Greensboro College over Maryville 26-12

Maryville, Tenn. — Greensboro College won at Maryville, 26-12, in a USA South game on Saturday. The Pride held the Scots to just 223 total yards and got defensive touchdowns from Jerry Bates (Richlands, NC/Richlands) and Mykel Searcy (Reidsville, NC/Rockingham County ) in the victory.

The contest was marred by poor field conditions due to rain. GC is now 4-4 and 2-3 in conference. Maryville dropped to 3-5, 2-3.

“Our game ball has to go to our defense,” said GC Head Coach Dr. Randy Hunt. “The conditions were tough for both offenses, but we made big plays and stifled their attack.”

GC freshman Antwan Thorpe (Oxford, NC/Webb) scored the first quarter’s only touchdown with 8:08 on the clock. Throrpe, who had 117 receiving yards on 10 catches, ran three yards for the TD. Beau Walker (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft)’s PAT made it 7-0.

Early in the second period, Jerry Bates intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for the score. Walker’s extra point put the score at 14-0 with 14:12 until halftime.

Maryville, however, then responded with the next three tallies. The first was a team safety with 8:09 left in the period. Wesley Idlette (8 catches, 155 yards) then caught a 54-yard scoring pass from Tom Conner. Andrew Noboa’s PAT cut the deficit to 14-9. Next, Noboa then converted a 41-yard field goal with 3:32 before the break.

With a 14-12 lead freshman quarterback Seth Adams (Burlington, NC/Willliams), however, led The Pride on a seven-play, 57-yard drive. He connected with Thorpe on a 29-yard pass play with 1:10 remaining in the period. Walker’s boot put GC ahead 20-12, a lead they maintained at halftime.

Making his second collegiate start, Adams was 14-23 for 136 yards. He had a touchdown pass and no interceptions. Senior runningback Matt Martin (Morehead City, NC/West Carteret) recorded his second straight 100-yard game. He had 118 yards on 22 carries.

There was just one TD in the second half, and that was recorded by the GC defense. In Scot territory Mykel Searcy picked up a Maryville fumble and returned it eight yards for the score with 7:02 remaining in the third quarter. The Scots blocked the extra point and the score stayed 26-12.

GC held MC’s Rommel Hightower to just 46 yards on his 11 carries. Conner had 191 passing yards but Greensboro had two interceptions (Cody McCray (Greensboro, NC /Ragsdale) netted The Pride’s other one).

Kyle Chewning had a game-high 20 tackles for Maryville. GC’s Allen Stallings (Manteo, NC/Manteo) led the visitors with 10 stops. Brian Richardson (Charlotte, NC/West Charlotte) had six tackles, three sacks and four tackles for losses. Fellow senior defensive lineman Brandon Drumgoole (Greensboro, NC/Ragsdale) had two tackles, a forced-fumble and a fumble recovery.

“We weren’t as efficient on offense today, but the weather had a lot to do with that,” Hunt said. “We look forward to our senior day next Saturday and to going for another win.”

The victory was the first in three tries for GC at Maryville. The Scots lead the all-time series, 3-2.

The Pride hosts Methodist at 7 p.m. at Jamieson Stadium. GC needs one win to match the season-best total of five victories set by the 2000 and 2001 clubs. The Pride ends the year at Shenandoah in two weeks.