FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist football welcomed visiting North Carolina Wesleyan College for the Monarchs' Homecoming Saturday afternoon but the Battling Bishops dampened the mood with a 48-24 victory over Methodist in USA South Athletic Conference play.
N.C. Wesleyan scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, ballooning a 28-17 halftime lead into a 48-17 advantage.
In his first homecoming game, quarterback
Brandon Bullins stood out with 257 passing yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-35 passing, at one point completing 10 consecutive passes in the game.
Kobe Praylow, Bullins' favorite target in this game, also impressed with 10 receptions for 117 yards, a lot of which came after the catch.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: North Carolina Wesleyan def. Methodist, 48-24
Records: Methodist 3-4 (2-3 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 4-4 (3-2)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.
Event: Methodist Homecoming
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Monarchs opened the game with promise, driving 65 yards on 10 plays, punctuated by a three-yard Bullins touchdown to Xzavier McNeil. The opening drive score is an art that Methodist is pretty good at, having scored five out of seven times on a game's opening possession.
- However, the Battling Bishops stymied all momentum with a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown by Kevin Alford for a touchdown immediately after the Methodist score.
- Bullins executed a truly perfect two-minute drill to cut the halftime deficit to 28-17. In 7 plays and 41 seconds, the Monarchs went 70 yards, including a touchdown to Jamaar Moore as time expired in the half. Bullins was a perfect seven-for-seven for all 70 yards and the touchdown in the drive.
- After a Bobby Haggerty placed N.C. Wesleyan at their own one-yard line, the Battling Bishops still managed to go the full 99 yards (on 11 plays) for a touchdown right before the end of the first quarter to give N.C. Wesleyan a 14-7 lead. Jeff Black rushed for four first downs on the drive before his one-yard touchdown scamper.
- The Monarchs retaliated with a 30-yard field goal from Trevor Hargett at the start of the second quarter. The 14 play, 71 yard drive stalled at the Bishops' 18-yard line.
- Big plays on N.C. Wesleyan's next two drives (a 44-yard completion to Alford and a 60-yard run in the other drive) set up two easy Bishops touchdowns to give them a 28-10 lead with under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
- N.C. Wesleyan's Tyler Roberts caught touchdown passes of 30 and 41 yards in the second half before the Monarchs' scored the final touchdown of the game with a six-yard Bullins pass to Moore.
STAT FACTS
- Bullins turned in another good performance with his second straight three (or more) touchdown game and his second straight game with a completion percentage over 70.
- Moore had six catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns while McNeil had five catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.
- TJ Wright led the defensive unit for the Monarchs with nine total tackles and a forced fumble that was recovered by Alex Boyd for the team's only takeaway in the game.
- Haggerty, the reigning Special Teams Player of the Week in the USA South, did his best to assist his team with all five of his punts landing inside the Bishops' 30-yard line with no return. He also had the pin at the one-yard line and a punt that went 67 yards.
- The loss comes despite the Monarchs outgained N.C. Wesleyan, 28-20, in first downs.
- Antonio Johnson was a wrecking ball for the Bishops with a game-high 17 tackles (four for a loss), a forced fumble, and an 72-yard interception return.
- It was an unusual tough day for the Methodist defense as they conceded a season-high 427 total yards of offense, including 247 rushing yards.
UP NEXT
- At home against visiting LaGrange College on November 9, it is Senior Day for Methodist. Game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
- The Battling Bishops will be in Montgomery, Ala. November 9 to take on host Huntingdon College at 2 p.m.