ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (1-0) opened the NCAA Division II era on Sunday afternoon with a 36-7 win over North Carolina Wesleyan College (0-1). The Wasps scored 36 unanswered points on the way to their first-ever win in Rocky Mount.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 36, North Carolina Wesleyan 7
LOCATION – Rocky Mount, North Carolina
VENUE – Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Complex
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-0); North Carolina Wesleyan (1-0, 0-0 USA South)
How It Happened
North Carolina Wesleyan took the opening kickoff and went 66 yards in six plays capped by a 14-yard pass from Storm Yarbrough to Kevin Alford for the 7-0 lead just 2:18 into the game. The next six possessions ended in punts before Emory & Henry put together its first sustained drive of the game. Inside the Battling Bishops' five yardline, senior running back Devontae Jordan (Bassett, Va.) dove for the pylon, but lost the ball resulting in a turnover.
The Wasps responded on the next drive, however, as junior defensive back T.J. Payne (Chattanooga, Tenn.) picked off Storm's pass and saw senior linebacker Brent Butler (Roanoke, Va.) complete the return for the touchdown and the 7-7 score.
That score set up five straight touchdowns for E&H as Jordan plowed in from two yards out with 6:16 to go in the second quarter and senior wide receiver Elijah Rice (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) hauled in an 18-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Kyle Short (Lebanon, Ohio) to give the Wasps a 19-7 lead at the half.
Coming out of the break, Emory & Henry continued to be hot on offense going 65 yards in eight plays capped by a 29-yard score by Jordan. After forcing a three-and-out by the Bishops, the Wasps struck down the field again as Short linked up with 5th-year wide receiver Gunner Griffith (Bluff City, Tenn.) for a 28-yard catch and a 33-7 advantage.
Following another three-and-out by NCWC, Emory & Henry began to melt the clock, and made it 36-straight points for the final 36-7 margin on a 33-yard field goal by junior Cameron Jones (Jacksonville, N.C.). The two squads traded possessions for the remainder of the fourth quarter with the Bishops only crossing midfield twice in the second half.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Short finished his E&H debut 17-for-23 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, as he and sophomore quarterback Carter Everett (Elizabethton, Tenn.) combined for 220 yards through the air, hitting eight different receivers on the afternoon. Jordan led the rushing game with 134 yards and two scores on 25 carries.
Senior wideout Kashawn Cosey (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was the favorite target, catching seven balls for 17 yards while Griffith's three catches went for 50 yards and a score. Junior tight end Zach Venhorst (Lynchburg, Va.) had four receptions for 34 yards as Rice hauled in three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.
The E&H defense was evenly spread with 12 players seeing three tackles or more. Redshirt freshman defensive back Gage Mannon (Pulaski, Va.) led the way with six tackles while junior defensive back T.J. Tester (Moneta, Va.) saw all three of his stops go down as sacks for a total of 18 yards. Payne added three tackles to his interception.
North Carolina Wesleyan Individual Leaders
Yarbough finished the game 7-for-18 for 80 yards, a touchdown and an interception while Alex Stack came in to go 9-for-17 for 86 yards in the second half. Jeff Black led the Bishops' rushing attack with 49 yards on 13 carries.
Alford had two catches for 29 yards and a score but it was Kalab Logan who led the way with five receptions for 31 yards.
Defensively, Rob Carley made eight tackles including a pair of stops for a loss while Benyon Williams and Jimmy Hayden added eight tackles of their own. R.J. Carter had seven stops, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
A Deeper Look
Emory & Henry outgained North Carolina Wesleyan, 383-177, gaining 28 first downs as they averaged 5.2 yards per play. The Wasps were 8-for-16 (50%) on third down compared to just 33 percent (5-for-15) for the Bishops.
E&H's defense held NCWC to just 11 rushing yards as they totaled 16 tackles for loss including five quarterback sacks. Thirteen different players made their mark as the Wasps lived in the Battling Bishops' backfield all afternoon.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will open the home portion of its schedule on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when it hosts Bluefield University in a battle of Southwest Virginia schools. The Wasps defeated the Rams, 49-21, in their first-ever meeting on September 28, 2019 in Bluefield.
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