Turnovers Cost No. 7 Wesley at UMHB
BELTON, Texas -The No. 7 Wesley College football team lost four fumbles and committed six turnovers as the Wolverines were upended 46-14 by No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor in the NCAA Division III Championships Second Round.
Eric Henri scooped up two of those four Wesley (9-2) fumbles and returned them for scores of 82 and 44 yards.
One of the few highlights for Wesley came with the game out of reach when Larry Beavers(Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) set a school record with a 98-yard kick return touchdown that also extended his Division III records to 10 kick return touchdowns and 13 total return touchdowns. He also broke his own Division III record with his fifth kick return touchdown of the season.
Wesley fumbled on the opening offensive play of the game and the Cru' (11-1) took over at the Wolverine 30. Josh Saenz connected with Ervin Johnson for a 14-yard score to cap a five-play possession and put UMHB ahead 7-0.
After a Wesley punt, the Cru' marched down to the one yardline, but the Wolverine defense did not break, holding UMHB on three straight plays as the Cru' settled for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
The Wolverines finally got some offense going, gaining at least seven yards on each of the first five plays on their next drive, including a 28-yard scamper by Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick). The Wolverines fumbled again, however, at the UMHB 18 and Henri scooped the ball up and ran it back for an 82-yard score and a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, after an Alan Munoz 45-yard field goal extended the lead, Brian Scott capped a 10-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown run that sent Wesley into the locker room trailing 27-0 after allowing just 19 first half points all season.
Wesley recovered an onside kick at the start of the second half and marched 42 yards on five plays for the Wolverines' first score of the afternoon to cut it to 27-7. Blair Newman (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney), who also caught a 23-yard pass on the drive, was on the receiving end of a 15-yard touchdown pass from Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem).
Saenz returned one of Wesley's turnovers later in the period. The quarterback broke free for a 39-yard run, but fumbled at the end and Reggie Millner (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) was there to pick up the ball at the Wesley six.
An interception by Brett Parker later in the quarter set up a Saenz's second touchdown pass of the afternoon, 19 yards to Marcos Garcia, but the extra point was blocked for a 33-7 deficit through the end of the third quarter.
Munoz booted field goals of 49 and 45 yards in the first 5:40 of the fourth quarter to build the lead to 39-7. The Cru' got their final score in familiar fashion, when Henri scooped up a fumble and ran it back for a score with 7:03 to go in the game.
The ensuing kickoff chased Beavers to the two-yardline, but the senior found some blockers and surged 98 yards for the game's final score.
Aaron Benson (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) and Sean Matthews (Pennsauken, N.J./Roman Catholic {Pa.}) had 14 tackles apiece for Wesley, while Benson added a pair for loss. Jeremiah Santiago (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) added 10 stops for the Wolverines.
Jackson finished with eight rushes for 47 yards and caught five passes for 18 yards. McSweeny completed 17-of-28 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice.
A vicious UMHB pass rush also sacked the sophomore sophomore and senior Jason Schatz (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) seven times, including 3.5 by Mark Manning and 2.5 by Mark Balderas.
Saenz rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries and completed 7-of-12 passes for 116 yards and two scores. Bryson Tucker carried 22 times for 90 yards.
In addition to his two scores, Henri made half a tackle for loss and tied Ryan Metcalf and Jesse Salinas with a team-high nine tackles.
The loss ends Wesley's season and snaps its nine-game win streak.
NOTES: Jon Lanouette caught two passes to finish his career with a school record 149 receptions and is sixth with 2,176 yards and tied for sixth with 24 touchdowns...Beavers finished his career second with 2,366 receiving yards and tied for first with 28 receiving touchdowns. His kick return touchdown made him just the third Wolverine all-time with 40 career touchdowns...Wesley has won nine games in its current four year run in the NCAA Championships. Over that time, the Wolverines are 45-6 overall.
