MARS HILL, N.C. – Despite being plagued by a slow start and multiple lightning delays, the Anderson University (3-1, 1-1 SAC) football team fell shorts of a second-half comeback as they dropped their first contest of the season to Mars Hill (2-1, 2-0 SAC) by a close score of 21-14 on the road on Saturday, September 20.
The Trojans were able to gain more yards through the air than the Lions, with senior Tyler Wesley (St. Cloud, Fla.) passing for 245 yards on the afternoon. His favorite target on the afternoon was sophomore Zay Williams (Moultrie, Ga.) who hauled in six catches for 125 yards, the second most all-time in a game for the Trojans. Redshirt-sophomore Bryson James (Cross Hill, S.C.) and graduate Jonathan Bowden (Palm Bay, Fla.) recorded the two touchdowns on the afternoon, with James earning his on the ground and Bowden through the air.
Defensively, redshirt-sophomores Carter Wit (Johns Creek, Ga.) and Josiah Jeffery (Greenwood, S.C.) led the team with 11 total tackles each, the fourth-most in program history with Wit tying his personal best and Jeffrey posting a tie for his second-best effort. Redshirt-senior Jerrod Woods (Leesburg, Ga.) blew up the backfield as he recorded three TFLs for a total loss of eight yards. Anderson turned in eight total TFLs and two sacks in the contest.
The Lions started the contest with possession and were able to travel down the field and put the first points up on the board with a nearly seven-minute-long drive. The Trojans looked to match that effort as they pushed into Lion territory, but their first drive fell short on a turnover. The Anderson defense was able to lock in and keep the Lions off the board in the rest of the first quarter of action, but the Trojan offense was unable to find the end zone themselves. Mars Hill was able to connect on a long passing touchdown right before the halftime break that gave them the 14-0 lead at the break.
Halftime was extended by nearly two hours due to storms in the area, and the field was quickly cleared just a few moments into the third quarter due to lightning in the area as well, giving both squads ample time to linger on their first half performances. Anderson was able to find the end zone late in the third quarter after gaining over 60 yards on the first play of the drive on a wide receiver screen pass to redshirt-senior Monz Campbell (Lake Waccamaw, N.C.) with Bowden putting the exclamation on the drive just four plays later to pull the Trojans to just a seven-point deficit.
The two teams traded touchdowns to open the fourth quarter of action, with the Trojans capitalizing on a pair of free first downs by penalty with James punching it in from just a yard out to pull the Trojans back to within a score. Huge defensive plays by Woods, redshirt-sophomore Hezekiah Kinard (Clinton, S.C.) and redshirt-freshman Scotty Miley (Catawba, N.C.) shut down the Lions offense and gave the Trojans the ball back with over two minutes left in the contest. However, that opportunity was stopped short, but the Trojans defense forced another quick three-and-out to give them a sliver of a chance with 25 seconds left. A pair of underneath passes set the Trojans up for a hail mary heave that nearly found the Trojans receivers in the end zone, but dropped to the ground, giving Mars Hill the 21-14 win.
The Trojans continue their two-game road trip as they head to Emory, Va. next weekend for a match-up with the Wasps of Emory & Henry. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.
