Rocky Mount, N.C. - Junior Bobby Tucker set a new North Carolina Wesleyan record with three interceptions on Saturday afternoon, helping his Bishops stun league-leading Maryville with a 24-7 victory at Bishop Stadium.
The Scots (4-1, 1-1 USA South) entered the game undefeated, but it was Wesleyan that got on the board first on a 2-yard TD pass from Dustin Midgett to Malik Adams. After trading punts, Maryville knotted the score in the second quarter on a 10-yard run by Chaz Rokins that capped an 84-yard drive.
Tied 7-7 with 7:52 remaining in the first half, the Scots threatened with and 11-play drive that set up 3rd-and-Goal from the Bishop 3-yardline. MC quarterback Evan Pittinger, however, was picked off by freshman Trevor Campbell in the endzone to keep the Scots off the scoreboard.
Rainy conditions played a major role in the game's next two possessions as both teams fumbled the ball away. Maryville looked to take its first lead just before the break, but Kyle Bennett's 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Tucker to secure a 7-7 tie at intermission.
It was all Bishops in the second half. Wesleyan's defense forced yet another fumble on MC's opening possession of the third quarter, which was later converted into three points on a Chris Richardson 20-yard field goal. After forcing a quick 3-and-out on the Scots' ensuing possession, NCW head coach Jeff Filkovski's creativity on a reverse resulted in a 59-yard touchdown strike from freshman Slade Dale to Adams.
Up 17-7, Wesleyan's defense took over from there with Tucker tallying interceptions on two of the Scots' next three possessions. Junior running back Gerrel Patton completed the scoring by racking up 50 yards and a TD with 3:01 to go, while Tucker's final interception allowed the Bishops to run out the clock on their first victory.
Patton finished with a career-high 143 rushing yards, with Adams grabbing eight catches for 99 yards. Defensively, Kenneth Newsome tallied a game-high 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Tucker ended the day with seven stops to go along with his three picks, a blocked field goal and one pass break-up.
Next up for the Bishops is league rival Methodist next Saturday in Fayetteville. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm.