WILSON, N.C. – Redshirt-junior Jalon Warthen-Carr (Macon, Ga.) scored the first kick return touchdown in program history in the third quarter of action as he took the ball 96-yards to the house, but the Anderson University (2-2, 0-2 SAC) football team fell short of picking up their first conference win as they fell 27-13 to Barton (2-2, 1-1 SAC) on Saturday, September 28.

Redshirt-freshman Riley Willis (Apopka, Fla.) made his first start under center for the Black and Gold, recording the only other score for the Trojans as he trotted in from three-yards out as time expired in the fourth quarter. Willis was 12-for-26 for 80 yards in the contest, adding 48 yards on the ground. Warthen-Carr was also the leading receiver for the Trojans on the day hauling in five catches for 35 yards. Redshirt-junior Monz Campbell (Lake Waccamaw, N.C.) led the Trojans on the ground, carrying 21 times for 78 yards.

Redshirt-junior Jerrod Woods (Leesburg, Ga.) and redshirt-freshman Carter Wit (Johns Creek, Ga.) led the defensive effort for the Black and Gold, each recording 10 tackles on the day while Woods recorded a pair of TFLs. Redshirt-freshman Josiah Jeffery (Greenwood, S.C.) was able to deflect a pass at the line that landed in the hands of redshirt-freshman Josh Peacock (Grovetown, Ga.) who hauled in his first collegiate interception. Junior Triston Lyon (Gainesville, Ga.) averaged 43.6 yards over his five punts, including a long of 56.

The first half of action was competitive for both sides as neither team was able to post points on the board in the first 15 minutes of action, though the momentum was slightly on the Trojans side in the late goings of the quarter, as Peacock's interception brought a quick close to Barton's best field position of the half so far. Both teams' offenses started to find their grooves in the second quarter as the Trojans were able to put together a 61-yard drive that was stalled at the Barton 31 yard line on a failed fourth-down conversion. Barton capitalized on that opportunity and took just one play to put the first points on the board as they carried the 7-0 advantage into the halftime break.

After the first two drives of the second half ended with no points, the next three of them all featured touchdowns as the Bulldogs were able to sandwich Warthen-Carr's 96-yard return to extend their advantage out to 20-7. The fourth quarter saw Anderson attempting to convert on fourth down throughout the final 15 minutes of action, trying to close the gap, but the Bulldogs were able to score on their final drive of the contest before Willis led a two-minute drill down the field, taking it in himself as zero's appeared on the scoreboard, with Barton taking the 27-13 win.

Anderson looks to regroup and rebound next week for their first Homecoming game as they welcome Catawba to Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff.