ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. The Methodist University football team faced N.C. Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon in a USA South matchup at Vernon T. Bradley Stadium. The Monarchs scored three points in the second quarter, but the Battling Bishops pulled away in the second half to earn a 45–3 victory.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 45–3
Records: Methodist 1–6 (0–4 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 3–4 (1–3 USA South)
Location: Vernon T. Bradley Stadium; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- N.C. Wesleyan opened the scoring midway through the first quarter, connecting on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Braden Selvage to Tyson Resper with 6:51 remaining. The Battling Bishops extended their lead early in the second quarter, finishing an 80-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass from Jack Pearson to Jimmie West III to make it 14–0.
- Methodist responded with its longest scoring drive of the afternoon late in the first half. Starting at its own 10-yard line, the Monarchs moved 84 yards over 11 plays to reach the N.C. Wesleyan six-yard line. Ethan Emery converted a 16-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining, putting Methodist on the scoreboard.
- The Battling Bishops answered just before halftime, moving into field-goal range in the final seconds. Jorge Hernandez-Lara connected on a 39-yard field goal with two seconds left to give N.C. Wesleyan a 17–3 advantage at the break.
- The third quarter featured a pair of defensive stops by the Monarchs, who also put together a 52-yard drive. Methodist reached the N.C. Wesleyan 24-yard line, but a blocked 41-yard field-goal attempt kept the Monarchs from adding to their total. Methodist later advanced to the Battling Bishops' 39-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
- N.C. Wesleyan broke the game open in the fourth quarter, opening the period with an eight-play, 61-yard drive capped by a one-yard rushing touchdown from Karlen McEntyre. After an interception gave the Battling Bishops possession at the Methodist 44-yard line, Pearson connected with Resper for a 44-yard touchdown on the next play, extending the lead to 31–3.
- McEntyre added his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 13-yard run with 8:37 remaining. Robert Wayne Trip III capped the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter as N.C. Wesleyan secured the 45–3 conference victory.
MORE TO IT
- Quarterback Asa Windham completed nine of 22 passes for 140 yards, while Zach Evans added one completion for nine yards. Tyrone Atkinson led the Monarchs with four receptions for 69 yards, including a long of 39 yards.
- Chris Clark led Methodist on the ground with 39 rushing yards on 19 carries, while Kyan McCollum added 28 yards on five attempts.
- Defensively, Javian Johnson paced the Monarchs with 12 total tackles, including eight solo stops, and recorded a pass breakup. Anthony Smith finished with nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, while Wesley Folsom contributed six tackles and two tackles for loss.
- As a team, Methodist totaled 219 yards of offense, while N.C. Wesleyan finished with 456 yards. The Battling Bishops recorded 231 rushing yards and 225 passing yards.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Monarch Stadium next Saturday, October 31, to face Belhaven University in another USA South clash. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM.
