LaGrange, Ga. - Junior Malik Adam continued his stellar season on Saturday with a program-record four touchdown receptions, helping his Bishops earn their third straight win with a 48-31 league victory at LaGrange.
Wesleyan raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter behind 11- and 19-yard TD passes from senior quarterback Dustin Midgett to Adams. Then with 14:20 to go in the second quarter, a 2-yard rush by freshman Adrian Minondo followed by Chris Richardson's PAT made 21-0. A 29-yard field goal by Richardson later gave the Bishops a 24-0 advantage.
NCWC's offense owed its defense a good amount of credit for the early lead. The Bishops forced three turnovers and a blocked punt on four of the Panthers' first five possessions. Bobby Tucker's forced fumble kept the Panthers off the scoreboard on the game's opening drive, while interceptions by freshman Trevor Campbell and sophomore Anthony Janezic set up Wesleyan's second and third touchdowns. Richardson's field goal came after a blocked punt by sophomore Brandon Leake.
LaGrange proceeded to reel off the game's next 10 points, thanks in part to a successful onside kick. The Bishops answered with yet another Adams TD reception... this time on a 68-yarder from Midgett. NCWC took its 31-10 lead into the half.
The third quarter saw the Bishops out-score the Panthers 17-7. Richardson booted home a 22-yarder, while Adam's single-game record fourth TD came from nine yards out with 6:26 to go in the period. Wesleyan's defense forced yet another turnover on LC's ensuing possession, with Shabre' Judkins recovering a fumble at the LC 31-yardline. Minondo did the rest from there, rushing six times for all 31 yards and the touchdown.
Up 48-17 going into the fourth quarter, head coach Jeff Filkovski began resting some of his starters as his team cruised to the 48-31 victory.
Minondo continued his offensive tear, racking up 207 yards on the day. Adams finished with seven catches for 170 yards and the four TDs. Defensively, junior Rakeem Cooper had two sacks.
Wesleyan (4-5, 4-2 USA South) remains tied for second in the league standings and will wrap up its 2015 slate next Saturday at home versus Ferrum College. The game is slated for a 1:00pm start at Bishop Stadium, and Filkovski will be honoring his senior class prior to kickoff.