Football | 10/2/2010 5:22:20 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - It was a tale of two halves as Methodist University recovered from a 14-0 halftime deficit to come back and defeat Maryville College 17-14 in the first conference game of the season.

Neither team generated much offense in the first quarter. Both teams were forced to punt on their first possession. Methodist's Malcolm McCoy picked off Dustin Williams' pass at the Methodist 3-yard line to hold the Scots scoreless. On Maryville's next possession, Quinton Tate grabbed the interception and earned an 11-yard return to set up the Methodist offense on the Maryville 22-yard line. Unable to pick up the first down, Tyler Mosko attempted a 35-yard field goal, but the kick missed just left.

The first quarter ended scoreless and Methodist's Shawn Dodd opened the second quarter with a punt back to Maryville. The Scots drove down the field with 79 yards rushing before Williams connected with Wesley Idlette for the 2-yard touchdown. Andrew Noboa's extra point gave Maryville the 7-0 lead.

Methodist quarterback Travis Murphy was intercepted on the Monarchs' next two possessions and the second set up Maryville on the Methodist 10-yard line. Williams found Idlette in the endzone again and Noboa put the Scots up 14-0. McCoy picked off another pass late in the half to give Methodist one more chance before the break, but Maryville maintained the 14-0 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Methodist earned great field position after a 42-yard punt return by freshman Matthew Phifer to the Maryville 46-yard line. On fourth down and three yards to go, Murphy scrambled to find #Corey McGuire deep for the 37-yard completion. The Monarchs picked up a yard but started the quarter on the Maryville one yard line. Murphy earned the final yard scoring the first touchdown and Mosko's extra point cut the Maryville lead to seven.

The Methodist defense held the Scots without a first down on their next possession and Phifer came up with another huge punt return for 48 yards to the Maryville 10-yard line. Murphy and McGuire combined for eight yards on the ground to move to the two. Murphy's next pass went through the hands of Maryville's Bud Christy and the Monarchs' Adam Thomas made the catch in the end zone. Mosko tied the game with the extra point.

Maryville was forced to punt on their next two possessions before Methodist took over on their own 13-yard line with 5:19 to play. Senior Anthony Autry broke free of his defender and added yards to create a 58-yard completion for Murphy and set up the offense on Maryville's 27-yard line. Murphy stepped out for a play and John Glenn picked up four yards and McGuire added an additional yard to set up Mosko's 40-yard field goal. Mosko converted the kick to give Methodist the 17-14 lead with 3:17 to go in the game.

Maryville drove deep into Methodist territory on the ensuing kickoff before Tate made his second interception of the day picking off Williams at the Methodist 20-yard line. Methodist effectively ran out the clock on their next possession to finish withe 17-14 win.

Methodist earned just seven first downs in the game compared to Maryville's 18. Murphy finished 5-for-13 passing for 107 yards. McGuire ran for 59 yards and John Flanagan added 44 yards.

Williams was 17-for-31 for 126 yards while Darrell Tate finished with 113 yards rushing for the Scots.

Navhari Holden led the Monarchs with 12 tackles while Devoe Mewborn added seven. Mewborn, Michael Doyne, Ralph Bonner and Quincy Dudley each picked up a sack. McCoy and Tate had two interceptions a piece.

The Monarchs will be back at home next Saturday when they host Ferrum College at 1 p.m.

Box Score