DANVILLE, Va. - The NC Wesleyan College Football team fell 41-24 on the road at conference leader and rival Averett University Saturday evening.
After Averett got out to an early 6-0 lead, the Bishops came right back with a 4-play 65-yard drive ending with sophomore WR Tyler Roberts catching a 6 yard touchdown pass from senior QB Donielle Totten. Averett would make it 13-7 with a 66 yard TD pass on the next drive before the Bishops ended the first quarter with a 29-yard field goal from junior CB/K Eddie Graham.
After a long Averett touchdown drive in the second quarter, the Bishops would come back on the next play from scrimmage as junior RB Jeff Black took the ball 75 yards down the field for the touchdown to bring Wesleyan within 3 points at 20-17 going into halftime.
Averett then pulled away from the Bishops in the third quarter scoring two touchdowns to increase their lead to 34-17 as they controlled the time of possession holding the Bishops to just 20 minutes of offensive ball all night. Wesleyan did cut Averett's lead down to 10 early in the fourth when senior middle linebacker Antonio Johnson forced a fumble and then returned it 82 yards for a score to make it 34-24 with 9 minutes to play.
Johnson led the defense with 15 tackles including 5 solo as well as a blocked kick. Sophomore Linebacker Dylan Cason also had double-digit tackles with 10 while senior defensive linemen R.J. Smalls, Jeff Person, and Jonathan Chasten all registered one sack apiece and combined for 15 tackles. Senior safety Marcus Leggett also recorded an interception along with 4 tackles.
Black also led the offense by rushing for 134 yards while fellow RB Darian Curley ran for 73 yards on the ground as well. Roberts also grabbed 69 yards receiving.
Wesleyan falls to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the USA South while Averett remains tied for first with Huntingdon at 3-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall.
The Bishops will next return home to host Brevard College next Saturday at 1:00 PM from Rocky Mount Stadium.