EMORY, Va. – The Maryville (Tenn.) College Football Team (3-0) remained perfect on the year as it picked up a 30-13 victory over Emory & Henry College (1-1) Saturday night at Fred Selfe Stadium. The contest was the first night game in Emory since the 1980 season and was celebrated with an all-era football reunion, honoring the 100th anniversary of Emory & Henry Football.
Maryville got out to a 3-0 lead with its first possession of the game. After forcing a three-and-out by the Wasps, the Scots' punt returner, Stevorius Kimball, had a 62-yard return, setting up a short field for the offense. After its drive stalled at the E&H five yardline, MC's Kyle Bennett converted a 22 yard field goal.
After the Scots forced a fumble on the third play of the Wasps' ensuing drive, Evan Pittenger hit Logan Winders with a 30-yard touchdown pass on second down to put the Scots up 10-0, just 3:18 into the game.
Another E&H turnover set the stage for the next Maryville possession. This time the Scots went 63 yards in 11 plays running 3:50 off the clock. A two-yard plunge by Deshjion Whitlock made the score 16-0 after the Bennett's extra-point attempt was blocked.
Emory & Henry got on the board with 42 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. Sophomore running back Chris Thompson (Blue Ridge, Va.) capped the drive with a one-yard dive for the touchdown. Freshman Skyler Simcox' (Abingdon, Va.) point-after was good to make the score 16-7.
Maryville added a second-quarter touchdown with 90 seconds to go before the break as Whitlock notched his second score of the game, this time a four-yard run to complete a seven-play 36-yard drive, for a 23-7 halftime advantage.
After the intermission, Emory & Henry closed the gap to 23-13 as sophomore running back Isaiah Rodgers (Canton, Ga.) had a two-yard run for a touchdown. Rodgers accounted for 20 yards on the drive.
The Scots responded on their next drive to put the final score of the game on the board. On what looked as if it would be an incomplete pass after the quarterback was hit in the process of throwing, Kimball made it back to the ball and cut across the field for a 62-yard touchdown and the 30-13 lead.
The two teams traded field position during the final quarter with neither squad able to break through and add points to the board. The Scots melted the clock on each of their three possessions in the final quarter, holding the ball for nearly 13 minutes.
Maryville's Whitlock led all players with 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Chaz Rokins added 50 yards. Pittenger threw for 62 yards and a score and rushed for 27 yards. Kimball caught three passes for 84 yards including his 62 yard touchdown from Nick Myers. Defensively for the Scots, Nasir Beyah had 13 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception which he returned for 44 yards.
Emory & Henry was led offensively by Rodgers' 63 yards on 11 attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per carry while Thompson finished the game with 45 yards on 13 rushes. Sophomore wide receiver Nick Webb (Troutville, Va.) had two catches for 48 yards and was one of eight Wasps to catch a pass in the game. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Saxton (Monroe, N.C.) was 17-for-38 passing for 206 yards but threw a pair of interceptions. Sophomore linebacker Andrew Long (Asheville, N.C.) led the Wasps' defense with 11 tackles including four stops for a loss of 16 yards.
Emory & Henry will return to action on Saturday, September 26 when it faces off against East Tennessee State University at Kermit Tipton Stadium on the campus of Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Dave Grace