SALISBURY, N.C.—Allen University opened the 2026 football season in impressive fashion, defeating Livingstone College, 37-16, on Saturday evening at Alumni Memorial Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets overcame an early 10-7 deficit by scoring 30 of the game's final 36 points, including 13 points in the second quarter, 10 in the third and seven in the fourth. Allen's offense finished the night with 522 total yards, including 333 through the air and 189 on the ground, while the defense limited Livingstone to 323 yards of total offense.
Livingstone took a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter after Allen opened the contest with a 75-yard touchdown drive. The Yellow Jackets responded in the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns, including a 53-yard scoring connection from Brent Upshaw Jr. to Deveon Williams, before Javis Floyd scored from one yard out with 29 seconds remaining in the half to give Allen a 20-10 advantage.
Allen continued to control the game after halftime, extending its lead to 23-10 on a 21-yard field goal from Ethan Piel midway through the third quarter. Upshaw Jr. then connected with Nanders Lawrence for a 37-yard touchdown later in the period, pushing the Yellow Jackets ahead, 30-10.
Livingstone answered with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but Allen's offense responded with a long, clock-consuming drive that covered 69 yards on 13 plays and took 7:23 off the clock. Floyd capped the drive with a 31-yard touchdown run with 1:09 remaining, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead, 37-16, and sealing the season-opening victory.
Floyd led Allen's rushing attack with 158 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. His three rushing touchdowns marked a career-best performance in the season opener, while his 31-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter provided the final points of the contest.
Upshaw Jr. directed an efficient passing attack, completing 17 of 25 attempts for 333 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Williams led all receivers with four receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown, including his 53-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Lawrence added four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, while Talik Graham recorded four receptions for 66 yards.
Defensively, Allen recorded 57 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks while forcing two turnovers. Carson Pritchett and Brian Dennis each finished with eight total tackles, while Nicholas Payne recorded seven. Ja'Darius Cherry added five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while Joseph King recorded an interception in the second quarter and Carson Pritchett recovered a fumble in the final minute of the game.
Allen also controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 36:42 compared to Livingstone's 23:18. The Yellow Jackets converted both of their fourth-down attempts and finished with 24 first downs, compared to 15 for the Blue Bears.
The victory gives Allen a 1-0 start to the 2026 season, while Livingstone falls to 0-1.
Notes
• Allen finished with 522 yards of total offense, including 333 passing yards and 189 rushing yards.
• The Yellow Jackets recorded 24 first downs, including 11 rushing, 11 passing and two by penalty.
• Allen held a 36:42-23:18 advantage in time of possession.
• Javis Floyd accounted for 158 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.
• Brent Upshaw Jr. completed 17 of 25 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
• Deveon Williams recorded 126 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions.
• Nanders Lawrence totaled 78 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions.
• Allen's defense recorded three sacks, with Ja'Darius Cherry accounting for two and Fred Rogers Jr. adding one.
• Joseph King recorded Allen's lone interception of the game.
• Allen converted both of its fourth-down attempts.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• Allen opened the game with a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a four-yard touchdown run from Javis Floyd to take an early 7-0 lead.
• Livingstone answered with a 21-yard field goal at the 7:33 mark before taking a 10-7 lead on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 remaining in the quarter.
• Allen moved the ball effectively through the air early, including a 65-yard completion from Brent Upshaw Jr. to Deveon Williams that set up Floyd's opening touchdown.
Second Quarter
• Allen regained the lead when Upshaw Jr. connected with Williams for a 53-yard touchdown at the 9:24 mark, giving the Yellow Jackets a 14-10 advantage.
• The Allen defense came up with a key stop in the red zone later in the quarter, forcing Livingstone to turn the ball over on downs.
• Allen then put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 4:15, with Floyd scoring from one yard out with 29 seconds remaining in the half.
• The touchdown gave the Yellow Jackets a 20-10 lead heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
• Allen opened the second half with a lengthy 11-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 6:34 and ended with Piel connecting on a 21-yard field goal.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 30-10 when Upshaw Jr. found Lawrence for a 37-yard touchdown with 1:49 remaining in the quarter.
• Allen's defense stopped Livingstone on fourth down at the Allen 34-yard line, ending a promising Blue Bears drive and preserving the Yellow Jackets' 20-point advantage.
Fourth Quarter
• Livingstone opened the quarter with a 62-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown run, cutting Allen's lead to 30-16 with 13:14 remaining.
• Allen responded with a six-play drive before forcing Livingstone to punt, setting up the Yellow Jackets' final scoring drive.
• Allen then put together its longest drive of the night, covering 69 yards on 13 plays while taking 7:23 off the clock.
• Floyd capped the drive with a 31-yard touchdown run with 1:09 remaining, giving Allen a 37-16 lead.
• The Yellow Jackets recovered a Livingstone fumble on the final Blue Bears possession before running out the clock to secure the season-opening victory.
Up Next
Allen returns to action on Saturday, September 5, hosting Florida Memorial University at 4 p.m. in Columbia, S.C.
