BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (1-1) got out to a 28-7 lead early in the second quarter and closed the game with a 13-6 run to earn a 41-33 win against Bluefield University (1-2, 0-0 AAC) Saturday evening. The victory avenged a last-minute 46-45 loss a year ago in Emory.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 41, Bluefield 33
LOCATION – Bluefield, West Virginia
VENUE – Mitchell Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-1, 0-0 SAC); Bluefield (1-2, 0-0 AAC)
How It Happened
After both squads traded punts to open the game, the Wasps went 45 yards in three plays capped by a one-yard plunge by senior running back Grayson Overstreet (Moneta, Va.). E&H got the ball back after a punt and saw junior quarterback Kyle Short (Lebanon, Ohio) connect with junior wide receiver Tmahdae Penn (Martinsville, Va.) with a 37-yard touchdown for a 14-0 advantage.
Bluefield's next drive stalled, forcing another punt. Penn fielded it at his own 17-yard line and scampered the full 83 yards for his second score in as many touches for a 21-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The Rams got on the board with 39 seconds to go in the opening period when Tavarius Corbit scooped up a fumble at the E&H 41 and returned it to the end zone to make it a 21-7 contest. Emory & Henry bounced back to push the margin to 28-7 on its next drive, capped by a seven-yard reception by sophomore wide receiver River Carter (Abingdon, Va.) from Short.
Bluefield scored touchdowns on its next three possessions closing the gap to 28-27 at the half. Nathan Herstich connected with Jewels Gray from 49 yards out and also found Thomas Lee for a seven-yard score while James Thomas scored from one yard out on the ground.
In the third, after a Herstich pass was intercepted by senior defensive back T.J. Payne (Chattanooga, Tenn.) the Wasps got their offense back together. Short drove his team down the field capping the drive with a 19-yard catch in the back of the end zone by junior wide receiver Jermawn Ford (District Heights, Md.) for a 35-27 advantage.
A pair of 42-yard, fourth-quarter field goals by freshman Trace Butcher (Dacula, Ga.) pushed the Emory & Henry advantage to 41-27. The Rams drove 72 yards on 13 plays on their ensuing drive which was capped by Herstich's two-yard stretch to the right pylon to close the gap to 41-33 with 1:41 to go.
The Wasps recovered the onside kick and got the necessary first down to run out the remaining time on the clock to grab the 41-33 victory.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Short threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns on 14-for-30 passing. Penn caught seven balls for 129 yards and a score to go along with his 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. Ford added five receptions for 88 yards and a score while Carter converted his lone catch for a seven-yard touchdown.
Overstreet led all players with 127 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown.
Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Ivan Phillips (Kingsport, Tenn.) had nine tackles, forced fumble and a pass defended while Payne capped the night with seven stops, an interception and another pair of passes broken up.
Fifth-year defensive back Jaylyn Kreimes (Sharps, Va.) posted an interception with a 24-yard return and a blocked kick while redshirt freshman defensive back Chendrick Cann (St. Petersburg, Fla.) notched an interception and two break-ups of his own.
Bluefield Individual Leaders
Herstich was 19-for-42 through the air for 220 yards and two touchdowns but also found E&H defenders three times on the evening. He was also the Rams' leading rusher with 50 yards and a touchdown.
Jewels Gray caught five passes for 100 yards including a 49-yard touchdown reception while JaQuon Ebron have five receptions for 53 yards.
Tyrese Wolfe notched eight stops and two passes broken up while Corbitt added eight tackles to his 41-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
A Deeper Look
Emory & Henry put up 399 yards of total offense, missing the 400-yard mark because of a pair of 'victory formation' kneel-downs in the final minute, and picked up 25 first downs on the evening. Bluefield notched 334 yards on the evening, with 22 first downs.
E&H held the ball for 36:24 despite converting just 6-of-16 (38%) of its third downs. The Wasps did reach the line to gain on 2-of-3 (67%) of its fourth-down tries.
The Wasps lost two fumbles, but won the turnover battle against the Rams who threw a trio of interceptions and lost one fumble.
Both squads struggled when it came to penalties with a total of 19 flags thrown for 205 yards.
Up Next
Emory & Henry returns home next Saturday to open South Atlantic Conference play against No. 13 Newberry College at 1:00 p.m. The day will also feature the Sports Hall of Fame Induction for 2022 with this year's class set to be recognized on the field at halftime.
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