EMORY, Va. - The Emory & Henry College Football Team completed Head Coach Curt Newsome's second season with a 6-4 (4-3 ODAC) record and a third-place finish in the league. The offense was third in the ODAC in scoring with 32.7 points per game and fourth in total offense at 440 yards per game. The Wasps reached the 40-point plateau on three separate occasions this season, including a 54-point, 631-yard output at Shenandoah in Week 10. The victories propelled five of Emory & Henry's offensive players to all-conference honors.
Selected to the All-ODAC First Team was junior right guard McFarland Murph. Murph earned an 86% grade out as the Wasps' front five gave up the fewest sacks per pass attempt in the conference. Joining Murph as all-conference were senior left tackle Paul Cozens and sophomore right tackle Grayson Williams, tabbed to the All-ODAC Third Team.
Those three linemen spent the season opening up holes for Third Team All-ODAC running back Chris Thompson. Thompson led the Wasps in rush yards with 579 on the ground and average per rush at 5.4 a carry. Sophomore, Isaiah Rodgers, rushed for 561 yards and seven touchdowns on the season while senior Chris Edwards ran for 137 yards and a score and freshman Sam Wagner scored three times.
At the quarterback position, sophomore Kevin Saxton continued to work his way up the record books. In only two seasons, the sophomore is in Emory & Henry's top five in career attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. Poised to have a decorated career if he continues his pace, the Monroe, North Carolina native threw for 2,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 2015. Saxton had four games in which he threw for three touchdowns or more. The third leading rusher for the Wasps was reserve quarterback Dominic Dunnaville, who provided a change of pace for the Wasps' offense, rushing for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries.
From the receiving side, freshman Tyree Ward was named to the All-ODAC Second Team after catching 36 passes for 647 yards on the season. The Lenoir-Rhyne transfer led the ODAC with 18.0 yards per catch and his 10 touchdowns are tied for third most in a single season for the Wasps. Senior Jake Hess put up career numbers in his final season in Emory, hauling in 34 passes for 412 yards and a score. Sophomore Nick Webb moved to wide receiver from quarterback and caught two touchdown passes on the year. Senior Ashton Cline finished up his last season with 19 catches for 212 yards and three scores.
The offense for the Wasps is still fairly young and will look to build upon their success next season. The Wasps lose five offensive starters due to graduation, but will likely return their leading passer, receiver, and top three rushers.
The defensive year in review will be available Wednesday, December 2 and the special teams review will come on Thursday, December 3.
Team Leaders
Passing – Kevin Saxton – 190 completions, 353 attempts, 2,541 yards, 20 touchdowns
Rushes – Isaiah Rodgers – 123
Rush Yards – Chris Thompson – 579
Rushing Touchdowns – Isaiah Rodgers – 7
Receiving – Tyree Ward – 36 receptions, 647 yards, 10 touchdowns
---E&H---