Wesleyan football falls in final seconds at E&H, 24-21

Emory, VA - In Saturday afternoon football action, Emory & Henry came out on top in the game's final seconds against North Carolina Wesleyan, driving 94-yards in three minutes to steal a 24-21 victory over the Blue & Gold.  The Wasps trailed the Bishops the entire game, but Todd Woods 16-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining completed the comeback and sent Wesleyan to its second fourth quarter defeat in three games.

The Bishops (1-2) took an early 7-0 lead on the game's first drive when quarterback Cedric Townsend hit Shelton Leverette with a 69-yard touchdown pass less the two minutes into the contest.  However, E&H's Trey Mitchell connected on a 20-yard field to make the score 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Wesleyan struck early in the second quarter on a 34-yard Bryan Haywood touchdown run.  Brian Vaughn's point-after gave NCWC a 14-3 lead, but but the Wasps (1-1) answered with a 24-yard TD run by Caleb Moore with 7:14 remaining.  The score would remain 14-10 at the break in favor of the Bishops.

The third quarter saw Townsend hit freshman Orlando Webb with a 45-yard scoring strike at the 4:25 mark to put the Blue & Gold up 21-10.  Unfortunately for the Bishops, it would be the last time they would find the scoreboard.

Faced with an 11-point deficit with 2:43 left in the third, Emory & Henry faked a punt and gained a first down before Moore's second touchdown scamper made the score 21-16. A successful two-point conversion brought the score to 21-18 at the start of the fourth quarter.

A key moment came midway through the final period when the Wasps blocked a field goal attempt that would have extended the Bishops' lead to six.  E&H used that momentum late when Woods led his team on a 94-yard drive that began with 3:11 remaining, capped by Brennan Stewart's 16-yard TD reception.

Wesleyan, however, did not go down without a fight.  With 24 seconds remaining, Townsend led his team inside the E&H 30-yard line, but Vaughn's 44-yard field goal attempt missed wide right as time expired.

On the day, Wesleyan tallied 424 offensive yards to the Wasps' 333.  Townsend finished 14-of-22 for 250 yards in the air, while Haywood gained 92 yards on the ground.  For E&H, Wood was 20-of-37 for 193 yards.  Moore rushed for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, NCWC's Michael Hauser recorded 5.5 tackles and a sack.  Evin O'Sullivan and Marshall Doss each had eight tackles for the Wasps.

Wesleyan returns to action at home next weekend when the Bishops open up USA South play versus Methodist College.  Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.