Montgomery, Ala. - Junior Malik Adams broke the NCWC single-game record for receiving yards and tied program high marks for catches and touchdowns, but it was not enough to help his Bishops avoid a 45-40 loss at Huntingdon on Saturday. The game was the USA South opener for both squads.
In the first quarter, an 18-yard scoring strike from senior quarterback Dustin Midgett to freshman Slade Dale got Wesleyan on the board and evened the score at 7-7. The second period saw the Hawks erupt for 24 points, highlighed by an 89-yard kickoff return that erased a 14-14 tie. Huntingdon eventually took a 31-20 lead into the break, with Adams catching a pair of second quarter TDs to keep the Bishops within striking distance.
Devante' Batey and Brandon Leake each hauled in touchdowns in the third quarter to send the two teams into the fourth with the Hawks clinging to a 38-34 lead. HC's final score came on a Luke Bailey TD pass with 12:33 to go, and after Adams broke free for a 46-yard score at the 7:36 mark, the Bishops trailed just 45-40.
NCWC's defense proceeded to take over on downs at their own 22-yardline with 3:48 remaining. Unfortunately, Wesleyan's hopes at a game-winning drive came to a halt when Midgett was picked off on 3rd-and-10. Huntingdon (3-1, 1-0 USA South) was then able to run out the clock on their first league win.
Adams set a new Wesleyan record with 202 receiving yards on 11 catches, which tied a program-best. He also tied his own Bishop record with the three TD catches... a feat he has accomplished twice before. Midgett also got in the record book on Saturday, tying his own record for touchdown passes in a game with six and matching the program-best for passing yards in a game with 358 yards on 20 completions.
Defensively, sophomore Anthony Janezic made a season-high 15 tackles, including two for a loss, while freshman Trevor Campbell recorded his first career interception to set up a Bishop score.
Wesleyan (0-4, 0-1 USA South) returns home next Saturday to host Maryville College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm at Bishop Stadium.