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Methodist University Athletics

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FB v Greensboro Praylow punt return
6
Greensboro GREENSBO 1-6, 0
42
Winner Methodist MU 2-4, 2
Greensboro GREENSBO
1-6, 0
6
Final
42
Methodist MU
2-4, 2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GREENSBO Greensboro 0 0 6 0 6
MU Methodist 14 7 7 14 42

Game Recap: Football | | Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson

Big-Play Monarchs Win Homecoming Outing

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  It was the big plays that carried Methodist to a 42-6 win over Greensboro College Saturday afternoon in a USA South Conference matchup. The defense forced six turnovers (five interceptions and a fumble), three turnover on downs and returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns and Vontre Howard had a 54-yard and a 90-yard touchdown run for the victory on Homecoming.

The Monarchs' defense held strong as Greensboro had the ball for over 40 minutes and ran 92 plays to a lowly tune of 3.9 yards per play. It was the defense's time to shine and excite as D'Kel Lowe recovered a fumble and returned 34 yards for a touchdown after Blaine Dubois' sack-strip and Cupo returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.

All season, the Methodist offense has used a combination of sustained drives and explosive plays to high point totals. In this game, the defense put on a show as the offense was relatively ineffective for portions of the game.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Methodist def. Greensboro, 42-6
Records: Methodist 2-4 (2-2 USA South Conference), Greensboro 1-6 (0-4 Conference)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.
Event: Homecoming

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Greensboro's first half drives went like this: field goal missed, interception, interception, punt, turnover on downs, interception, punt, fumble as the Monarchs' defense constantly made plays with the Pride driving and on the MU's side of the field.
  • The play of the game came with under a minute left to go in the first half. Greensboro's Nate Coffey dropped back to pass and was stripped by Blaine Dubois. The ball went straight up into the air into D'Kel Lowe's hands and he rumbled for the touchdown to extend the lead 21-0 right before half time.
  • Nate Jones started the pack of interceptions when he picked off Coffey.
  • On the next Pride drive, Justin Santiago caught an interception and the Monarchs were able to capitalize with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Devon Cox to Victory Woods, a play after the interception.
  • The Monarchs were able to hold off the Pride scoring, forcing a turnover on downs on fourth and 10 at the Methodist 15, a fourth and 11 at the Methodist 19, and a fourth and nine at the Methodist 16.
  • The Methodist offense was relatively sluggish, especially in the first half as the Monarchs were unable to sustain drives or capitalize off of all the turnovers. They were unable to capitalize off of Jones' interception in the first quarter and Von Huey's interception in the second quarter.
  • The Monarchs made up for their opening drive three and out by Howard's 54-yard touchdown on the next drive.
  • Howard scored rushing touchdowns on two consecutive drives in the fourth quarter. His first touchdown run of the quarter went seven yards and on the next Methodist offensive play, Howard raced 90 yards along the Monarchs' sideline for the touchdown.
  • The lone Greensboro touchdown came in the third quarter with Methodist leading 21-0. Louis Briggs II's five-yard touchdown run was setup by David Loughry II's pass along the sideline that was almost intercepted but instead tipped right into the hands' of Mike Jones for a 32-yard completion.
  • Cupo's interception return for a touchdown off Loughry II took away all of the Pride's momentum, effectively ending hopes for a comeback.
  • Quay Cohen caught the last of the Monarchs' five interceptions in the endzone to allow the Methodist offense to run out the clock.

PRIDE'S CORNER
  • The 196 rushing yards represent a season-high for Greensboro College. Cory Vaughn had the bulk of that with 121 yards on 24 carries.
  • The 26 first downs by the Pride is also a season-high. The previous was 21 first downs in a 43-16 loss to LaGrange.
  • On the field, safety Kaseem Bagley stood out with eight total tackles, six solo tackles, and two pass breakups. He also returned five punts for 72 yards. All team-highs for the afternoon.

STAT FACTS
  • Cox started his first game of the season under center. He went 8-of-20 for 158 yards and a touchdown.
  • Howard had 195 rushing yards on 14 carries. If he continues at his current pace of 143.5 yards a game, he will not only finish first in the conference but he will break the single-season program record for rushing yards. He now sits at 861 yards and he needs 193 more yards to break the record.
  • Cupo led the Monarchs with 12 total tackles and six solo tackles. He also had two pass breakups in addition to the interception.
  • Despite being dwarfed in first downs 26-12, Methodist outgained Greensboro 381 to 357. The Monarchs averaged 8.3 yards per play.

UP NEXT
  • The Monarchs travel to Rocky Mount, N.C. to play N.C. Wesleyan next Saturday at 1 p.m.
  • Greensboro College travels to Montgomery, Alabama to play Huntingdon College next Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
    
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