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CJ Ferguson running with ball in space
Victorianna Murray
42
Winner Guilford GCQ 1-1
40
Methodist MUFB 0-2
Winner
Guilford GCQ
1-1
42
Final
40
Methodist MUFB
0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GCQ Guilford 7 21 7 7 42
MUFB Methodist 0 14 14 12 40

Game Recap: Football | | Michael Spratt

Monarchs Stage Rally but Fall Short to Guilford in 42-40 Shootout

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist football nearly pulled off a stunning comeback on Saturday night in its home opener but came up just short, falling 42-40 to Guilford College at Monarch Stadium.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Guilford def. Methodist, 42-40
Records: Methodist 0-2, Guilford 1-1
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Guilford dominated the early stages, capitalizing on Methodist's miscues as the Monarchs punted four times, threw an interception, and missed a field goal. The Quakers scored four straight touchdowns to build a 28-0 lead with four minutes left in the first half.
  • Methodist gained momentum late in the half, though, as its offense put together an eight-play, 83-yard drive for the team's first touchdown. The drive ended with sophomore quarterback Ty Little connecting with sophomore wide receiver Colin Fay on a 14-yard pass.
  • After a takeaway by sophomore Jasaia Young, Little again connected with Fay on a 34-yard strike before finding Ty Benton for a 40-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-14 at the break.
  • The Monarchs carried that momentum into the second half, as Little delivered an 18-yard touchdown to Kyan McCollum on the opening drive to make it 28-21.
  • Guilford answered with a two-yard run from Evan Sullivan, but the Monarchs struck right back on the ensuing kickoff when CJ Ferguson scooped up a loose ball and sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the home crowd and pulling MU within 35-28.
  • The Quakers strung together a nine-minute drive into the fourth quarter, pushing the margin to 42-28. Methodist wouldn't go away, though — sophomore Zack Griffin returned an interception for a touchdown to make it 42-34 after a missed PAT.
  • Minutes later, Little connected with Ferguson on a 65-yard catch-and-run score to trim it to 42-40. The Monarchs went for two but were unsuccessful, leaving it a two-point game with under six minutes to play.
  • Methodist's defense forced multiple third-down chances on Guilford's final possession, but the Quakers converted and ran out the clock to hang on for the win.
MORE TO IT
  • Ferguson had himself a huge night, recording 55 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards (career-high), and 88 kick return yards (career-high) for 223 all-purpose yards. He also registered two touchdowns, one receiving and one kick return.
  • Little posted career highs with four touchdown passes and 246 yards through the air, completing 14-of-28 attempts.
  • The Monarch defense picked off three passes, courtesy of Griffin, Young, and Jaelen McKee. Junior Anthony Smith led the team with 11 tackles, while sophomore Eli Jones and senior Christian Ellington each added eight.
  • For the first time since 2022, Methodist recorded 40 points in a single game.
UP NEXT
Methodist enters its bye week before returning to action on Saturday, September 27, when it hosts Newport News Apprentice School. Kickoff is set for 1 PM.
    
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