Maryville, TN - The N.C. Wesleyan football team battled hard but fell to the USA South Conference Champion Maryville College, 35-14, in a tough matchup that ended the Bishops' season. Maryville, who finished undefeated in league play, advances to the NCAA Tournament after securing the conference title with the victory.
The Basics:
Score:Â N.C. Wesleyan 14, Maryville 35Â
Location/Venue:Â Maryville, TN / Honaker Field at Lloyd Thornton Stadium
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (4-6, 4-4 USA South), Maryville (8-1, 7-0 USA South)
The Bishops found themselves in a 14-0 hole early but showed resilience with a dynamic performance from freshman quarterback Javier Rice. With 9:15 left in the second quarter, Rice connected with Rahmir Anderson for a 67-yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 14-7. As halftime approached, Rice and sophomore standout Christian Drumgoole connected for a 24-yard touchdown, pulling Wesleyan within 21-14 with just a minute remaining in the half.
However, the second half saw Maryville seize momentum with a key block punt that resulted in a touchdown, extending their lead to 28-14. From that point on, the Scots never looked back, holding off any Wesleyan attempts to rally.
Running back Anthony Byrd had a strong outing for the Bishops, rushing nineteen times for 104 yards and averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Rice finished 7-of-14 passing for 109 yards and two touchdowns in his first season under center, while defensively, Andrew Brown and Botise Manuel each recorded 10 tackles to lead NCWU.
