GREENSBORO – Guilford College football endured two lightning delays, heavy rain and nearly five hours of action Saturday night before holding off Methodist University 20-17 at Appenzeller Field at the Armfield Athletic Center.

The victory moved Guilford to 1-1 on the season and gave the Quakers their fourth straight win over Methodist and 10th victory in the last 11 meetings between the programs. Methodist fell to 0-2.

The game featured 711 yards of total offense, with Guilford holding a narrow 368-343 advantage. The Quakers did most of their damage on the ground, rushing for 226 yards compared with 118 for Methodist. The Monarchs had the advantage through the air, 225-142, while Methodist won the turnover battle 2-1.

Guilford's biggest plays came from its running game and helped make the difference.

Evan Sullivan led all rushers with 103 yards on 11 carries, including a 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Maurice Andrews added 55 yards and a 37-yard touchdown on 11 carries, while Malik Woodard rushed five times for 41 yards.

The 72-yard run was Guilford's second touchdown of at least 70 yards. Earlier in the game, quarterback Tristan Gabrels connected with Shane Shapiro on Guilford's first offensive play. Shapiro broke through the Methodist defense and raced 80 yards for a touchdown.

Shapiro finished with three receptions for 96 yards, leading all receivers. Gabrels completed 11 of 24 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, but Methodist intercepted him twice.

Methodist quarterback Asa Windham completed 13 of 29 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It was a career-high in passing yards for Windham and his first multi-touchdown game as a Monarch.

Chris Clark led Methodist on the ground with 96 yards on 20 carries. Juels Huntley added 47 yards on five carries. Colin Fay led Methodist's receivers with 58 yards, while Tanner Zill and Toby Cates Jr. each recorded a touchdown reception.

Methodist moved the ball on its opening possession. Clark picked up a first down before Windham connected with Fay for a 44-yard completion that moved the Monarchs to the Guilford 17-yard line. The drive stalled, however, and Ethan Emery's 35-yard field goal attempt went wide right.

Guilford answered immediately.

On the Quakers' first offensive play, Gabrels found Shapiro on a short completion. Shapiro broke multiple tackles and turned the catch into an 80-yard touchdown, putting Guilford ahead 7-0.

After the teams traded punts, Methodist responded with its first touchdown of the season. Windham found Zill for a 45-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 late in the opening quarter.

Guilford regained the lead on the opening play of the second quarter. Andrews took the handoff and raced 37 yards for a touchdown, putting the Quakers ahead 14-7.

Methodist's defense answered with points of its own. Michael Morrison and Carlos Mendez combined to bring down a Guilford ball carrier in the end zone for a safety, cutting the Quakers' lead to 14-9.

The score remained unchanged through halftime.

The second half became increasingly difficult to navigate as lightning and heavy rain repeatedly interrupted the game.

Guilford moved deep into Methodist territory on a third-quarter drive, reaching the Methodist 5-yard line before Gabrels was intercepted by Anthony Smith on a tipped pass. The interception came just before the first lightning delay, which lasted 49 minutes.

When play resumed, heavy rain moved into the area. Neither team scored during the remainder of the third quarter as the conditions and repeated stoppages disrupted both offenses.

Guilford's defense continued to create pressure against Windham. The Quakers recorded seven sacks, tying for the seventh-most in program history.

Owen Whelan led Guilford with 13 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. Garrett Wilson recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Simeon Reid added two sacks and three tackles for loss. Ben Finkelstein had eight tackles and intercepted Windham for the second straight week.

Methodist's Wesley Folsom led all Monarch defenders with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Smith and Bryan Graham each recorded an interception, with both players picking up their first collegiate interceptions.

After Methodist was forced to punt early in the fourth quarter, Guilford needed just one play to extend its lead.

Sullivan broke through the middle of the Methodist defense and raced 72 yards for a touchdown. Methodist blocked the ensuing extra point, leaving the Quakers ahead 20-9.

The Monarchs were unable to answer immediately, and another defensive stop by Guilford led to the game's second lightning delay. The second stoppage lasted about an hour.

When play resumed, Guilford again threatened to add to its lead, but Gabrels was intercepted by Bryan Graham in the end zone.

Methodist finally found its opening late in the fourth quarter.

The Monarchs put together a 91-yard, 10-play drive, with Windham connecting with Phernete Workman for 17 yards and Tyrone Atkinson Jr. for 31 yards to move the ball into Guilford territory.

