone
Charlotte, NC – The Johnson C. Smith University football team beat Livingstone College 31-0 in the third annual Commemorative Classic held in Charlotte Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. JCSU improves to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the CIAA, while the Blue Bears fall to 1-9 overall and 0-7 in the conference.
Johnson C. Smith controlled this game from beginning to end. Grammy Award nominee Ruben Studdard performed the National Anthem to open the event in front of a near 3,000 in attendance. After a scoreless first quarter, the Golden Bulls opened up the game with two touchdowns on the ground.
Junior running back
Dedrick Anderson (Winston-Salem, NC) scored on a three yard rush to conclude an eight play, 77 yard drive. Four-time CIAA weekly honor recipient
Keahn Wallace (Homestead, FL) sat out for cautionary reasons with an arm injury. Fellow freshman quarterback
Andrew Alexander (Charlotte, NC) stepped up for his first career start.
Following in the pattern of career firsts; freshman running back
Freddie Jones (Goldsboro, NC) crossed the goal line for his first career touchdown. Jones scored from one yard out with 3:59 remaining in the first half. Sophomore defensive end
Dylan Steele (Orlando, FL) sacked the quarterback on third down followed by a botched Livingstone punt on fourth. The Golden Bulls started their second scoring drive from the Blue Bears' yard line.
Livingstone failed to capitalize once crossing midfield or entering the red zone. JCSU continued to create problems for the Blue Bears' special teams throughout.
Johnson C. Smith totaled 326 yards of total offense (163 passing, 163 rushing), while holding Livingstone to just 133 yards of offense. Alexander completed 10 of 25 passes for 163 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his debut. He also picked up 31 yards on the ground rushing.
Anderson finished with 49 yards rushing and one touchdown. Sophomore running back
Denzel Hartley (Lithonia, GA) split carries with Anderson for 46 yards on eight attempts.
Sophomore receiver
Avius Capers (Charlotte, NC) caught the only receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter. Capers produced 46 yards off four catches and a touchdown. Junior receiver
Matthew Jeffries (Gainesville, GA) had four catches for a team-high 109 yards. Jeffries had a late season performance burst with 305 yards and five touchdowns in the final five games.
Steele earned Commemorative Classic Most Outstanding Player honors for Johnson C. Smith University. He collected two tackles, a sack for a loss of three yards, and an 81 yard interception return for a touchdown. Steele picked off a pitch from the field goal holder off a broken play.
Senior linebacker
Quinton Toomer (Atlanta, GA) got to the ball for a team-high 11 tackles (4 solo, 7 assists).
Both the Golden Bulls and Fayetteville State are tied in the conference with 4-3 records. JCSU has a better overall mark at 5-5, while the Broncos cap their year at 4-6. Virginia State University has an identical record as JCSU out of the Northern Division. A coin toss could be a possibility between JCSU and Virginia State for contention in the Pioneer Bowl.
