Rocky Mount, N.C. - Sophomore Tazmon Foster turned in a North Carolina Wesleyan single-game record with 21 tackles on Saturday afternoon, but it would not be enough as the Blue & Gold football team dropped a heartbreaking 23-16 Homecoming decision to Maryville.  The Bishops, who trailed 20-0 at the half, came up just one yard shy of forcing overtime when tight end Taylor Revelle was stopped at Maryville's 1-yardline as time expired.

The Scots looked to take a 6-0 lead into the break thanks to a pair of second quarter field goals by placekicker Andrew Naboa from 36 and 37 yards, the latter coming with just 46 seconds left in the half.  Wesleyan's quick 3-and-out, however, was followed by a fumble on the fourth down snap, giving the Scots the ball back with 15 seconds remaining. MVC quarterback Melvin Burston quickly found Wesley Idlette for a 6-yard score for a 13-0 advantage.

The improbable Maryville run continued on the ensuing kickoff, which was fumbled by the Bishops. Burston then connected with Blake Williams on a 40-yard hailmary as time expired to give the Scots a 20-0 advantage.  The spurt saw MVC score 17 points in 46 seconds, including two TDs in the final nine seconds of the half.

Wesleyan began its comeback with nine points in the third quarter. Senior Kevin Quicker booted home a 25-yard field goal that was set up by a Keith Blunt interception. Tailback Jamal Smith later took the ball in from five yards out after a Foster interception in Maryville territory. Quicker's point-after was blocked, sending the two teams in the fourth quarter with Maryville holding a 20-9 advantage.

In the final 15 minutes of play, Naboa connected on a 44-yarder for Maryville's only points of the half.  The Bishops answered with a 63-yard drive that was capped by a Laurence Woolford 10-yard touchdown reception from Shane Paris that cut the deficit to 23-16.  The Bishops hoped for game-tying drive after forcing a punt with 2:55 remaining.

Paris proceeded to complete six passes and mix in a crucial 10-yard run on a 4th-and-5 to give the Bishops 1st-and-goal from the four. After two rushes and an incomplete pass, Wesleyan was rushed into its final play that saw Paris hit Revelle at roughly the 7-yardline. Revelle rushed up the right sideline before attempting to stretch the ball over the goal-line. Ultimately, the officials ruled that Revelle was stopped at the 1-yardline, a call that left Maryville celebrating and Bishop fans stunned.

The play was one of many on the day that did not go the Bishops' way.  Wesleyan, in fact, had two touchdowns called back in the contest, the first coming on Dwayne Hollis' opening kickoff return for a TD and the second coming on Foster's interception.

Paris finished 15-of-38 with 145 yards and a touchdown through the air, and he also rushed for a team-high 65 yards.  In addition to Foster's stellar defensive performance, James Wallace added 10 tackles and a sack.

For MVC, Burston threw for 124 yard and rushed for 89. The Scot defense held NCWC to just 276 yard of total offense on the day.

Wesleyan (2-6, 2-3 USA South) travels to Methodist University next Saturday for 1:00 p.m. game versus the Monarchs.