Three plays later, Windham found Cates Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown with 1:12 remaining. Methodist went for two, and Atkinson Jr. made the catch to cut Guilford's lead to 20-17.

Methodist attempted an onside kick, but Guilford recovered.

The Quakers could not pick up a first down, giving Methodist one final opportunity. The Monarchs took possession with six seconds remaining and attempted to keep the game alive with laterals, but the final play ended before Methodist could move into field-goal range.

Guilford escaped with the 20-17 victory. 

GREENSBORO - Cameron Turner threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Shamar Privette with 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, lifting Greensboro College to a 13-12 victory over Methodist University at Pride Field on Saturday.

The play came on second-and-8 from the Greensboro 22-yard line and capped a three-play, 80-yard drive that took just 46 seconds. Turner had rushed for 12 yards on first down before connecting with Privette for the game-winning score. The Pride failed on a two-point conversion attempt but held on for the win.

Methodist had taken a 12-7 lead earlier in the fourth quarter on Ethan Emery's 24-yard field goal with 11:13 left in the game. That kick completed a 14-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 7:46 of clock time. The Monarchs had driven inside the Greensboro 10-yard line but were pushed back by a false start penalty before the field goal attempt.

Greensboro struck first, taking a 7-0 lead on Turner's 10-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the first quarter. The Pride marched 69 yards in 10 plays on that opening drive, benefiting from a Methodist offsides penalty on fourth-and-1.

Methodist responded early in the second quarter when Kolbe Little scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:16 remaining in the half. The Monarchs had moved 56 yards in nine plays, but Emery's extra point attempt sailed wide, leaving Methodist trailing 7-6. The Monarchs added a 22-yard field goal from Emery with 1:08 left before halftime to take a 9-7 lead into the break.

Turner finished 10-of-18 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 50 yards and another score on 13 carries. Privette caught three passes for 104 yards and the decisive touchdown. KJ Brown added four receptions for 33 yards for Greensboro.

For Methodist, quarterback play was split between Little and Asa Windham. Little completed 7-of-15 passes for 67 yards with one interception, while Windham was 8-of-12 for 81 yards. Kyan McCollum led the Monarchs' ground game with 62 yards on 16 carries.

Jay Law paced Greensboro's defense with 13 total tackles (10 solo), while Frank Walker recorded 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Kalil Marcus intercepted Little's pass in the first quarter and also broke up a pass.

Anthony Smith led Methodist with seven solo tackles. The Monarchs held a 36:17 to 23:43 advantage in time of possession but converted just 5-of-14 third-down attempts. Greensboro went 3-for-11 on third down.

Methodist falls to 1-8 on the season, while Greensboro improves to 2-7 with the come-from-behind victory.

Key Performers:

• Shamar Privette (Greensboro): 3 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
• Cameron Turner (Greensboro): 10-18 passing, 163 yards, 1 TD; 13 rushes, 50 yards, 1 TD
• Jay Law (Greensboro): 13 total tackles
• Kyan McCollum (Methodist): 16 rushes, 62 yards

FAYETTEVILLE – Braylon Knapp threw four touchdown passes and N.C. Wesleyan scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull away from Methodist 48-17 at Monarch Stadium on Saturday.

The Bishops improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while the Monarchs fell to 1-7 and 0-5.

Knapp completed 9 of 16 passes for 183 yards without an interception, connecting with four different receivers for scores. Michael Pannell caught two of those touchdowns and returned a punt 61 yards for another score, finishing with five receptions for 84 yards.

N.C. Wesleyan needed more than six minutes to find the end zone on its opening possession, capping a 13-play, 77-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Knapp to Tyson Resper. The Bishops added two more scores in a span of 40 seconds late in the first half. Knapp found Sean Cartwright for a 66-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0, then Pannell took a punt back for a score on the ensuing possession to extend the lead to 21-0.

Methodist responded immediately with a 40-yard touchdown run by CJ Ferguson, cutting the deficit to 21-7 with 7:26 remaining in the second quarter. The Monarchs added a 22-yard field goal from Ethan Emery before halftime to pull within 21-10.

The third quarter featured another explosive offensive stretch from N.C. Wesleyan. After Ferguson scored on a 14-yard run to make it 27-17, the Bishops answered with a five-play, 72-yard drive that took less than three minutes. Knapp connected with Pannell for a 55-yard touchdown pass to push the advantage back to 34-17.

