Football | 10/6/2012 8:04:00 PM

Box Score ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The Methodist football team scored 21 third-quarter points and held N.C. Wesleyan to 242 total yards in producing a 34-13 victory over the Battling Bishops on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore quarterback Max Reber completed 17-of-23 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers as the Monarchs snapped a brief two-game losing streak. In addition to holding the Battling Bishops to 242 total yards, Methodist limited N.C. Wesleyan to a total of -45 yards rushing and recorded 11 sacks on the day, including four from Brad Wade and three more from Mike Jones.

Methodist (2-3, 1-1 USA South) took a 7-0 lead when Reber capped an 11-play 73-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Jacobs with 10:39 left in the second quarter. Neither team gained much traction offensively the remainder of the quarter until the Battling Bishops scored on a four-yard pass from Laron Ellerbe to Greg Edwards just 16 seconds prior to the break.

The Monarchs wasted no time taking control of the game in the third quarter as Reber found Vaughn Cross for a 26-yard touchdown strike just 59 seconds into the third quarter. Cody Ausherman's kick made it 14-7 Methodist.
 
MU's Seth Sandlin intercepted Ellerbe on the Battling Bishops' next position and five plays later, Reber hooked up with James Bevans on a six-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 Monarch lead.

Methodist extended its lead to 28-7 as Reber found John Flanagan for a 30-yard score with 6:22 left in the third quarter and Reber added a three-yard run for a 34-7 lead with 12:30 to play in the game.
 
Ellerbe added a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jamias Williams midway through the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.
 
Cross led the MU receiving corps with eight receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown and Reber added 63 yards on the ground on 12 carries to lead the rushing attack.

Keltcey Richardson led the defense with nine tackles and a pass breakup. Wade finished with eight tackles, including 5.5 for loss and the four sacks. Sandlin added eight tackles and the interception.

Ellerbe finished 25-of-39 through the air for 240 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. As a team, the Battling Bishops lost 45 yards on 27 carries for an average of -1.7 yards per carry.

Defensively, N.C. Wesleyan James Wallace totaled eight tackles, including four solo efforts. Wesleyan Thompson totaled six tackles, including one for loss.

The Monarchs return to action next Saturday when they host Maryville at 1:00 pm.