Box Score The Maryville College football team could not hold on to a 13-0 halftime advantage falling to Emory & Henry College 14-13 on MC's Honaker Field on Saturday. Four turnovers set the tone for a late Wasp surge.
The Scots used a 12-play, 53 yard drive to get on the scoreboard. At the 9:07 mark in the first quarter sophomore Wesley Bloeme split the uprights from 42 yards away to give MC a 3-0 advantage.
On the Wasps next possession, they marched down the field 59-yards on 11 plays. On a second down and goal on the Scots six yard line, MC's Eric Benison intercepted the ball in the end zone to thwart any E&H scoring.
At the beginning of the second quarter Maryville took advantage of a short field and marched down 51 yards on eight plays for their only touchdown of the day. Trenton Shuler found the end zone from a yard out. Bloeme's kick made the score 10-0 with 10 minutes left before the half.
As Maryville's offense sputtered through the second quarter, Emory & Henry continued to eat up yardage and time. The Scots defense rose to the occasion on back-to-back drives stopping 72-yard and 32-yard drives with fourth down stops.
As the half drew closer, a muffed punt but the Wasp's Zach Nedzbala and recovery by MC's Terrell Warren gave the Scots the ball on the E&H 30 yard line with :54 second before intermission. A pair of incompletions gave Wesley Bloeme an opportunity and MC's placekicker was good from 32 yards out to close the first half with Maryville leading 13-0.
The Scots opened the second half with a sustained drive eating up almost five minutes and 71 yards. The Wasp defense stopped MC on a 4th and 1 on the 25 to stall another scoring opportunity.
Maryville defense held firm on the next possession and their offense had another scoring opportunity on their next drive. On the eighth play of a 52 yard drive, Maryville's Evan Pittenger rolled out to his left and lost control of the ball. Free safety Roth Healey scooped up the miscue and ran 72 yards for the Wasps' first score. Following the conversion Maryville would lead 13-7 going into the final quarter.
With 10:25 left in the game, Pittenger was picked off giving E&H their best starting field possession of the day. They promptly marched 30 yards on five play scoring when Nick Bowen called his own number from 3-yards out. Austin Breed's PAT was the game winner as Maryville's last three possessions combined for 16 total yards.
"Our defense bent, but did not break until we gave them a short field to defend," stated MC Head Coach Mike Rader. "E&H took advantage when the game momentum went their way and we settled for field goal and got pass happy when we were trying to make things happen."
Emory & Henry (2-0) was paced on offense by Kasey Jones who rushed for 76 yards on a dozen carries. Isaiah Rodgers added 53 yards on 11 touches. Kevin Saxton was 21-for-36 in the air for 169 yards. His favorite target was Josh Smith who hauled in seven catches for 58 yards and Lucas Kirby who tallied six catches for 58 yards. Roth Healey and Peregoy combined for 14 total tackles.
Maryville (1-1) managed only 334 yard of total offense with Desjion Whitlock taking 12 carries 52 yards. Quarterback Evan Pittenger was 17-for-33 for 197 yards, but was intercepted on three occasions. Maurice Walker hauled down five passes for 49 yards while tight end Jared Miller had 56 yards on four quick hit passes. The Scots' defense was led by Micah Smith (7 total tackles), Kent Minor (6.5 total tackles), Jayvon McCullough (6.5 total tackles), and Gabe Johnson (six tackles).
The Scots will begin their defense of their USA South title next week when they travel to Danville, Virginia next Saturday to challenge the Cougars of Averett University.