Nahji Seagraves carried the ball 21 times for 100 yards and a touchdown for the Bishops. His 1-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter made it 41-17. Seagraves had rushes of 25 and 13 yards during N.C. Wesleyan's ground attack.

The game's final touchdown came on defense. Savon McKeithan intercepted a Kolbe Little pass at the N.C. Wesleyan 20-yard line and returned it 80 yards for a score with 5:54 remaining to set the final margin.

Ferguson led Methodist's rushing attack with 18 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Little completed 14 of 27 passes for 147 yards with one interception. Bryson Ausby caught three passes for 30 yards and returned six kickoffs for 163 yards.

N.C. Wesleyan controlled possession for just 23:46 compared to Methodist's 36:14, but the Bishops made the most of their opportunities. They converted 5 of 9 third-down attempts and scored on all three of their red zone possessions. Methodist went 5 of 15 on third down and managed just two scores in four red zone trips.

The Bishops averaged 6.9 yards per play compared to 5.0 for the Monarchs. Knapp averaged 20.3 yards per completion, while Little averaged 10.5. N.C. Wesleyan's special teams provided a significant advantage, with Braxtyn Green averaging 45.2 yards per punt with two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Methodist's Kenneth Schoene averaged 30.0 yards per punt.

Mathias Winston led the Bishops' defense with 10 tackles, while Eric Cooper added seven tackles and forced a fumble. Lavar Williams recorded N.C. Wesleyan's only sack, a 5-yard loss in the first quarter.

Top Performers

N.C. Wesleyan:

• Braylon Knapp: 9-16 passing, 183 yards, 4 TDs
• Michael Pannell: 5 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TDs; 1 punt return TD
• Nahji Seagraves: 21 rushes, 100 yards, 1 TD
• Savon McKeithan: 80-yard interception return for TD

Methodist:

• CJ Ferguson: 18 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TDs
• Kolbe Little: 14-27 passing, 147 yards, 1 INT
• Bryson Ausby: 6 kickoff returns, 163 yards

ROCKY MOUNT – The NC Wesleyan Battling Bishops held off a late surge from the Methodist Monarchs to secure a 19-17 victory in a closely contested matchup that showcased contrasting offensive styles.

NC Wesleyan’s big-play offense proved decisive, with quarterback Chaz Hirschman connecting on touchdown passes of 65 and 27 yards to Anthony Byrd and Christian Drumgoole, respectively. Despite attempting fewer passes, Hirschman averaged 12.5 yards per attempt compared to Methodist quarterback Brennan Brucato’s 6.2, finishing with 225 passing yards on just 10 completions.

The Bishops struck quickly in their opening drive, as Hirschman found Byrd for a 65-yard touchdown pass just 62 seconds into the game. Methodist responded in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal by Samuel Andrae, cutting the deficit to 6-3 at halftime.

The third quarter saw an explosion of scoring from both teams. Byrd, who finished with 150 rushing yards on 22 carries, extended NC Wesleyan’s lead with an 8-yard touchdown run. Methodist answered when Sajari Love scored on a 12-yard run, bringing the score to 13-10. Drumgoole’s 27-yard touchdown reception pushed the Bishops’ advantage back to nine points.

In the fourth quarter, Methodist mounted a comeback attempt. Brucato connected with Love for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 remaining, but the Bishops managed to run out the clock on their final possession.

Despite the loss, Methodist dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 34 minutes compared to NC Wesleyan’s 26. The Monarchs ran 76 plays to the Bishops’ 59 but averaged less yardage per play (4.8 to 6.9).

Methodist’s balanced offensive approach resulted in 361 total yards, with Brucato completing 18 of 33 passes for 203 yards and the late touchdown. Love led the Monarchs’ ground game with 71 yards on 15 carries and added 83 receiving yards on six catches.

Drumgoole was Hirschman’s primary target, catching five passes for 92 yards. The Bishops accumulated 407 total yards, with 182 coming on the ground and 225 through the air.

Defensively, Methodist’s Omar Goodwin led all tacklers with 10, including one tackle for loss. The Monarchs recorded two sacks on Hirschman, while the Bishops brought down Brucato once.

Penalties played a significant role in the contest, with NC Wesleyan flagged 13 times for 139 yards, nearly double Methodist’s 8 penalties for 65 yards.

