Rocky Mount, N.C. - Senior Gerrel Patton rushed for a career-high 141 yards to lead his N.C. Wesleyan football team to an impressive 31-13 road win at Shenandoah University on Saturday. Defensively, the Bishops racked up five sacks, ten tackles-for-loss, and an interception to complete an impressive all-around performance.
Wesleyan opened up a 14-0 lead at the break thanks to pair of touchdown passes by sophomore quarterback Nathan Gardner. The first came after Wesleyan's defense held SU deep in their own territory and forced a short punt out-of-bounds at the Hornet 18-yardline. Four plays later, Gardner found Brandon Leake from three yards out for the game's first score.
Wesleyan's second TD was the result of an 11-play, 99-yard drive highlighed by a 48-yard pass from Gardner to wideout Trey Lancaster on a 3rd-and-10 from their own 1-yardline. Gardner later hit tight end Ben Dorfman with a 23-yard scoring strike, and Christopher Richardson's PAT completed the first half scoring.
The Bishops went on to score TDs on their first two possessions of the third quarter to go up 28-0. Patton rushed for a 9-yard touchdown on the first drive of the half, and after NCWC's defense forced yet another SU punt, Gardner led the Bishops on a 10-play, 84-yard drive that was capped by a Lancaster TD reception.
The Hornets (2-1) did manage to notch the game's next 13 points to make the score 28-13 with 11:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Wesleyan countered with a 4-minute drive that resulted in a Richardson 26-yard field goal. The Bishop defense proceeded to post a goal-line stand on SU's ensuing possession. Facing a Hornet 1st-and-Goal from the 8-yardline, Wesleyan stuffed four straight SU plays... the last coming on a 7-yard sack by senior Rakeem Cooper that gave Wesleyan the ball back on downs.
The Bishops went on to run out the last 5:49 with an 84-yard drive that saw NCWC pick up a trio of key third downs. Gardner was then able to take a knee at the SU-6 to seal the victory.
Gardner finished 19-of-29 for 331 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to Patton, freshman Deandre Gillis rushed for 50 yards, while Leake finished with five catches for a career-high 111 yards. Senior Bobby Tucker led the defensive effort with a team-high 10 tackles, with Cooper picking up a pair of sacks. Senior Curtis Biscoe came away with Wesleyan's lone pick.
As a team, Wesleyan tallied 517 yards of offense and held the Hornets to 347 yards on the day. The Bishops completely stifled Shenandoah's ground game, holding SU to -16 yards rushing on the day.
Wesleyan now enters the bye week with a 1-2 record before opening USA South Conference play on October 1st versus nationally-ranked Huntingdon College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm at Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium.