Hawks Fall In Home Heartbreaker To N.C. Wesleyan

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Returning to Samford Stadium following their road victory over Greensboro a week ago, Hawks Football dropped their first USA South contest in dramatic fashion, falling 21-20 to the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan University. 

NC Wesleyan, receiving the opening kickoff, flew out of the gates, capping off a 5 play, 78-yard opening drive with a 33-yard touchdown rush to grab an early 7-0 lead. Huntingdon's offense answered quickly however, as quarterback Jake White led the Hawks on a 6 play, 82-yard where the majority of the yards came from White's 54-yard touchdown strike to Tim McReynolds, evening things at 7 leading into the second quarter. 

As the second quarter got underway, the Battling Bishops put an end to the Hawks 6 play, 39-yard drive with an interception in the endzone, bringing the ball back out to their own 23-yard line. Capturing the momentum, NC Wesleyan opened up a 10 play, 56-yard drive, scoring on a 39-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead, 14-7, with around six minutes remaining until halftime. Each side saw opportunities offensively as the first half came to a close, but couldn't get anything going, leaving the Huntingdon deficit at 14-7 entering the halftime break. 

Coming out for the second half, the Battling Bishops controlled all aspects of the game, forcing a Hawks turnover-on-downs before embarking on a 13 play, 79 yard scoring drive to extend their lead to 21-7 with four minutes remaining in the quarter. Battling back however, the Hawks responded with a 17-yard touchdown rush courtesy of De'Roderick Hepburn to open the fourth period, bringing the score to 21-14 coming down the stretch. In the final quarter, Huntingdon's defense answered the call, forcing two punts and stuffing a fake punt attempt for NC Wesleyan to put the offense in a position to cut into the lead, which they did just inside the 2 minute mark following a 6-yard touchdown connection between Jake White and Sam Bloodworth, bringing the score to 21-20. Needing just the PAT to tie it up, the kick sailed just wide right, leaving the deficit at 1 with 1:54 to go. After a failed onside kick attempt, Huntingdon's defense forced a turnover on downs with 8 seconds remaining, leaving time for one more play, but a sack on the Hawks lone opportunity brought the game to a close, handing Huntingdon their first USA South loss of the season and their first to NC Wesleyan since joining the conference. 

The Hawks look to bounce back on the road next Saturday, October 25th, as they face off with the LaGrange Panthers. Gametime is set for 12:00 PM CT.