FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Today, September 3, was the start of the 2022 football season for Methodist University. The Monarchs were at home hosting Shenandoah University in Monarch Stadium for a non-conference game. By the end of the contest, it was the Hornets who defeated Methodist by a score of 27-10 on Saturday afternoon.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Shenandoah def. Methodist, 27-10
Records: Methodist 0-1, Shenandoah 1-0
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Shenandoah won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, which gave the ball to the Monarchs first. Methodist went right down the field and scored their first touchdown of the season, as Brandon Bullins connected with Mikhail Baldwin in the end zone.
• On the Hornets first possession, they also started marching down the field all the way to the Monarch's 10-yard line. Methodist's defense buckled down though and forced a Shenandoah field goal, which was good from 25-yards out to make it 7-3.
• The Monarchs looked good on their second possession as they kept the ball moving all the way to the Hornets 5-yard line. Methodist would only come away with three points, after a 27-yard field goal by Trevor Hargett, following a penalty and a couple of incomplete passes.
• It looked like these two teams were going to trade punch-for-punch with Shenandoah also getting down to the Monarch's red zone on their second go around. The Hornets drive came to a halt as running back Markell Jackson fumbled the ball and Damian Harris of Methodist dove right on top of it for the recovery.
• Unfortunately, the Monarchs went three-and-out on their next series and this time Shenandoah would find the end zone on a touchdown pass to Bryar Wheeler from Steven Hugney. This tied the game at 10-10.
• After halftime, even though Shenandoah started with the ball, it did not take long before Methodist took over. DaQuinton Grady intercepted a deep pass by Hugney gave the ball back to the Monarchs along with a penalty by the Hornets put Methodist in great territory at mid-field.
• Once again, the Monarch could not capitalize on the turnover and punted the ball away. Eventually the Hornets scored another touchdown to take their first lead of the contest, on a Hugney pass to Caleb Reedy.
• Shenandoah made it 20-17 off a 31-yarder by Scott Martin a couple minutes into the fourth quarter. Methodist tried to respond back with their own 41-yard attempt but a miscue on special teams turned into a scramble and a turnover on downs.
• Three plays later, the Monarchs would get the ball back after Brandon Hopson-Brown stripped the ball right out of the running back hands at the 50-yard line. Methodist's offense was unable to do much on the ensuing series.
• The Hornets put the game out of reach after scoring their final touchdown, 27-10, on a Rashad Bryd Jr. rush and chewing up a little over eight minutes of game clock.

MORE TO IT

• Shenandoah really moved the ball on the ground as they accumulated 210 rushing yards on 52 attempts. The Monarchs ran the ball 29 times for a total of 41 yards.
• Methodist found themselves in the plus category with three turnovers for the game, but were unable to score any points off them.
• For the fourth time in his career, Kobe Praylow finished with over 100 yards receiving. He led all receivers with eight grabs for 119 yards.
• Defensively a quartet of Monarchs completed the game with seven total tackles (Alex Boyd, Harris, Isiah McMullens, and Syone Beckford). Boyd, Harris, and Beckford all had the same stats line with six solo tackles and one assisted.

UP NEXT
Methodist travels to Greensboro next week for a Saturday night game against Guilford College, with kick-off set for 7 PM.