Bishops set four program records in 42-0 win over Monarchs

Rocky Mount, NC - Tailbacks Stedman Mathis and Antonio Harris (pictured) combined for 330 rushing yards and five touchdowns on Saturday afternoon as the Battling Bishop football program earned its unprecedented 12th consecutive USA South victory with a 42-0 pounding of Methodist University.  The streak, which dates back to the 2006 season, was one of four records that NC Wesleyan broke in the contest.  Others included team rushing yards (359), margin of victory (42), and longest running play (84 yards). Wesleyan improves to 2-2 with the win, 1-0 in the USA South, while Methodist drops to 1-2 overall, 0-1 in league play.

Harris got things going on Wesleyan's first possession.  After forcing a Methodist punt on the game's opening drive, he keyed a 12-play, 84-yard drive that saw the sophomore tally 68 yards on six carries, including the score.

Wesleyan's defense, which recorded just the second shutout in program history, was responsible for the Bishops' next points as a bad snap on a Monarch punt resulted in a safety.  NCWC then took the ensuing free kick into MU territory thanks to a 21-yard return by freshman Tyreck McFadden. Four plays later, it was Mathis who rumbled in from four yards out, and freshman Kevin Quicker's PAT put the Bishops on top 16-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Another Monarch punt gave the ball back to the Bishops, who once again utilized Harris at the beginning of the second period.  The 5-play, 73-yard scoring drive was capped by his 37-yard TD rush for a 23-0 Wesleyan advantage. The Bishops then took over on downs in the Monarchs' next possession, and Mathis wasted no time finding the endzone with an 18-yard scamper.  Quicker's PAT, however, was blocked and left Wesleyan up 29-0 at intermission.

In the third quarter, the first of the day's four records became official.  On the first play from scrimmage, Mathis broke free up the left side for an 84-yard touchdown run, the longest in program history.  The run seemed to deflate any thoughts of a Monarch comeback as the Bishops dominated defensively the rest of the way.

Up 36-0, Wesleyan's final six points came on two Quicker field goals from 35 and 23 yards out, respectively.  The 42-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the fourth allowed the NCWC coaching staff to get several players some valuable game experience.

Mathis finished with 174 yards on the ground, which is the second highest individual total in Bishop history.  Harris was not far behind with 156 yards.  Both had 17 carries, while Mathis scored three TDs and Harris two. As a team, the Bishops totaled 563 yards offensively.

Quarterback Bo Jordan was 19-of-29 through the air for 204 yards.  Junior Orlando Webb had five catches for 77 yards, and Avery Butler hauled in four receptions for 41 yards.  Alonzo Washington and Laqwan Brodie had three catches apiece.

Defensively, Wesleyan posted its first shutout since NCWC's 30-0 win over Shenandoah on October 21, 2006. The Bishops held Methodist to just 117 total yards of offense on day and were led by Jaren Wilcox's eight tackles and one sack.  Quinderra Spellman, Damian Hopkins, Scott Cooper, and Desmond Joyner also recorded sacks, while Erric Blagmon recorded the game's lone interception.