JCSU Set to Host Livingstone in the Commemorative Classic
JCSU Sports Information
JCSU Hosts Rival Livingstone for the Commemorative Classic
Charlotte, N.C. (Nov. 4, 2016) – The Johnson C. Smith University football team concludes the 2016 season by hosting rival Livingstone in the 8
th annual Commemorative Classic. Kickoff will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Irwin Belk Complex.
The Golden Bulls will look to regain the Commemorative Classic trophy after suffering a 35-12 loss last season on a muddy field in Salisbury. In that game, the Blue Bears limited the Golden Bulls to just four first downs and passed for 269 yards, breaking a six-game losing streak to JCSU.
Both teams enter Saturday's game with identical 2-7 overall records. JCSU stands at 2-4 in CIAA play while Livingstone is 1-5. Both teams are 1-3 in Southern Divisional play.
Last weekend, JCSU snapped a four-game slide with a convincing 34-8 homecoming win over St. Augustine's. Against the Falcons, freshman running back
Braxton Gambrell (Seneca, S.C) ran for a career-high 117 yards and one score, earning CIAA Rookie of the Week honors. Fellow freshman
Brandon Howard (Columbia, S.C.) had a career-day, going 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts, including a career-long 49-yarder. He was also a perfect 3-for-3 on his PAT attempts.
The Blue Bears fell behind 22-0 at halftime last week and let Fayetteville State roll up 481 yards of offense in the 43-28 loss to the Broncos.
The Commemorative Classic celebrates the 124-year-old rivalry between Livingstone and Johnson C. Smith. The two teams were the first two HBCUs to play a college football game. That game, held on Dec. 27, 1892 in Salisbury, ended in a JCSU (then Biddle Institute) 5-0 win.
