ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  For the second straight week, Methodist University football was on the road as the team traveled to USA South rival North Carolina Wesleyan University on Saturday night. A late Monarchs' touchdown brought them within two, 19-17, but could not get the ball back to the offense, which resulted in a loss to the Battling Bishops by the same score.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 19-17
Records: Methodist 1-4 (1-2 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 1-4 (1-2)
Location: Vernon T. Bradley Stadium; Rocky Mount, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was not long before N.C. Wesleyan took an early lead as quarterback Chaz Hirschman completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to running back Anthony Bryd on the third play of the game. The Battling Bishops kicker, Braxtyn Green, would miss his PAT attempt so the score remained 6-0.
• Following a three-and-out on Methodist's opening drive, N.C. Wesleyan got the ball back and immediately went down the field again, all the way to the Monarchs 15-yard line. The Battling Bishops' offense stalled out there and the coaching staff had to send out Green & the field goal unit. The 31 yard kick was no good as Green missed wide left.
• Midway through the second quarter, senior placekicker Samuel Andrae gave the Monarchs their first points of the contest after he made a 23-yard field goal. Methodist got the ball back on a punt, and following the return, a N.C. Wesleyan personal foul penalty added another 15 yards. Starting at the Battling Bishops 31-yard line, a steady dose of Monarch rushing plays drove the ball down to the six-yard line. Methodist was unable to find the end zone which prone Andrae to take the field.
• Still trailing 6-3 to begin the second half, the Monarchs received the second half kickoff. Methodist got the ball down to N.C. Wesleyan's 25-yard line before having to attempt a 35-yard field goal. This time the Monarchs were unsuccessful in securing point with the kick going wide left.
• On the ensuing Battling Bishops drive, Bryd scored his second touchdown on an eight-yard run, to increase their lead to ten points, 13-3.
• Halfway through the third quarter, sophomore running back Sajari Love registered the first touchdown for Methodist on a 12-yard run. Along the drive, sophomore quarterback Brennan Brucato made a couple of completions to senior wideouts Andre Wilson and KJ Hicklen, respectively for 17 and 25 yards. The last big play before Love's touchdown run was actually a pass interference penalty by N.C. Wesleyan to get the ball its own 12-yard line.
• Hirschman and the Battling Bishops responded right back with another touchdown to make it 19-10. After six straight rushes by Bryd, for 48 yards, Drumgoole caught a 27-yard pass for his second touchdown of the game.
• The Monarchs was the only team to score any points in the fourth quarter as Love found the end zone again on a seven-yard pass by Brucato. Earlier in the drive, Brucato and Love connected on a 46-yard catch and run to get Methodist down to N.C. Wesleyan's seven-yard line. The drive eventually stalled out and Andrae made a 21-yard field goal, but a roughing the kicker penalty on the Battling Bishops gave the Monarchs a fresh set of downs. Three plays later Love scored the final touchdown of the ball game.

MORE TO IT

• Love led the Methodist offense with 71 rushing and 83 receiving yards. He also recorded his first multi touchdown game of his collegiate career.
• Brucato completed 18 of his 31 pass for 203 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 12 times for 27 yards.
• On defense, junior Omar Goodwin led all tacklers with eight, six solo. Right behind him was a trio of Monarchs (Caleb Kelly, Damian Harris, and Idris Webb) that all had six tackles.

UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Fayetteville to host Huntingdon College next Saturday, October 12, for another USA South game. Kickoff is set for 1 PM.