Wesleyan picks up 20-16 gridiron win over Emory & Henry

Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan football team picked up its first win of the 2007 season on Saturday, defeating Emory & Henry College by a 20-16 score at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.  Offensively, Wesleyan was led by Steven Burant's six catches for 135 yards, while defensively, Jezreel Davis had three tackles and picked off two passes.  The win marks head coach Jack Ginn's (pictured) first win over his alma mater.  NCWC is now 1-2 overall and will play the remainder of its schedule against USA South Conference opponents.

Both offenses struggled early as the Bishops were forced to punt on their first two possessions.  The Wasps did not fair any better, though, as they watched Davis record his first interception on their opening drive, followed by a punt on their second. 

Senior quarterback Cedric Townsend, however, led the Blue & Gold on a 13-play, 80-yard drive near the end of the first quarter that was capped by a two-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Orlando Webb.  Burant had three catches during the drive, and Brian Vaughn's point-after gave Wesleyan a 7-0 advantage.

In the second quarter, the two squads traded a pair of punts to start the period, while NCWC's Davon Collins tallied another Bishop interception midway through the quarter.  With both defenses again holding strong, it was Emory & Henry that would tally the only points before the break, a Luke Hawk 21-yard field goal.  Wesleyan took the 7-3 lead into intermission.

The Wasps managed their first and only lead of the game in the third quarter when an NCWC personal foul coupled with a 41-yard scamper by Tia'von Hamler set up a two-yard touchdown run by Cain Ringstaff.  But the lead was shortlived as Townsend hit Burant with a 57-yard completion on the Bishops' next drive that set up Teron Bush's lone touchdown rush of the day.  Wesleyan did not trail again as Townsend added a rushing touchdown of his own in the fourth. 

Matt Assenat's eight-yard touchdown catch made things interesting down the stretch as Emory & Henry pulled to within 20-16.  The Wasps were driving with less than a minute left, but a fumble at the 50-yard line was recovered by Wesleyan, sealing the Blue & Gold victory.

Townsend finished 12-of-27 for 194 yards and one touchdown.  He and Bush each had a TD run and combined for 86 yards on the ground.  Defensively, senior Bo Brown tallied 9.5 total tackles.

The Wasps out-gained Wesleyan 344 to 287 in total offense but had four turnovers to the Bishops' none.  Through the air, Daniel Booher connected on 7-of-18 attempts for 92 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.  Defensively, Evin O’Sullivan totaled 11.5 tackles.

The Blue & Gold enter league play next Saturday on the road at Methodist University.  Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m. in Fayetteville.