Football Falls at Bridgewater to end season

RB Adrian Minondo, Photo Courtesy Carl Lewis
RB Adrian Minondo, Photo Courtesy Carl Lewis

BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The NC Wesleyan College football team completed their season Saturday falling 21-14 on the road to non-conference opponent Bridgewater College (Va.). It was a makeup game postponed due to Hurricane Florence back in September.

It was unfortunately, NCWC's third straight loss to end the season as they finish at 5-5 but still their most wins since the 2016 season.

BC got on the board first in the opening quarter scoring two quick field goals to lead 6-0. The Bishops then came back with a 45-yard scoring pass from senior QB Nate Gardner to freshman wideout Tyler Roberts to begin the 2nd frame to take their only lead of the game at 7-6. BC then added a touchdown and 2-point conversion to lead 14-7 at the break.

Wesleyan would then tie the game at the end of third quarter on another touchdown pass from Gardner to Roberts to tie the Eagles at 14 after three.

Unfortunately for the Battling Bishops, Bridgewater came back with the game-winning 10-play drive to score a rushing TD and take it 21-14 holding off a Bishop drive at the end of the game as well.

Senior RB Adrian Minondo led the rushing attack in his final game running for 73 yards on 13 carries while Roberts led the receiving corp with 116 yards and two scores. Gardner also threw for 196 yards in his final game along with two scores and two interceptions while junior tight end Ben Dorfman finished with 45 yards as well.

Defensively, NCWC was led by linebacker Antonio Johnson's team-high 12 tackles and one sack while senior linebacker JT Lichtenberger also had a sack with 11 tackles. Junior linebacker Isaiah Williams also registered 11 tackles in the loss while junior safeties Christian Shaw and Marcus Leggett combined for 17 tackles.

Reflecting on the season, Litchenberger said the highlight was the win over Methodist. He noted that the loss to Huntingdon produced a "spiraling effect" on the team, as it lost its last three games.

"Not only were we no longer playing for a championship," he said, "but several key starters were hurt during that game. Even under the circumstances, I'm proud of the way we competed the last two weeks. It's disappointing how everything played out, but I wouldn't trade a second of it. I'm optimistic that next season will be a different story."

The USA South Conference will release their all-conference football team on Wednesday of this week as well.