Blue & Gold wrap up 2006 with 42-20 win over Greensboro

Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan football squad ended its 2006 season at home on Saturday, defeating Greensboro College by a convincing 42-20 score in Rocky Mount.  The Bishops, who led just 21-20 at the half, scored 21 unanswered points in the final two quarters to secure their program record fourth straight win.  Wesleyan finishes 6-4 overall, 5-2 in league play, and places third in the USA South behind co-champions Averett and Christopher Newport.  Prior to the start of the game, Wesleyan honored offensive lineman Cody Barry and linebacker A.J. Quigley (both pictured), who each played his final home game with the Blue & Gold.

The Pride (3-7, 2-5) got the scoring started when they took the opening kick-off 74 yards in 10 plays for a 6-0 lead.  The drive was capped by a 51-yard touchdown strike from Calvin Bacon to Allen Williams with 10:15 remaining in the first.  It would be the only lead of the game for Greensboro.

Wesleyan answered quickly with a 10-play 62-yard drive of its own.  Freshman Teron Bush's 2-yard scamper knotted the game at 6-6, and Chris Brimer's point-after gave the Bishops their first lead at 7-6. The Blue & Gold defense then forced two consecutive three-and-outs, which sandwiched a Cedric Townsend 7-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Leverette.  Wesleyan held e 14-6 advantage at the end of the first.

Greensboro twice pulled to within one point in the second quarter.  After a Chris Palme punt pinned the Bishops on their own 4-yardline, the Pride recovered a Bush fumble on the one.  Bacon promptly executed a 1-yard quarterback sneak, and Palme's PAT cut the lead to 14-13.

The Blue & Gold again looked to Townsend, who delivered as he has all season.  The ensuing drive saw the junior complete a 34-yard pass to Mish Gilliam and execute four runs for a combined 37 yards, the last of which was for 18 yards and a touchdown.  The key play on the drive, however, was a fake punt that saw Kevin Burant bull his way for 15 yards and a first down to keep the drive alive.

Down 21-13 with 4:17 remaining in the half, the Pride countered with a 10-play 45-yard drive that was capped by Bacon's second 1-yard TD run.  A short kick-off followed by a 15-yard personal foul on Wesleyan had given Greensboro great field position on the NCWC 45 to start the drive.  The Bishops took the slim 21-20 lead into the break.

It was all Wesleyan in the second half as the Blue & Gold scored 21 unanswered points.  The Bishop defense simply dominated the Pride on their six possessions, forcing three punts, hauling in two interceptions, and taking over on downs to end the game.  The half saw Townsend throw 45- and 28-yard touchdown passes to Orlando Webb and Leverette, respectively, while rushing for another to start the fourth.

Townsend finished 16-of-25 for 235 yards and three touchdowns through the air.  He added 118 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 17 carries.  Bush tallied 67 yards on 10 carries, while Leverette collected five receptions for 63 yards and two TDs.  Wesleyan amassed 470 yards of offense as a team.

Defensively for the Bishops, Judd Hyde recorded a game-high eight tackles.  Burant finished with five tackles and two sacks.  The Blue & Gold defense allowed just 41 yards on the ground, and 210 total on the day.

For Greensboro, Bacon was 14-of-22 for 133 yards and a touchdown.  He and back-up QB Pete McSparin each threw one pick.  Tyrelle Lee had five catches for 69 yards, while Matt Zechini paced the Pride defense with seven tackles.