FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (3-1) got back on the winning track Saturday afternoon as it picked up a come-from-behind, 34-27, victory over Methodist University (1-2) at Monarchs Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Kyle Boden (Knoxville, Tenn.) threw for four touchdowns and was 30-for-52 on the day for 245 yards. The last time an E&H quarterback had four scores through the air was Daniel Booher on September 22, 2007 against The Apprentice School.
Methodist took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a three-yard touchdown by John Flanagan and a 36-yard field goal by Tyler Mosko. Flanagan's score was the culmination of a five-play, 63-yard drive strike covered just 2:26.
Emory & Henry got on the board with 51 seconds left to go in the opening quarter as sophomore wide receiver Cleo Cooper (Raleigh, N.C.) caught a four-yard pass from Boden to complete the seven-play, 60-yard drive.
The Monarchs pushed the score to 17-7 in the middle of the second quarter on a two-yard run by Flanagan, but Emory & Henry would make the home team pay for a turnover late in the half. Junior kicker Matt Turchin (Salisbury, N.C.) connected on a 20-yard field goal with just 33 seconds to go before the break after Wasp junior Anthony Jones (Bristol, Va.) intercepted a Travis Murphy pass. The contest would go into the half with a 17-10 Methodist advantage.
After the break, the home-standing Monarchs went 85 yards on nine plays scoring on a 20-yard field goal by Tyler Mosko to push the lead to 20-10.
Emory & Henry turned the tide of the game late in the third quarter. The Wasps put up touchdowns on two straight drives as they scored on four of their last five possessions.
Sophomore wide receiver Chad Williams (Elkton, Va.) caught a 16-yard pass from Boden to finish a nine-play 54-yard drive and junior wideout DaVon Ross' (Glen Wilton, Va.) 25-yard catch with 13:01 left to go in the game gave the Wasps their first lead of the day.
Methodist responded quickly taking the lead back just 1:22 later as Nathan Kindley caught a five-yard pass from Murphy.
Emory & Henry tied the contest at 27 with 6:25 left to go on a 42-yard field goal by Turchin, his longest of the season. The Wasps scored the winning touchdown with 4:15 left to go as Ross and Boden linked up for their second score of the day.
Senior Corey Ware (Buchanan, Va.) led the Wasps with 60 yards receiving on three catches with a 42-yard long while Ross caught four passes for 47 yards and two scores. Senior wide receiver Adrian Jordan (Covington, Va.) caught nine passes for 50 yards while Cooper had five receptions for 50 yards on the day as well.
Sophomore running back Marquius Young (Oakwood, Ga.) rushed for 48 yards on the day, highlighted by a 30-yard scamper.
Methodist was led offensively by Murphy as he threw for 159 yards on 12-for-28 passing with two interceptions and rushed for 80 yards. Max Mellon had 66 yards on the ground while Flanagan finished with 45 yards and two scores for the Monarchs. Vaughn Cross caught four passes for 93 yards in the game with a 49-yard catch that almost resulted in a score.
The Emory & Henry defense was led by junior linebacker Devan Sproles (Norton, Va.) with 10 tackles including two for a loss and a pass break-up. Senior nose tackle Keith Taylor (Princeton, W.Va.) made seven stops including one for loss while junior linebacker Tyler Houk (Galax, Va.) had six tackles of his own. Senior cornerback Michael Young (Lawrenceville, Ga.) ahd five tackles and an interception.
Defensively, Methodist was led by Navahri Holden with 11 tackles (two for loss) a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. Malcolm McCoy had eight tackles and Seth Sandlin and Andrew Davis had six stops apiece.
Methodist outgained Emory & Henry by 347-340 but the Wasps took advantage of three Monarch turnovers and 15 penalties for 128 yards en route to the win.
Emory & Henry will remain on the road next week when it travels to Ashland, Virginia to open Old Dominion Athletic Conference play against Randolph-Macon College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Bobcats of Frostburg State by a 35-14 score Saturday.
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