ANDERSON, S.C. – Coming down to the final minute of action between the two squads, the Anderson University (5-5, 3-5 SAC) football pushed the conference leading Newberry College (8-1, 7-1 SAC) Wolves to the brink of an upset as the Wolves escaped with a 27-24 win over the Trojans on Saturday, November 1.
This is the second straight season that the Trojans have pushed one of the top teams of the conference into a late win as they rounded out the 2024 season, forcing then No. 16 Lenoir-Rhyne to a last-minute field goal to stave off the Trojans in that contest.
Redshirt-sophomore Wilson Edwards (St. Johns, Fla.) made his first start under center for the Trojans and led the way for the Black and Gold with 196 yards through the air and pair of touchdown tosses. Redshirt-senior JB Seay Jr. (Polk County, Fla.) was brilliant on the ground for the Trojans as well, as he tallied 145 yards on 16 touches, never losing yardage on any of his rush attempts on the afternoon. Sophomore Zay Williams (Moultrie, Ga.) and graduate Jonathan Bowden (Palm Bay, Fla.) each hauled in a touchdown grab.
Redshirt-sophomore Carter With (John's Creek, Ga.) led the squad with 13 tackles on the day, tied for the second most in a game by a Trojan. Redshirt-sophomores Josiah Jeffery (Greenwood, S.C.) and Darrion Perry (Beaufort, S.C.) tallied 11 and five tackles, respectively. Jeffery recorded the lone sack of the afternoon for the Trojans while Perry led the Black and Gold with 1.5 TFLs and a pair of pass breakups as well.
Neither team was able to find pay-dirt on their opening drive of the contest, as the Trojans were able to stymie the league's best passing offense and cut their first two drives short. Defense would score the first touchdown of the ball game, as a throw away interception by Edwards let Newberry run it back for the first score and gave the Wolves the 7-0 lead. However, just four plays later the Trojans would respond themselves as Seay Jr. took the ball 51-yards into the end zone to level the score at seven a piece.
The Trojans were able to score just three plays into their next drive to take their first lead of the contest as Williams was able to juke defenders over the last 20 yards of the field to give Anderson the 14-7 lead, and advantage they would carry into the middle of the second quarter where Newberry was able to respond with a touchdown of their own, making the score 14-14, where it would stand at the halftime break.
Anderson got the ball to start the second half, but a slew of penalties on their opening drive would bring it to a halt. Only three drives took place in the third quarter, with none of them proving fruitful. Newberry was able to take their first drive of the fourth quarter down the field and put points on the board, retaking the 21-14 lead.
That lead didn't last long though as the Trojans were able to level the score once again just four plays later and Edwards found Bowden all alone in the middle of the field for a 41-yard toss and score. The two teams then traded scoreless drives before the Wolves were able to convert on a 22-yard field goal with just 23 seconds left on the clock. Anderson was able to get in range of a hail-mary heave, but a sack on the final play of the contest brought their upset bid to a close with Newberry taking the 24-21 win.
The Trojans wrap up their second season of action on the road next week as they travel to Salisbury, N.C. to take on the Catawba Indians. That contest is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. kick-off.
