BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- The Methodist football team opened the 2017 season with a 70-0 setback at Division I Campbell on Thursday evening at Barker-Lane Stadium.
 
The Camels (1-0) raced out to a 49-0 lead by halftime, including 35-0 after the end of the first quarter. Anthony Robbins opened the scoring with a 24-yard run for a 7-0 lead at the 13:18 mark, and CU made it 14-0 when Carlos Merritt recovered a fumble on the ensuing kick return in the end zone.
 
A Robbins-to-Michael Wooten pass play that covered 33 yards pushed the Camels' lead to 21-0, and Jaquan Brooks added a 54-yard punt return at 5:22 for a 28-0 advantage. Campbell's defense continued to keep the MU offense at bay, not allowing MU to cross its own 40 and forcing three first-half turnovers for its big lead at the break.
 
In the second half, Devan Cox got the MU offense moving, including a 12-yard completion Xzavier McNeil to the Campbell 43 yard line late in the third quarter -- the first time the Monarchs had crossed midfield in the contest. Ultimately, the nine-play, 50-yard drive ended in a missed field goal attempt from 39 yards out.
 
The Camels scored twice in the third quarter to take a 63-0 lead into the final quarter. With just under five minutes, CU capped an 11-play, 80 yard drive with a 17 yard run from Dan Smith to complete the 70-0 victory.
 
For the Monarchs, Cox was 8 for 11 for 33 yards. E'Montie Dears totaled 25 yards on the ground on 13 carries, while McNeil paced MU with 30 yards receiving.
 
 For Campbell, Smith finished 5 of 7 for 106 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while Joshua Jones finished with a game-high 113 rushing yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. Aaron Blackmon finished with 105 yards receiving and a touchdown, including a 71-yard grab.
 
Defensively, Kelvin Waites paced the Green and Gold with eight total tackles, while Roderic Christian tallied six. Four other Monarchs recorded five stops in the loss.
 
Emmanuel Olenga finished with a game-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, and recorded 4.5 sacks.
 
Methodist returns to action against Guilford for its home opener at Monarch Stadium on Sept. 9, beginning at 1 pm.
 
 
 
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