Box Score Chase Courson led the Maryville College Scots past N.C. Wesleyan, 42-28, in a cold and windy game on Honaker Field.
After a 21-all score at the half, Courson (73), the 6-foot-1, 250-pound lineman from West Palm Beach, Fla., led the way for two second-half Maryville touchdowns — a 48-yard run by Trenton Shuler and a 9-yard jaunt by Eddie Brock — to earn the win.
Maryville (6-2, 5-1 USA South) remains in a first-place tie with Christopher Newport (5-3, 5-1), who plays LaGrange tonight at 7 p.m. Methodist (5-3, 4-2) fell out of the three-way tie with a 31-21 loss to Averett (2-6, 1-5) on Saturday afternoon — the Cougars' first conference win.
Maryville will host CNU next Saturday for Senior Day. Kickoff will be at 1:30 p.m.
Courson, along with the remainder of the Scots' offensive line, led Maryville on a rushing attack that stunned N.C. Wesleyan for 350 yards — the Scots gaining 432 total yards of offense on the evening.
Maryville's No. 9 Division III nationally-ranked run defense held the NCAA DIII No. 4 running back, Jacques Alston, to only 110 yards and a 4.6-yard average. Coming into the game, the senior averaged 7.1 yards per carry.
Shuler led Maryville with 189 yards rushing on 27 carries. The sophomore scored two touchdowns, while averaging 7 yards per carry. Brock had 96 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per touch.
The Scots averaged 5.3 yards per carry on the evening as a squad.
Kent Minor led Maryville with eight total tackles, while Micah Smith and Jayvon McCullough had seven apiece. Tyler Todd had three quarterback hurries and one sack.
The Bishops were led by Alston's 110-yard performance. Dustin Midgett was 14-of-36 through the air for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two interceptions.
Anthony Janezic had a total of 20 tackles for N.C. Wesleyan, as he also returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown.
N.C. Wesleyan (4-4, 3-3 USA South) got on the board first during their first drive of the game after a 36-yard return by Malik Adams. Alston took all four runs on his own feet, covering 39 yards to pay dirt. His final run covered 7 yards, giving N.C. Wesleyan a 7-0 lead with 13:28 left in the first quarter.
Maryville (6-2, 5-1) quickly answered, pulling together a seven-play, 68-yard drive. The Scots used only rushes, as Brock put together a 16-yard run — carrying five defenders the final 10. He scored on the next play up the middle from 1-yard out, as Maryville and N.C. Wesleyan were tied 7-all with 10:30 left in the first.
The Bishops battled right back, however, covering 51 yards in eight plays. Midgett connected with Malik Adams on the final play of the drive from 13 yards out, as N.C. Wesleyan led 14-7 with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Julius Williams blocked Wesley Bloeme's 32-yard field goal attempt on Maryville's next drive, as the Bishops took over at their own 7-yard line. The Scots forced a punt, taking over at the Bishop's 25-yard line. Shuler took the burden on himself, going 25 yards in four plays — the last covering 4 yards. The teams were tied with 13:53 left in the first half, 14-all.
The Scots forced a three-and-out again, taking over at their own 20-yard line. Maryville took the ball 80 yards in 11 plays, scoring in only 5:19. Evan Pittenger connected with Anzelo Scullark on a 37-yard strike on third-and-16. With 6:50 left in the half, Maryville led 21-14.
With under 20 second left in the half, it looked as if Maryville would capitalize again. Pittenger stepped to the line to spike the ball, but one of his linemen was forced back into him. Pittenger fumbled as he tried to spike the ball, as Anthony Janezic returned the fumble 68 yards to the score. With 5 second remaining in the half, the Bishops knotted things at 21-all.
Maryville struck quick to begin the second half, though. Maryville covered 65 yards in only six plays, as Shuler followed Courson up the middle for a 48-yard touchdown run. With 12:45 left in the third quarter, Maryville led 28-21.
The Scots hit pay dirt again, this time with 1:34 remaining in the third. Brock followed Courson for a 9-yard score to cap a nine-play, 49-yard drive. Brock carried for 39 of the 49 yards on the score.
Three plays later, the Maryville defense stepped in. Devonte Belk picked off Midgett, returning the ball 46 yards for the pick six. The Scots led 42-21 with 38 second left in the third.
A fumble recovery by Rakeem Cooper set up N.C. Wesleyan's final score of the game. Midgett connected with Elgin Counts from 18 yards out, as the Bishops fell 42-28 on the evening.
Maryville will host Christopher Newport next Saturday at 1:30 p.m., for what could be the USA South Championship. CNU (5-3, 5-1) and Maryville each have one loss in conference play.
