Henninger earns first victory, Wesleyan downs E&H 17-16

Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan football team earned its first victory of the 2008 season on Saturday afternoon, downing Emory & Henry College by a 17-16 score at the Northern Nash Football Complex.  Wesleyan outscored the Wasps 15-7 in the third quarter to overcome a four-point halftime deficit. The win is the first for head coach Mark Henninger (pictured), who took the reigns of the program in the off-season after serving four years as assistant coach. The Battling Bishops are now 1-2 overall as they prepare to kick off USA South play next Saturday.

Things got off to a rocky start for NCWC as junior quarterback Bo Jordan was picked off on the game's first play from scrimmage.  EHC promptly drove 46 yards in seven plays with Caleb Jennings finding the endzone on a one-yard rush. As fate would have it, the Bishops blocked the extra point... just seven days earlier, it was Wesleyan that had an extra point blocked in a one-point affair (7-6 loss to WU).  Just as it did last weekend, the blocked PAT would prove to be crucial for the visitors.

Down 6-0, Wesleyan's offense struggled to find a rhythm. Fortunately, the Battling Bishops' defense kept them in the game as NCWC took over on downs on EHC's next possession, then proceeded to force two punts. Freshman kicker Kevin Quicker gave the defense a golden opportunity midway through the second quarter when he had a 55-yard punt downed on the Wasps 1-yardline. Wesleyan responded with a safety to cut the lead to 6-2.  EHC took the slim advantage into the break.

The Wasps scored quickly in the third quarter as they benefited from a 34-yard kick return and 15-yard facemask penalty. EHC turned its great field position into a 13-2 lead when Jennings hauled in a 4th-and-8 pass for the TD.

It was all Bishops the rest of the quarter, however, as freshman running back Stedman Mathis and junior wide receiver Orlando Webb sparked the offense.  Webb got things started with a 39-yard touchdown catch from Jordan, and the QB's rush for a two-point conversion made it a one-possession game at 13-10.  On the Bishops' next drive, Mathis rumbled in from 19 yards out for his first collegiate score, putting NCWC on top 17-13 after Quicker's PAT.

Both teams hurt themselves with penalties in the fourth. EHC extended a Wesleyan drive when the Wasps were called for roughing the kicker, while the Bishops were hurt by yet another facemask penalty midway through the period.

EHC scored the game's final points when Luke Hawk nailed a 40-yard field goal with 3:14 remaining.  The Wasps would not get the ball back as Wesleyan got the first down it needed to effectively run out the clock and seal the victory.

Jordan finished 14-of-22 for 185 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Webb hauled in seven receptions for 127 yards and a TD, while Mathis and Antonio Harris combined for 147 yards on the ground.  Senior Quinderra Spellman and sophomore Jaren Wilcox each tallied 10 tackles for the Bishop defense. Junior LeeRon Boykin and sophomore Devon Rhodes each had an interception.

Jennings paced the Wasp offense with 88 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards, including two touchdowns. Defensively, Joey Daniels had nine tackles and a fumble recovery.

With time of possession, total first downs, turnovers, and rushing yards playing out nearly equal for the two squads, the statistical difference in the contest came in the in the passing game where NCWC out-gained EHC 185 to 97.