McSweeny Leads Wesley to Win
FROSTBURG, Md. - No. 12 Wesley College scored 21 points in the second quarter en route to a 38-6 win over Frostburg State in the Atlantic Central Football Conference opener for both teams.
Sophomore quarterback Shane McSweeny, making just his second career start, carved up the Bobcat (1-3, 0-1 ACFC) secondary for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-17 passing. In all, Wesley (2-1, 1-0 ACFC) outgained Frostburg 519-to-167.
Wesley's first possession lasted 10 plays and covered 80 yards, resulting in an eight yard touchdown pass from McSweeny to tight end Jon Lanouette for a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
A penalty and a sack by Gabe Tranchetti stopped Frostburg's next possession and Wesley took over at their own 23 after a Nick Payne punt. On the first play of the second quarter, Mike Pennewell plunged over the goal line from two yards out and the Wolverines led 14-0 wiht 14:53 to go in the half.
After Terryl Monroe fumbled the kickoff, Wesley ran the ball six straight plays with a one-yard run by Aaron Jackson putting the Wolverines ahead 21-0 less than four minutes later.
Avery Willie had a 31-yard kick return for Frostburg State to set up what looked like a promising drive. The Bobcats had six chances from inside the Wesley four yardline due to a penalty on the Wolverines, but an incomplete pass on fourth and goal from the three ended the drive.
Wesley needed to go 97 yards in just 3:20, but on the first play McSweeny hit Larry Beavers for 44 yards to move the ball to the Wolverine 47. On the very next play, McSweeny hit Jason Schatz for 43 yards as Wesley moved to the Frostburg State 10 yardline. After a McSweeny run for a nine yard loss, the sophomore hit Lanouette for his second score of the half from the 17 as Wesley led 28-0 at the half.
The Wolverines received the opening kick of the third quarter and after a pair of incompletions and a penalty set up third and 15, it appearded Wesley would have to punt. But Lanouette hauled in an 18 yard catch from McSweeny to keep the drive alive. A 30-yard field goal by Collin Blugis eventually completed what evolved into a 15-play, 59-yard drive.
The next Bobcat possession ended with a Payne pinning Wesley at its own one after a 59-yard punt. McSweeny, however, mixed completions of 16 and 20 yards to Jackson in with six run plays before hooking up with Beavers on a 40-yard touchdown with 14:49 left in the game for Wesley's final score.
Trailing 38-0 with less than five minutes remaining, Frostburg State got on the scoreboard when Brian Brosnan hit Makiha Cooper on a 70-yard touchdown. Wesley's Eric Adams blocked the extra point to cap the scoring.
Lanouette and Beavers had four catches apiece. Beavers led the team with 111 yards, with Lanouette adding 65. Pennewell rushed 20 times for 89 yards.
Tranchetti and linebacker Jeremiah Santiago had eight tackles apiece to lead a Wesley defense that stifled Frostburg State all afternoon. The Bobcats entered the afternoon averaging 268 yards passing per game and were held over 100 yards below that average. The Wolverine defense also limited Frostburg State's offense to 60 yards fewer on the ground than in the Bobcats first three games.
Brian Brosnan was 8-of-13 passing in the game for 167 yards, 70 of which came on his touchdown pass to Cooper, who added a 14 yard catch to finish with 84 yards receiving. Anthony King rushed 17 times for 58 yards, but the Wolverines stymied the Bobcats other rushing threat, Anton Wade, holding him to a negative six yards on eight attempts.
George Feiser and Terryl Monroe had 11 tackles apiece in the losing effort.
The Wolverines will head to New Rochelle, New York on October 11 for a contest against Division I FCS Iona. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.
Notes: Beavers became just the sixth Wesley player with 2,000 career receiving yards and finished the game with 2,028 ... He also moved into sole possession of fifth place on the Wolverines' career receiving touchdown list with 25 and scored his 30th career touchdown in the game ... Lanouette's four catches moved him into sole possession of third place all-time at Wesley with 127 career receptions. He now needs just five to tie the school record of 132 by Duane Manson ... Chet Turner became the seventh Wesley player with double digit interceptions and is tied for seventh with 10 ... The Wolverines have not allowed more than 71 yards rushing in a game this season.
