Box Score Maryville College looked to have their comeback set up, trailing 28-23, with just more than 3 minutes left. However, Eddie Graham would grab the interception on the Bishops' 1-yard line, going 99 yards with the pick-six the seal the game for N.C. Wesleyan, 35-25.
The Scots fall in their USA South opener despite the performance from Ian Hubbs. The junior kick from Palm Coast, Fla. went three-for-three on field goal kicks, while being perfect on both PAT kicks.
Hubbs added field goals of 20, 21 and 36 yards, accounting for 11 of MC's 23 offensive points. He also averaged 58.4 yards per kickoff with a pair of touchbacks in five kicks.
Maryville outgained the Bishops, as the Scots amassed 441 yards of offense to just 295 for N.C. Wesleyan. However, the Scots couldn't punch it in the end zone, as the squad saw five drives stall inside the 20 – two inside the 5-yard line.
The Orange and Garnet saw Adam Diggs for 21-of-40 for 222 yards and an interception. Elijah Hairston had 15 carries for 81 yards, while Elijah Chenier added 76 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.
Chase Christmas had a touchdown, adding 37 yards on a trio of carries.
Michael Smith had 72 yards on seven catches, as Mac Seagle added 61 yards on a trio of catches.
For N.C. Wesleyan, it was Nate Gardner who went 14-of-20 for 172 yards and a pair of scores. The quarterback also had seven yards rushing and a touchdown across the ground.
Trey Lancaster caught six of Garnder's passes for 81 yards, as Brandon Leake (2 for 29 yards) and Manessah Missick (1 for 25 yards) added touchdown receptions.
Adrian Minondo had 18 carries for 73 yards, as Darius Byrd added 17 yards and a touchdown on seven touches.
Chris McKenzie had eight tackles for Maryville, as Jaylon Johnson had 11 tackles for N.C. Wesleyan.
The Bishops (1-3, 1-0 USA South) struck first on the opening drive of the game. The 11-play, 73-yard drive Deandre Gillis and Gardner lead the way. Gardner would connect with Leake from 18 yards out, as the Battling Bishops led 7-0 with 9:39 left in the first quarter.
Three drives later, Maryville (2-2, 0-1) would capitalize on a Bishop miscue, as Gillis fumbled on the N.C. Wesleyan 8-yard line. The Bishop defense stood strong, however, as they held Maryville on the 2-yard line. Hubbs would added a 20-yard field goal for a 7-3 score with 6:11 showing on the clock.
The Scots would force a three-and-out on the next drive, before adding their first touchdown of the day. The eight-play, 54-yard drive saw a mixture of Hairston, Christmas and Chenier, as Chenier would punch in the score from 2 yards out. Hubbs' kick was good, as the MC led 10-7 with 49 second left in the opening quarter.
N.C. Wesleyan would regain the lead, however, with 10:47 left in the half. The 11-play drive would see the Gardner-Missick connection cover 25 of the 75-yard drive for the touchdown. The Bishops would take advantage, 14-10.
Nine plays later, the Scots would score again. Christmas carried the ball 23 yards to pay dirt to complete the 70-yard drive, as Hubbs' kick made the score 17-14, Scots, with 6:38 in the second quarter.
The Battling Bishops would take a 21-17 lead to the locker room, however, as they would add another score on the next drive. Garnder connected with Lancaster for 49 yards to open the drive, as Gardner finished it with his feet from 3 yards out. The six-play, 64-yard drive would end with 3:50 left in the half.
It wouldn't be until the 6:21 mark in the third quarter before another score would be recorded. The Scots seven-play, 41-yard drive would stall at the 4-yard line despite at 37-yard reception from Seagle. Hubbs would add his second field goal of the day – a 21 yarder – for a 21-20 score.
The Bishops would add a touchdown on the next play, aided by a Maryville unsportsmanlike call. The nine-play, 60-yard drive would see Byrd carry the final 4 yards, as N.C. Wesleyan took a 28-20 lead with 1:38 left in the third quarter.
Again, a Maryville drive would stall inside the 20-yard line. The 11-play, 51-yard march would reach the N.C. Wesleyan 13-yard line, before a sack would force Hubbs' third field goal of the day. The 36-yard attempt was good, as MC trailed by only five, 28-23, with 12:04 left in the game.
Maryville would march late, putting together a nine-play, 78-yard drive aided by a trio of penalties from the Bishops to reach the 8-yard line. Diggs' pass was picked by Graham on the 1-yard line, as he returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. Breckenridge would rush for a 16-yard loss late in the fourth quarter for a safety, as Maryville fell, 35-25.
The Scots will return home on Saturday, Sept. 30, as they host Greensboro College. The USA South matchup is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. on Honaker Field.
