Football | 10/31/2009 5:51:41 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan took the early lead, but Methodist came back and gained control through most of the first half. The Bishops came back and took the 42-32 win over the Monarchs.

On the Bishops (6-2, 5-0) second possession of the game they used a 62-yard drive to score on a 19-yard touchdown run by Bryan Haywood. Methodist came back and capitalized on a kickoff out of bounds to start from their own 40-yard line. Quarterback Erik Teague went 4-for-4 on the drive and John Flanagan picked up four yards to move the Monarchs to the N.C. Wesleyan two-yard line. On third and goal, Teague dished the ball to Flanagan who found Nathan Kindley in the endzone for the touchdown. Tyler Mosko's extra point tied the game at seven.

Methodist senior Brian Leary intercepted the Bishops and had a 24-yard return to set the Monarchs up on the Bishops 38-yard line. Methodist moved back into the red-zone and finished with a 27-yard field goal from Mosko for the 10-7 lead going into the second quarter.

The Methodist defense held off the Bishops on their first possession of the second quarter forcing N.C. Wesleyan to turn the ball over on downs. Methodist drove back down the field and Grady Hart scored on a two-yard run. Mosko's extra point attempt was good for the 17-7 lead.

N.C. Wesleyan returned the favor with a touchdown midway through the second quarter and did not allow a first down on the Monarchs' next possession. The Bishops took over on their own 45 yard line and after Haywood picked up nine yards, Teron Bush scored on a 46-yard touchdown.

Methodist took over and used a 45-yard pass from Teague to Chris Peoples to move back into the Bishops' territory. Flanagan picked up a yard and Teague connected with Kindley in the endzone for a touchdown to regain the lead at 24-21. The scoring continued when N.C. Wesleyan went ahead 28-24 with 54 seconds to go in the half. Methodist attempted a late drive, but Teague was intercepted with 13 seconds to go leaving the Bishops with the 28-24 lead at the break.

Neither team scored during their first two possessions of the third quarter and then the Bishops capitalized on a Methodist fumble to gain possession on the Monarchs' 38-yard line. They used four plays to score another touchdown and go ahead 35-24. Methodist used a 17-yard kickoff return from Hart to set up on their own 29-yard line. Teague drove the Monarchs into N.C. Wesleyan territory landing on their 35-yard line at the end of the quarter. Teague finished the drive with an 11-yard pass to Curtis Maheu to move the Monarchs within five. Teague connected with Jason Talbert on the two-point conversion to cut the Bishops lead to three.

An N.C. Wesleyan field goal attempt missed wide right giving the ball back to the Monarchs on their own 20-yard line. Methodist moved the ball to the Bishops 29-yard line but a 46-yard field goal attempt came up short. The Bishops countered with a touchdown to go ahead 42-32. Methodist had another chance, but N.C. Wesleyan came up with another interception to finish the game.

Teague was 24-for-40 for 310 yards and two touchdowns while Flanagan led the running game with 102 yards. Kindley caught seven passes for 76 yards with two touchdowns while Peoples caught six passes for 110 yards.

Leary led the defense with 10.5 tackles in addition to the interception while Quinton Tate also had an interception.

Bo Jordan was 16-for-28 for 233 yards passing for the Bishops. Haywood finished with 203 yards and three touchdowns.

The Monarchs will play at Greensboro next Saturday at 7 pm.

Box Score