Danville, VA – The North Carolina Wesleyan University football team opened its 2026 campaign with a 27-13 victory over Averett University on Saturday evening at Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium. The Bishops jumped out to an early lead and used a strong fourth quarter to pull away and begin the season 1-0.
N.C. Wesleyan struck first midway through the opening quarter as Nahjir Seagraves capped a 10-play, 57-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Jorge Hernandez-Lara converted the extra point to give the Bishops a 7-0 advantage. Wesleyan doubled its lead in the second quarter when Braden Selvage connected with Tyson Resper for a 26-yard touchdown, putting the Bishops ahead 14-0. Averett answered later in the quarter to cut the N.C. Wesleyan lead to 14-7 heading into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Bishops' offense came alive again early in the fourth. Backed up at their own two-yard line, N.C. Wesleyan put together a 98-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 53-yard connection from Selvage to Isaiah Jackson. Selvage later found Jackson again for a 36-yard touchdown to extend the Wesleyan advantage to 21-7.
Hernandez-Lara added to the lead with a pair of fourth-quarter field goals, connecting from 23 and 26 yards to push the Bishops ahead 27-7. Averett scored with seven seconds remaining to produce the final 27-13 margin.
Selvage led the N.C. Wesleyan passing attack, completing 18 of 27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Seagraves turned in a strong performance on the ground, rushing 21 times for 138 yards and a touchdown, including a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter. Resper led the receiving corps with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Jackson finished with three receptions for 94 yards and a score.
Defensively, Derek Schemenauer led the Bishops with 10 total tackles and added a tackle for loss. Mathias Winston and Tyeir Williams each recorded seven tackles, while Daviaus Johnson came away with an interception. N.C. Wesleyan's defense held Averett to 304 yards of total offense and forced two turnovers while stopping the Cougars on four of their six fourth-down attempts.
N.C. Wesleyan finished with 385 yards of total offense, including 240 through the air and 145 on the ground, as the Bishops secured a season-opening road victory.
