ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College football team dropped a 31-26 heartbreaker to Maryville College at home on a warm Saturday afternoon at Vernon T. Bradley Stadium.
Maryville got off to a fast start on saturday driving right down the field on their opening drive, but would miss a field goal. However, a fumble by Wesleyan's RB Jaylen Perry on their opening possession then gave the Scots great field position as they would go on to grab a field goal to go up 3-0. Then, after a 10-play 58-yard drive by the Bishops, an ill-timed throw from freshman QB Chaz Hirschman saw MC intercept at the one-yard line and run it back 99 yards for a touchdown.
After a Maryville saftey and a Rafa Niederleytner 32-yard FG made it 12-3, the Scots would immediately run the ensuing Bishop kickoff back 85 yards for another touchdown to go up 18-3 with 6 minutes to play in the 2nd quarter.
The Bishops though would come right back on the next drive as Hirschman threw it 64 yards to a in-stride WR Trey Blackwell for the quick-strike touchdown that made it 18-10 at halftime.
After Maryville went up 24-10 on an early third quarter touchdown drive, the Bishops then came back and cut their lead in half by blocking MC's punt at the 2 minute mark of the third while freshman LB Corrie Lee then ran it back 55 yards for the Bishop score to make it 24-17.
Another 4th quarter Wesleyan drive would then end in points as a beautiful 24-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Storm Yarbrough to senior captain and WR Kevin Alford would tie the game at 24 apiece with 6:50 to play.
Unfortunately, Maryville would come right back down the field with a 70-yard drive to re-take the lead at 31-24. They would then hold off the Bishops over the final four minutes while also giving up a safety to pick up the win.
MC improves to 2-5 on the season and 2-3 in the conference with the win while Wesleyan falls to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
Hirschman and Yarbrough combined to throw for 169 yards with two scores and 2 interceptions while RBs Trevon Crank and Anthony Byrd combined to rush 33 times for 105 yards. Sophomore TE Kalab Logan also caught 5 balls for 45 yards in the loss.
Defensively, junior LB Deante Lucenti led the team with 10 total tackles, a sack, and a tackle-for-loss while freshman safety Korey Hunter also made 8 tackles, 5 solo, and recovered a fumble. Senior DE Rob Carley also recorded 8 tackles, 2 for a loss, along with a sack while linebacker Charles Sias made 7 tackles, including 4 for a loss while also forcing a fumble. Sophomore safety Tim Carmichael also made 6 tackles while junior NT Noah Roberson registered a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
NCWC will next be in action on Oct. 30 when they head to USA South leader Huntingdon College in Alabama.