Sixth-ranked Wesley escapes upset-minded Bishops, 34-31

 

Dover, DE - The North Carolina Wesleyan football team kicked off its 2007 season with high expectations on Saturday.  In its fourth season of play, the Blue & Gold took the field with their first senior class and were out to prove that they rightly deserve their first place billing in the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll.  On the road at 6th-ranked Wesley College, NCWC did not disappoint, falling to the powerful Wolverines in a tight 34-31 contest.  The Bishops, who led 17-13 at halftime, out-scored Wesley 14-7 in the fourth quarter to pull within three but could not secure an onside kick attempt with 1:26 remaining.  Wesley, a national semifinalist last season, was then able to run out the clock and escape with the victory.

 

Larry Beavers got the Wolverines on the board early in the game when he hauled in a 28-yard scoring pass from quarterback Jason Schatz at the 6:58 mark of the first quarter.  Late in the period, however, the Bishops would answer when Wesley tailback Alpha Koroma coughed up the ball on the Wolverine 22-yard line. NCWC’s Jezreel Davis scooped up the ball and returned it 11 yards, and two plays later, senior quarterback Cedric Townsend found room on the right side for a one-yard score, knotting the teams at 7-7 with 14 seconds remaining.

 

The Bishops managed to grab the lead midway through the second quarter on a 47-yard scoring strike from Townsend to wideout Orlando Webb.   Senior kicker Brian Vaughn added his second PAT of the game to put Wesleyan on top 14-7.  Later, Vaughn added a 28-yard field goal with 2:19 remaining in the first half, quieting the home crowd.

 

With the Wolverine offense struggling, Schatz made a big play of his own with a 59-yard scoring strike to Michael Clarke.  A missed extra point sent the two teams into the lockerroom with the upset-minded Blue & Gold up 17-13.

 

Beavers swung the momentum in Wesley’s favor after the break, recording an 82-yard kick-off return to open the third quarter. Kicker Collin Blugis’ PAT gave the Wolverines their first lead, 20-17.  They extended their lead to 27-17 later in the period when Schatz completed a 68-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring strike to Clarke. Tailback Mike Pennewell rushed 5 times for 41 yards during the drive. 

 

The Bishops, however, would not go down without a fight.  On their second drive of the fourth quarter, Townsend found Webb behind a stumbling Wesley defensive back to connect for a 76-yard score.  Vaughn added the extra point to again cut the lead to three at 27-24.

 

The Wolverines answered with a 10-play, 56-yard scoring drive on their next possession.  Alpha Koroma redeemed his earlier fumble by blasting his way to a 6-yard score with 7:07 remaining in the contest.

 

Having forged their second 10-point lead of the afternoon, the Wolverines looked to run down the clock on its next possession, but an ill-timed fumble by Aaron Jackson with 1:30 left in regulation was picked up by Wesleyan linebacker Justin Augustin, who fought off Schatz and Clarke to score. 

 

With the added extra point, both teams sent out their onside kick team for the ensuing kickoff.  Wesley tight end Jon Lanouette, snagged the bouncing pigskin to give the Wolverines the final possession.  Wesley was able to run off the final ticks to secure the 34-31 final.

 

Schatz ended the game 12-of-28 for 179 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Clark.  Pennewell ended the game with 96 yards on 12 carries.  Defensively, linebacker Sean Matthews led the Wolverines with 16 tackles and one fumble recovery.  Pre-season All-American Bryan Robinson earned two tackles for loss, while cornerback Chet Turned hauled in two interceptions.

 

For the Blue & Gold, Townsend finished 20-of-40 for 273 yards and two touchdowns against three picks. He also tallied 28 yards on the ground and one rushing score.  Bush finished with 115 yards on 18 carries, while Webb hauled in six receptions for 157 yards and two TDs.  Senior Judd Hyde led the Wesleyan defense with eight tackles and a forced fumble.  Reshard Patterson also had eight tackles and recorded an interception.

 

Wesleyan will host its first home contest of 2007 next Saturday when Widener University visits the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.  Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.