September 22, 2007
N.C. Wesleyan Defeats Monarchs
Senior Pat Doleman scores the only Methodist touchdown on a pass from sophomore Erik Teague

FAYETTEVILLE, NC -  N.C. Wesleyan was picked to win the USA South Conference and they came out Saturday to prove to the Monarchs they deserved the top spot. The Bishops scored in the first minute of play and went on to win 50-10 over Methodist. Methodist falls to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play while N.C. Wesleyan improves to 2-2 on the year and 1-0 in the USA South.

Methodist sophomore quarterback Brandon Parks was intercepted on the first possession of the game and in N.C. Wesleyan's first offensive play, quarterback Cedric Townsend connected with Orlando Webb for a 57 yard touchdown to take the early lead. Methodist responded with their own drive down the field to move to the N.C. Wesleyan 17 yard line. A Bishops' penalty advanced the Monarchs to the seven, but the Monarchs were called for a false start and freshman Mario Miralles kicked a Methodist field goal to close the lead to 7-3 for N.C. Wesleyan.

The Monarchs forced N.C. Wesleyan to punt on their next possession and took over on their own ten yard line. Unable to get the first down, Methodist opted to punt, but a poor snap gave N.C. Wesleyan the safety. They took over on the Methodist 46 yard line and Teron Bush picked up a yard before Townsend found Bush for a 47 yard touchdown. Methodist tried another field goal, but it missed wide left ending the quarter with N.C. Wesleyan leading 16-3.

The Bishops rolled through the second quarter with three touchdowns capitalizing on another Methodist interception. The Bishops took a 40-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and opted to use their bench in the second half. Backup quarterback Josh Dunigan ran for 6-yards to get to the Methodist 19 yard line and Brian Vaughn hit a 35-yard field goal to finish the drive. The Monarchs moved inside the ten on the next possession but N.C. Wesleyan's Courtney Fuller picked off Parks for the interception. Dunigan found Charles Bailey for a 20-yard pass to the N.C. Wesleyan 35 and Bryan Haywood found a hole for a 65-yard touchdown with 3:46 left in the third quarter for the 50-3 lead. Nearing the end of the fourth quarter the Monarchs took over on their own 11-yard line. Freshman Corey McGuire picked up a couple of yards and sophomore Erik Teague found sophomore Chris Peoples for a 21-yard completion and the first down. Teague picked up 9 yards of his own and then hit senior Jonathan Mularski with two passes for 22 yards. Teague ran for eight and found junior Jared Boyles down field to reach the Bishops' 14 yard line. The first pass attempt went incomplete, but Teague found senior Patrick Doleman for a Methodist touchdown with just 33 seconds left on the clock. Miralles' extra point finished the scoring with N.C. Wesleyan earning the 50-10 win.

Methodist senior Mike Hill ran for 51 yards in the first half while freshman Corey McGuire picked up 39 yards in the second half. Parks went 17-for-29 while Teague finished 7-for-10 on the day. Mularski led all Methodist receivers with 109 yards. Sophomore Brian Leary and freshman Byron Peters led the Methodist defense with 10 tackles a piece.

Townsend threw for 238 yards on 15-for-21 passing in the first half. Dunigan and Bo Jordan took over in the second half to throw 11-for-19 with another 110 yards passing. Haywood ran for 128 yards with two touchdowns.

The Monarchs will be back at home on Saturday hosting Emory & Henry at 1 pm.

Box Score