Both teams struggled in key situations. Methodist converted 8 of 18 third downs but failed on their lone fourth-down attempt. NC Wesleyan managed just 3 conversions on 11 third-down attempts.

In the kicking game, Methodist’s Kenneth Schoene averaged 37.6 yards on five punts, while NC Wesleyan’s Braxtyn Green averaged 28.8 yards on four attempts. Green missed an extra point attempt that could have proved costly in the close finish.

Up Next

Both teams are at home in USA South conference action as NC Wesleyan (1-4, 1-2) hosts LaGrange at Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Stadium while Methodist (1-4, 1-2) invites Huntingdon to Monarch Stadium in Fayetteville.

LAGRANGE, Ga.  Methodist University football team bounces back from last week to collect their first USA South Athletic Conference win on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs defeated LaGrange College 38-28 in Callaway Stadium.

Once again senior Kobe Praylow finds himself breaking another Methodist program record. With his 230 receiving yards, Praylow holds the best performance for most receiving yards in a single game. The previous holders each had 219 yards with William Ray originally setting it back in 1998 and Pat Jacobs accomplishing the same feat in 2014.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was Methodist who was able to get on the scoreboard first in this contest. After a couple of key passes from Brandon Bullins to Praylow and Mikhail Baldwin, along with some big runs by Keyshaun Pete, the Monarchs ran it into the end zone with Tyquan Eaddy from the Panthers' 2-yard line.

Lagrange's first possession did not go the way they scripted it as quarterback Shedrick Lindsey was intercepted by Methodist's safety DaQuinton Grady. That Monarch INT was short-lived though as Bullins threw his own interception two plays later.

On the ensuing drive by the Panthers, they got to midfield after a 26-yard pass play from Lindsey to Ajani Williams. On the very next play Ja'Quez Elliott stripped the ball away from Williams, after a short pass completion, and Damian Harris was the first player to get on top of the ball for Methodist.

Following the fumble, each side exchanged punts before LaGrange came up with the next big play. With about 30 seconds left in the first quarter, the Monarchs were forced to punt again but could not get it off cleanly as Emmanuel Vulue of the Panthers got his paws in there to block the kick. LaGrange recovered the ball and one play later Lindsey found De'Queze Fryer on a 17-yard pass for the touchdown.

The score was tied up at 7-7 at the start of the second quarter. On the first play of the new frame, Bullins connected with Praylow on a 73-yard touchdown pass to give Methodist the lead again, 14-7.

Before both squads went to the locker room for halftime, the Monarchs added an additional three points off a Trevor Hargett 26-yard field goal to take a 17-7 advantage.

The Panthers started the third quarter on a good note with a couple of big runs to them in Methodist territory but the drive stalled out and were forced to punt. The Monarchs would then march down the field and cap it off with a Floyd Eaddy 36-yard rushing touchdown. For Floyd Eaddy, that was the first touchdown of his collegiate career.

Lagrange would bring the deficit down to a two-score game, 24-14, on JayDon Cooper rushing touchdown from seven yards out. Methodist responded right back on Bullins second-longest touchdown pass of the game, a 56-yarder to Praylow, for a 31-14 score.

After a second Lindsey interception this time by Monarch's own Roderic Christian Jr., Methodist traveled down to the Panthers' 3-yard line and Pete was able to run it in for the final Monarch touchdown of the day, 38-14.

LaGrange did not go down quietly within the final 11 minutes of the game as they recorded two more touchdowns. Both were passing TDs by Lindsey to LJ Flint from 3- and 14-yards out.

MORE TO IT

The Monarchs nearly finished with 200 more total yards than the Panthers. Methodist concluded with 554 total (343 passing, 211 rushing) yards while LaGrange had 374 off of 226 passing and 148 rushing yards.

For the first time this season, Pete had a 100+ yard rushing performance, with 127. Making it the second time in his career he has done so.

Elliott led the Monarchs in tackles with eight, along with two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, from his defensive tackle position.

The Methodist defense has now recorded a turnover in their fifth straight game, dating back to last season. Their 12 total turnovers this season so far rank in the top 5 of all Division III football programs.

UP NEXT

Methodist are back in action next Saturday, October 1, when they host USA South newcomer Belhaven University in Monarch Stadium at 1 PM.

Story courtesy of Methodist Sports Information