GREENSBORO, N.C.  The offense found its spark in the second half of Saturday's non-conference game at Guilford College, but so did the Quakers' as the home team kept ahead of the Monarchs' pace in a 61-35 victory at Armfield Athletic Center.

Trailing only 21-7 at the halftime break, Methodist's offense found another gear and scored a pair of touchdowns in each of the third and fourth quarters. Unfortunately Guilford scored 20 points in each of thos frames to hold off the come-back attempt by the Monarchs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It took some time for the Methodist offense to wake up after four consecutive punts, three of which were three-and-outs. After a 34-yard touchdown run by De'Eric Bell had put the Quakers up 14-0 in the first quarter, the Monarchs offense came to life. Steve Keoni completed passes of 8, 15, 26, and 35 yards to answer the Quakers score. On a pivotal 3rd down and short, Keoni completed a 26 yard pass to Victory Woods. Josh Carter took a screen pass from Keoni and ran 35 yards to the opponents' seven-yard line before Nick Baker punched it in for a score.
• After the Monarchs defense forced a three-and-out, the Monarchs muffed the ensuing punt, allowing Guilford to start with a fresh set of downs inside Methodist's 35-yard line. The Quakers and De'Eric Bell capitalized off the turnover for a score.
• Coming out of halftime down 21-7, Methodist scored on the very first play from scrimmage with a 53-yard touchdown run by Vontre Howard. The Monarchs recovered the ensuing onside kick but were unable to capitalize off of it.
• After the Methodist punt following the onside kick, Guilford responded with a quick touchdown of their own thanks to a 60-yard touchdown pass from Alex Manley to Juwan Houston. On the next offensive drive by Methodist, the Quakers returned a 43-yard interception for a touchdown to widen the lead from 21-14 to 35-14.
• Methodist went 65 yards for a touchdown on six plays after the interception return touchdown, thanks largely to the 47-yard touchdown pass to Josh Carter.
• Early in the fourth with the score at 21-48, Keoni ran for a career-long of 75 yards to the Quakers four-yard line before Baker punched the ball in for another touchdown. For Methodist's final touchdown, Devon Cox connected with Victory Woods for 37 yards for a score.
• Outside of their last drive, which ended in a kneel-down, the Quakers scored on a touchdown on every one of their drives on offense in the second half. While the Methodist offense opened up and scored 28 points in the second half, Guilford's offense was even more efficient, scoring 40 points in the second half. Guilford had drives of eight, nine, and 14 plays that ended in touchdowns.

THE STAT GAME

• Vontre Howard posted a season-high 99 yards on the ground for Methodist, scoring on that 53-yard scamper in the third quarter's opening play from scrimmage.
• With his two TDs on Saturday, Nick Baker moves to the head of the pack in scoring for Methodist with three TDs for 18 points.
• Keoni finished his evening 14-of-25 for 182 yds., one TD and one interception. He also added 86 yds. on the ground from eight rushes.
• Safety Nathan Jones was credited with a game-high 12 solo tackles. Defensive lineman Nick Wade had three solo and one assist for four total tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss. One of his linemates, Khalil Khatib, also had a tackle for loss.

GUILFORD SQUIBS

• De'Eric Bell finished his night with 225 yards rushing and five TDs.
• Alex Manley didn't have to take to the air too often with Bell's productive evening, but Manley did finish with 204 yards passing on a 12-for-27 night. He tossed for a pair of scores, wasn't intercepted and wasn't sacked.

UP NEXT

• Methodist travels to Emory & Henry for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.
• Guilford also hits the road, heading to Davidson for a 7 p.m. contest.