GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone University Football Team (8-3, 7-2 SAC) kept its NCAA Division II Playoff hopes alive with a 45-27 win over Emory & Henry College (5-6, 4-5 SAC) Saturday afternoon in a South Atlantic Conference divisional crossover game.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Limestone 45, Emory & Henry 27
LOCATION – Gaffney, South Carolina
VENUE – Saints Field
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (5-6, 4-5 SAC); Limestone (8-3, 7-2 SAC)
How It Happened
The Saints opened the scoring at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter as Dustin Noller hit Jadarius Hector with a 24-yard touchdown pass. Limestone extended its advantage to 14-0 early in the second when Jeremiah Lomax intercepted a pass and returned it 48 yards for a score. After forcing a three-and-out, Limestone put together an 11-play, 67-yard campaign that resulted in a 30-yard field goal by Austin Kemp.
The Saints would lead 24-0 at the intermission as Noller connected with Drew Nixon from five yards out for another touchdown.
Returning to action in the third, Emory & Henry got on the board when junior quarterback Kyle Short (Lebanon, Ohio) linked up with junior wide receiver Jermawn Ford (District Heights, Md.) for a 28-yard score and a 24-7 score. Limestone answered near the end of the quarter on a 33-yard touchdown from Noller to Dixon.
In the fourth, E&H scored on a two-yard catch from Short by freshman running back Justin Hill (Dallas, N.C.)., Noller answered for the Saints, hitting Caden Peeler from eight yards out for a 38-14 lead with 6:10 left to play.
Emory & Henry again found the end zone on the next drive with Short hitting junior wideout Tmahdae Penn (Martinsville, Va.) with a one-yard pitch-and-catch for a touchdown. Zack Merrill capped the scoring for Limestone and a 45-20 advantage with 1:51 on the clock.
The Wasps closed out the contest as short threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a 24-yarder to freshman wide receiver Jaylin Mitchell (Portsmouth, Va.) for the final 45-27 margin.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
Short with 26-for-49 through the air for 342 yards and four touchdowns, either tying or setting a career-high in all three marks. Short found nine different receivers on the afternoon with Ford leading the way with 127 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Penn caught six balls for 57 yards and a score.
Hill was the Wasps' leading rusher with 32 yards while freshman wide receiver Cam Peoples (Reidsville, N.C.) notched 13 yards on the ground.
Fifth-year defensive end Donovan Pinnix (Eden, N.C.) led the way with nine tackles including two for a loss while junior defensive back Addison Knicely (Mount Crawford, Va.) notched eight stops and a fumble recovery. Sophomore linebacker Josh McCray (Richmond, Va.) tallied seven tackles and an interception while fifth-year linebacker Ivan Phillips (Kingsport, Tenn.) and sophomore linebacker A.J. Burgess (Roxboro, N.C.) each had seven stops of their own.
Erskine Individual Leaders
Noller threw for 419 yards and four touchdowns on 27-for-38 passing with eight different receivers catching passes. Dixon was the leading wideout with eight catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns while Peeler had four receptions for 64 yards and a score.
Trey Stewart notched 70 yards on 19 carries to lead the Saints' ground game and added two catches for 32 yards.
Chandler Matthews posted a game-high 12 tackles with two tackles for loss while Ahmond Glass had seven stops and a pass defended. Joseph Gregory went for six tackles and added four quarterback hurries with Luke Janack notching six stops of his own.
A Deeper Look
Limestone outgained Emory & Henry 553-357 including 456-342 passing. The Wasps only managed 15 rushing yards on the evening compared to 97 for the Saints.
The Saints were 7-of-14 (50%) on third down and converted both of their fourth-down attempts. E&H was just 33 percent (6-for-18) on third down and found the line to gain on twice out of four fourth-down chances (50%).
Limestone was penalized 12 times for 134 yards while Emory & Henry was flagged six times for 55 yards. The Wasps held a 31:46-28:14 lead on time of possession.
Up Next
Emory & Henry will now await the release of the All-SAC Teams.
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