ROME, Ga. – Trailing by seven points just 24 seconds into the second quarter, the Anderson University (1-0) football team would rattle off 34 unanswered points to take down the Hawks of Shorter University (0-1) in their season opener by a score of 34-7. In just the second year of the program, the Trojans were able to keep their streak of winning their opening contest intact.
The Trojans were able to best the Hawks in nearly every statistical category, outside of time of possession and third-down conversions. Senior Tyler Wesley (St. Cloud, Fla.) led the team on the ground and through the air as he accounted for four scores on the day, two each way. He completed 9-of-14 passes for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns while amassing 81 yards on the ground on his way to a pair of scores with his feet as well. Redshirt-sophomore Bryson James (Cross Hill, S.C.) saw the most touches out of the backfield for the Black and Gold as he was able to take 14 carries for 65 total yards.
Freshman Cameran Loyd (Atlanta, Ga.) and senior Wesley Beckett (Baltimore, Md.) each hauled in a touchdown on the afternoon while redshirt-sophomore Zaidon Gunn (Grovetown, Ga.) added on the ground to wrap up the scoring for the Trojans.
The Anderson defense was rock solid throughout the contest, racking up seven sacks and nine TFLs. Redshirt-senior Jerrod Woods (Leesburg, Ga.) and redshirt-sophomore Josiah Jeffrey (Greenwood, S.C.) each recorded five tackles on the afternoon to lead the team, while Woods led the squad with a pair of TFLs. Showing their depth, 23 different Trojans recorded a tackle in the contest. Graduate Roc Clemson (McRae, Ga.) hauled in the game's lone interception.
After a great return on the opening kick-off, the Trojans were unable to capitalize on quality field position, going three and out in their first drive. Shorter responded with their longest drive of the day, whittling 12:24 off the game clock before punching in their lone score of the game. Unsuccessful drives plagued the two teams with each of their next two possessions, but it was the Trojans that carried the momentum into the halftime break as Tyler Wesley was able to sneak up the middle of the defense from six yards out to tie up the contest at the midpoint.
Just three plays into the second half the Trojans would find themselves with possession in Shorter territory after Roc Clemons elevated along the sidelines for the games only interception. The Trojans were able to take advantage of the field position and after a long scamper by Wesley, just the second play of the drive saw him find Wesley Beckett for a three-yard pass to extend Anderson's lead out to 14-7 with 13:18 to play in the third. The Trojans again were able to force a three-and-out, thanks to an 11-yard sack by Jerrod Woods that forced the Hawks to punt.
The Black and Gold would methodically work their way down the field before Wesley took in his second rushing touchdown of the contest, giving the Trojans the 20-7 lead. Anderson took over after another three-and-out, this time with the Trojans scoring through the Air as Tyler Wesley found Cameran Loyd on a crossing route through the endzone to put the visitors up 27-7.
With the Anderson defense commanding the field the rest of the contest, Zaidon Gunn would add to the Trojans point total halfway through the fourth quarter from nine yards out to make it a 34-7 ballgame. The defense was able to force an incompletion on a fourth-down conversion attempt in the waning minutes that allowed the Trojans to run down the rest of the clock and secure their opening game win, 34-7.
Anderson returns to the friendly confines of Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium next weekend as they welcome the Flying Fleet of Erskine College to The Bank for their home opener. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.
