Clark Atlanta's Charles Stafford threw two touchdown passes, but it was not enough to offset Livingstone's Miles Hayes who tossed three as the Blue Bears defeated CAU 24-13 at CAU Panther Stadium Saturday.
              
The CAU (0-1) loss came in the debut of Tim Bowens as head coach of the Panthers, while Livingstone (1-0) opened the season with a win for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Benedict 49-6.

Saturday, the all-black clad Panthers jumped ahead early when Darrell Nichols hauled in a 25-yard TD pass from Stafford late in the first quarter.  Clark Atlanta struck again early in the second quarter when the Panthers defense held Livingstone to two yards on five plays, forcing the Blue Bears to punt. 

On third and 11, Stafford lofted a touchdown throw to Drakar Jerry that went for 64 yards and put the Panthers up 13-0.   Their two-point conversion failed.

But that was all the points CAU would see on a muggy night.

Midway through the second quarter, Hayes hit Anthony Mullis on a 68-yard touchdown pass to get on the board.  After the Blue Bears defense held the Panthers to minus-3 yards on three plays, Livingstone's Andrew Faraimo hit DeAndre Vickers on a 46-yard pass play that put Hayes again in the position to score, this time a 17-yard TD pass to take their first lead, 14-13 just under five minutes before halftime.

Walter Watkins picked off a Stafford pass, returning it to the CAU 40-yard line.  Seven plays later, Antoine Akundu kicked a 34-yard field goal to extend Livingstone's lead to 17-13 just 18 seconds before halftime.

But after that, the CAU offense struggled, with four third-quarter drives ending in punts. Hayes added a 44-yard TD pass to Brandon Duncan to put Livingstone up 24-13. Then in the fourth, the Panthers drove all the way down to the Livingstone two, but on fourth and goal, Nichols was unable to punch it in and was stopped for a one-yard loss with 8:34 remaining.  

Stafford finished 11-of-31 for 158 yards and two touchdowns, but had two interceptions and was sacked twice.  Martin Fleming rushed for twice for 33 yards, one run for 30 yards, to lead CAU on the ground. Caleeb Roberson had three catches, including a 17-yarder, while Nichols had two catches.

One defense, Tyler Wimberly had 13 tackles, two for losses to lead the CAU defense.  Terrance Harris added 12 tackles, two for losses.  Preseason All-SIAC defensive lineman Breante Glover had seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, sack and a forced fumble.

Hayes led Livingstone by going 13-for-22 for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

The Panthers now hit the road when they visit Allen University next Saturday at 5 p.m.  The Panthers are back home for two straight home games after that - Sept. 21st against Central State and Sept. 28th versus Albany State. 

For the full schedule, go to https://clarkatlantasports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football.