Rocky Mount, N.C. - Senior Dwayne Hollis scored a pair of touchdowns on Saturday afternoon to lead his N.C. Wesleyan football team to a 45-23 victory over Greensboro College in USA South play. Down 17-6 at the break, Hollis provided a much-needed spark with a 90-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff of the second half, the first of five TDs the Bishops would score in the third quarter alone.
Greensboro (4-3, 2-2 USA South) had entered Saturday's contest with an 0-8 all-time record versus Wesleyan, but the Pride looked poised to end that streak after opening up a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Bishops managed their only score of the half on a 5-yard run by freshman Laron Ellerbe with less than two minutes remaining, but Hampus Lithen's kick missed wide right for a 17-6 halftime score.
Hollis' 90-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter was followed by a two-point conversion to bring the Bishops to within three at 17-14. On the ensuing possession, Greensboro managed one first down before being forced to punt. Wesleyan and senior quarterback John Jackson proceeded to go 81 yards in 12 plays to set up Lithen for a 26-yard field goal that tied the score.
The Pride moved the ball nicely on their next possession, but after turning the ball over on downs at the NCWC 30-yard line, Jackson hit sophomore Jacques Alston with a 70-yarder that put Wesleyan on top for the first time, 24-17. A quick 3-and-out gave the ball back to the Bishops, and one play later, junior Jamal Smith broke free for a 90-yard run that extended the lead to 31-17.
On Greensboro's next possession, Pride QB Ryan Throndset was picked off by Hollis, and 40 yards later, NCWC was celebrating a 38-17 advantage. Wesleyan's record-breaking third quarter still wasn't over though. Hollis proceeded to tally his second pick on Throndset's very next throw, setting up a 59-yard scoring strike from Jackson to freshman Jamias Williams to end the quarter.
When the dust settled, the Bishops had put up a program-record 39 points in the quarter. The five touchdowns featured three drives of just one play, two 90-yard scores and a series four TDs in just over three minutes.
The Pride managed a defensive score of their own in the fourth, but it was too little too late as the Bishops secured the 45-23 final.
Jackson finished 14-of-20 for 254 yards through the air, while Smith, Alston and Ellerbe combined for over 190 rushing yards. Defensively, James Wallace tallied a team-high eight tackles.
Wesleyan (2-5, 1-3 USA South) will host Christopher Newport University next Saturday in Rocky Mount. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm at the Northern Nash Football Complex.