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Emory
& Henry comes from behind to stun Bishops, 36-34
 Emory,
VA - The Wasps of Emory & Henry College scored 29
points in the fourth quarter of Saturday afternoon's
non-conference gridiron battle to erase a 21-point deficit
and steal a 36-34 victory from NC Wesleyan. The contest
featured three touchdowns in the final 1:09 to provide one
of the most dramatic finishes in the history of either
program. The deciding TD went to EHC with one tick left on
the clock.
The
Bishops wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as freshman
Devontae Atkins took the opening kick-off 95 yards for a
touchdown. The 95-yard scamper is the longest play in
Wesleyan history and marks just the second kick-off return
for a touchdown since the program's inception. A botched
point-after attempt left NCWC with a 6-0 advantage.
The
Wasps got on the board late in the period on a 5-yard TD run
by Caleb Jennings. Matt Turchin's PAT gave Emory &
Henry a 7-6 lead at the end of the quarter.
Wesleyan erupted for 20 unanswered points in the second
period as Orlando Webb's 45-yard touchdown reception and
Alonzo Washington's 64-yard TD catch sandwiched a 5-yard
rushing score by Bryan Haywood. NCWC led 26-7 at the break.
The
only scoring in the third period came on a Bishops' safety
to secure the aforementioned 21-point lead. Also of note in
the third was EHC's block of Kevin Quicker's 18-yard field
goal with 22 seconds remaining in the quarter. The block
proved to be a turning point entering the final 15 minutes
of play.
EHC
made the score 28-14 on its ensuing drive when quarterback
Drew Piscopo took the ball in from eight yards out. The
Wasps' defense then recorded an interception in Wesleyan
territory that eventually led to a Jennings 2-yard score.
EHC's two-point conversion was good, making the score 28-22
with 7:51 remaining.
After
trading punts in their next two possessions, the two squads
looked to be headed to a 28-22 final. The Bishops took
over with 3:27 left on the clock, but the EHC defense again
held strong and did not allow a first down. After a 35-yard
punt by Quicker, the Wasps needed just four plays to get
into the endzone. Turchin's PAT gave Emory & Henry a 29-28
advantage with 1:09 remaining.
Wesleyan silenced the EHC crowd, however, as senior
quarterback Bo Jordan took the Bishops 64 yards in eight
plays for the go-ahead touchdown pass to Atkins with 17
seconds remaining for a 34-29 NCWC lead.
Bishop fans were again celebrating; E&H fans were again deflated.
But the E&H offense was
not finished. After a 32-yard kick-off and 20-yard return,
Piscopo connected with Corey Shepherd for a 30-yard pass
that took the Wasps to the NCWC 18-yardline. With six
seconds remaining, Piscopo found Anthony Sims wide-open in
the endzone for the deciding catch.
As a team, the Bishops
dominated most statistical categories, including 492 yards
of offense to the Wasps' 310. Jordan completed 19-of-36
passes for 328 yards and three TDs. Webb hauled in eight of
those catches for 173 receiving yards. On the ground,
Haywood finished with 139 rushing yards.
For EHC (3-0), Piscopo went
6-of-10 for 132 yards and the lone TD pass, while Jennings
finished with 73 yards and three touchdown runs.
Defensively, EHC's Ed
Smith tallied a game-high 12 tackles. Scott Cooper and
Antonio Harris had nine apiece to pace the Bishops. Cooper
and LeeRon Boykin also recorded sacks.
Wesleyan now enters its bye week with a 1-2 overall record.
The Bishops return to action on October 3rd when they open
up USA South play versus Ferrum College at the
Northern Nash Football Complex. Game time is slated for 1:00
p.m. and will feature both live statistics and live webcasting.
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