Greensboro College Football Battles, Drops Heartbreaker to Bishops
Late Field Goal Sinks Pride
GREENSBORO, NC– N.C Wesleyan kicker Braxtyn Green connected on a 31-yard field goal with 3:33 to play and the Greensboro Pride offense turned the ball over in the final minute, suffering a heartbreaking 23-21 defeat at the hands of the Battling BIshops.
N.C. Wesleyan got on the board first, as QB Chaz Hirschman (11-18, 75 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) found Christian Drumgoole in the end-zone for the game’s first score, although Green’s extra point would be blocked. The Greensboro offense struggled to move the ball throughout the first quarter, ending the first 15 minutes with just 21 total yards of offense.
In the second quarter, Pride QB Josh Sims 16-25, 154 YDS, 1 TD) directed an impressive 12-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a short touchdown pass to TE Wes Kidd. The Greensboro defense held firm for the remainder of the half, and the Pride carried a 7-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, Battling Bishops’ star running back Anthony Byrd found the end zone twice, as part of a 136 yard performance that saw him cross the 1,000 yard mark in his freshman campaign. First, it was a 25-yard scamper off the left side that gave the Bishops a 13-7 advantage. Then, after Greensboro’s own emerging star back Tareek Smith rushed for a short touchdown, Byrd again found paydirt with a 5-yard score, giving N.C. Wesleyan a 20-14 lead with 53 seconds left in the quarter.
Moments later on the ensuing kickoff, Ja’Shawn Harris used several key blocks and broken tackles to race down the sideline and back across the middle of the field for a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown, the second of his career. The momentum jolt gave the Pride a 21-20 lead heading into the final quarter.
Neither team scored on their opening possession of the fourth quarter, but on their second try, the Battling Bishops began to move the football. Now led by QB Javier Rice (5-10, 92 YDS), the Bishops moved inside field goal range with the clock ticking down. Green, who had both a field goal and extra point attempt blocked earlier in the game, nonetheless trotted out to attempt the 31-yard kick. The football easily split the uprights, giving the Battling Bishops a 23-21 lead in the see-saw affair.
Sims calmly moved Greensboro down the field, including a key fourth down conversion near midfield to keep the drive alive. With under a minute to play, Tareek Smith (who set a career high with 140 rushing yards) barreled ahead for not only a first down, but also enough to get Greensboro into field goal range. However, as he was brought down, the football escaped his grasp and the officials signaled the fumble was recovered by the Bishops, who ran out the remaining clock. It was a heartbreaking finish to a game that was eerily similar to last year’s match up between the two teams, in which a late Greensboro fumble resulted in a N.C. Wesleyan win.
The Pride (1-7, 1-5) conclude their home schedule next week against Maryville at noon before wrapping up their 2024 season on the road at Huntingdon the following week.
NOTES:
Ja’Shawn Harris’ kickoff return was the second of his career, tying Jason Layman (1997-2001) for most all-time in program history
In addition to a career-best 140 rushing yards, Tareek Smith has now reached the century mark twice in the last three games
With eight tackles today, Max Steele now sits just 11 behind Allen Stallings (2007-11) for most in Greensboro History