Newberry College Football Triumphs on the Road Against Catawba
Salisbury, N.C. – Newberry College’s football team had a thrilling triumph this past Saturday, coming back from behind to snag a 27-21 victory against Catawba College. With this win, the Wolves improved their season record to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), while Catawba falls to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the SAC.
The Game Unfolds
It was a game where the excitement didn’t unfold right away. The first half saw both teams struggling to get their offenses rolling. After both squads failed to score in the first quarter, it was Quez Spells who finally broke the scoreless spell with a 1-yard touchdown run just under two minutes left in the second quarter. That gave Newberry a slim 6-0 lead as they headed into halftime.
When the second half kicked off, Newberry’s defense flexed its muscles, managing to stop Catawba’s first offensive drive. This gave the Wolves an opportunity, and they didn’t hesitate to capitalize. They embarked on a swift 45-yard drive that ended with Dwayne Wright diving into the end zone on an 8-yard touchdown run, pushing their lead to 13-0.
Catawba Fights Back
The home team wasn’t about to give up that easily. Late in the third quarter, LJ Turner broke free on a sensational 75-yard touchdown run, bringing Catawba back into the game and narrowing the score to 13-7. And just when Newberry thought they could keep the momentum, Catawba took the lead for the first time in the game at the start of the fourth quarter. One of their defensive players, Juice Martin, turned the tide with an incredible 89-yard pick-six.
But Catawba didn’t stop there. Martin made another big play by intercepting Reed Charpia on Newberry’s next possession and returned it for 28 yards. The Indians took control of the ball on Newberry’s 7-yard line and quickly followed that up with another touchdown from Turner, who scored from the 3-yard line. Suddenly, the score stood at 21-13, with Catawba firmly in the driver’s seat and 13:12 left on the clock.
Newberry’s Unyielding Spirit
With the momentum shifting, Catawba attempted to extend their lead but failed to capitalize, opting to punt after a four-minute drive. This breath of fresh air for Newberry set the stage for another scoring opportunity. The Wolves seized the moment, with Spells finishing the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run for his second score of the game, taking Newberry into the lead at 27-21 with only 50 seconds remaining.
A Secured Victory
Wanting to ensure victory, Jalen Stradford intercepted a pass, effectively sealing Newberry’s win. Charpia ended the game with a solid performance, completing 18 out of 28 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Wright displayed an impressive rushing prowess, racking up 142 yards on 23 carries, while Spells added 62 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns of his own.
Looking Ahead
After this hard-fought road win, the atmosphere in the Newberry camp is buoyant. Head Coach Todd Knight expressed relief and pride in his team’s efforts, especially given Catawba’s offensive strength, noting, “We will take a road win in this league anytime.”
Newberry College will be back at home on Saturday, October 26 to face off against Barton, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Setzler Field. Fans are excited to see if the Wolves can carry this momentum into their next matchup!
