Rocky Mount, N.C. - Senior Jacques Alston broke the N.C. Wesleyan football program's all-time rushing record on Thursday night at Bishop Stadium, but it would not be enough as NCWC suffered a tough 31-28 loss to Christopher Newport in the USA South opener for both squads. Needing 78 yards to eclipse Bryan Haywood's career record of 2,744 yards, Alston managed 106 yards on the night to stake his claim atop the record book.
Playing the first Thursday night game in conference history, both defenses played well early en route to a scoreless first quarter. The best scoring chance by either team came after the Bishops' Michael Clemmons intercepted CNU quarterback Marcus Morrast on the game's opening drive. The turnover led to a 37-yard field goal attempt for the Bishops that missed wide left.
The Captains proceeded to strike first in the second quarter with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard TD run by Morrast, but Wesleyan countered with a 71-yard drive of their own that ended with a Robbie Lanier touchdown throw to freshman Dwayne Bishop. CNU quickly went up 14-7 on its next possession thanks to a 50-yard scoring run, while a critical fumble on the ensuing kickoff allowed the Captains to take a 21-7 lead into the half.
The third quarter saw NCWC out-score CNU 14-3, beginning with a 44-yard run by Alston at the 7:47 mark that officially broke the program record. The Captains' Mason Studer booted home a 42-yard field goal attempt minutes later, only to see Lanier answer with an 11-yard scoring strike to sophomore Elgin Counts.
With CNU clinging to a 24-21 lead going in the fourth quarter, the two squads traded punts before Wesleyan's defense would come up with the biggest play of the night. On 1st-and-10 at their own 46, Captain fans watched as a forced fumble by senior James Wallace was scooped up by freshman Anthony Janezic, who ran 48 yards for the defensive touchdown to give the Bishops their first lead of the night, 28-24.
Unfortunately, Morrast was able to orchestrate a 71-yard scoring drive on CNU's next possession to allow his Captains to retake the lead, and after a Bishop three-and-out, he was able to run out the clock to seal the win for his team.
Lanier finished 11-of-18 through the air for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns, with sophomore Malik Adams catching five passes for 107 yards. Defensively, Wallace turned in a stellar performance with a game-high 14 tackles, while Clemmons and freshman Jaylon Johnson tallied nine stops apiece.
As a team, CNU (1-2, 1-0 USAS) rushed for 307 yards, led by Morrast's 109 on the night.
Wesleyan (1-2, 0-1 USAS) returns to action on September 27th with a 2:00pm contest at league foe Ferrum College.