Football | 9/15/2012 6:18:00 PM

Box Score EMORY, Va. -- Emory & Henry scored 24 points in the second half to come back from a 20-10 halftime deficit in defeating the Methodist football team, 34-20 at Fred Selfe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore quarterback Max Reber threw a pair of long touchdown passes in the first half and freshman running back John Pappillion added his fourth rushing touchdown of the season as the Monarchs (1-2) took a 10-point lead into the break. However, the E&H (3-0) defense stiffened up in the second half, allowing just 60 yards of offense and outscoring the Monarchs 24-0 in the final 30:00.
 
The Wasps began the scoring with a 12-play, 86-yard drive that used up just 3:29 of clock and ended with a four-yard touchdown run by Kasey Jones with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
 
Methodist pulled to within 7-6 as Reber completed a 57-yard touchdown pass to junior Vaughn Cross just 2:05 later. The point after attempt by sophomore Cody Ausherman was no good.
 
Emory & Henry used another lengthy drive, this time a 9-play, 66-yarder that resulted in a 30-yard field goal by Matt Turchin for a 10-6 lead just 42 seconds into the second period. Following the kickoff, the Monarchs needed just two plays to take a 13-10 lead as Reber hooked up with senior wide receiver James Bevans on a 65-yard scoring strike.
 
Following punts by both teams, the Methodist defense gave the Monarchs great field position as sophomore B.J. Minter sacked the Wasps Kyle Boden, forcing a fumble in the process. Minter pounced on the loose ball, giving MU possession at the E&H 22-yard line. Four playes later, Pappillion scored from 10 yards out to put the Monarchs up 20-10 with 8:02 left in the first half.
 
E&H missed an opportunity to cut into the Methodist lead when the Wasps were unable to capitalize on a Bevans fumble at the 4:36 mark. The Wasps advanced just five yards in three plays and Matt Turchin missed a 42-yard field goal with 3:08 to play.
 
The second half saw the E&H defense force Methodist to punt on five occasions and the Wasps also forced one fumble. Turchin cut the Wasps' deficit to 20-13 at the 11:53 mark of the third quarter with a 37-yard field goal. The Wasps then forced back-to-back three-and-outs, and followed with touchdowns each time to make it 27-20 with 2:49 left in the third. The first touchdown was 19-yard pass play from Boden to Nate Dorton, followed by a 3-yard run by Jones.
 
Methodist punted again on its ensuing possession and Emory & Henry went 67 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a 10-yard touchdown strike from Boden to Chad Williams for a 34-20 lead with 12:28 to play.
 
Unable to get on track, the Methodist offense punted twice more and fumbled once on its final three possessions to close out the contest.
 
Reber finished 22-of-38 for a career-high 295 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also finished as the team's leading rusher with 49 yards on 16 carries. Pappillion finished with 26 yards on six carries for the Monarchs. Cross led the receiving corps with 157 yards on 11 grabs and the aforementioned touchdown. Bevans added 83 yards on four grabs.
 
Defensively, Methodist was led by sophomore M.J. Bryant, who racked up 11 tackles (4 solo) including 1.5 for loss. Sophomore Bryan Bing added 10 tackles (0.5 TFL) and an interception and Minter finished with 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
Boden led the E&H offense, completing 35-of-51 passes for 364 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Lucas Kirby had nine catches for 84 yards and DaVon Ross added six grabs for a team-high 91 yards. Jones finished with 53 yards on the ground on 15 carries and the two touchdowns.
 
The Wasps were led on defense by DeMikeal Burse, who posted eight tackles (5 solo), broke up four passes and forced a fumble. Cole Beyeler also had eight tackles (3 solo), including 1.5 for loss and a sack.
 
The Monarchs are off this week before returning home to host Greensboro on Sept. 29 at 1:00 pm.