Newberry College’s Homecoming: A Day of Celebration and Disappointment
Newberry, SC — It was a day filled with excitement and nostalgia as Newberry College welcomed back alumni for their annual homecoming celebration on Saturday, November 2nd. The atmosphere at Setzler Field buzzed with energy as past grads reunited to cheer on the Wolves, but unfortunately, the team’s performance on the field left much to be desired.
The Wolves, sporting a record of 3-5 and 3-3 in the South Atlantic Conference, faced off against the Limestone Saints, who were riding high with a record of 6-3 and 5-2. Fans arrived hopeful after an inspiring victory against Barton the previous week that had stirred dreams of a potential playoff position. But as the game unfolded, those dreams began to fade.
Fast Start, Followed by a Fall
Right from the kickoff, the Wolves had a rocky start. Their opening drive ended in a quick three-and-out, but the defense stepped up, showcasing its strength. KeSean Glover made a crucial interception on the Wolves’ 34-yard line, setting the stage for the offense. Shortly after, Dwayne Wright dashed into the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown run, putting Newberry ahead 7-0.
However, the joy was short-lived as Limestone responded swiftly. The Saints answered with an impressive drive capped off by a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dustin Noller to DJ Black, tying the game at 7-7.
As the second quarter began, things took a turn for the worse for the Wolves. They allowed Limestone to put together two significant plays, which led to an explosive 14 points. Adding to the woes, starting quarterback Reed Charpia suffered an injury and had to leave the game. The Wolves ended the half trailing 21-7 after a relentless Saints offense outmaneuvered their defense, with Doug Washington sneaking in for a touchdown from two yards out.
A Franchise Under Pressure
With Charpia sidelined, backup Coleman Gray stepped in, but his time was short-lived as he struggled to find his footing, ending with zero passing yards and two interceptions before exiting. As halftime approached, both teams engaged in a heated exchange as frustrations boiled over, reminiscent of last season when things got physical. Fortunately, it didn’t escalate to that level this time.
The second half started poorly for the Wolves, as Limestone quickly found the end zone again. Noller threw another long pass to Black, this time a whopping 55-yard play, pushing the lead to 28-7. With Gray out, Ja’Corey Martin, who hadn’t played quarterback since high school, stepped in. He gave it his all, but the offense struggled to find its rhythm.
Late Surge, But It’s Not Enough
By the time the third quarter rolled around, the Saints struck again with Noller connecting with Mikey Jones for a touchdown, making it 35-7. While Martin rushed for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, bringing his total to an impressive 148 all-purpose yards, it was too little too late to alter the outcome.
Wright also contributed to the scoring with 50 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own, but the day belonged to the Saints, who racked up 290 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Wolves’ defense. Notably, Black emerged as a standout for Limestone, finishing the day with 142 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.
A Tough Lesson and Looking Ahead
After the game, Coach Todd Knight didn’t hold back about the challenges they faced. “The quarterback position has been sketchy for us this season. You’ve got the starting quarterback on the sidelines in shorts, the backup on crutches, and a true freshman out there trying to find his way,” he said. He praised Martin for stepping up but acknowledged the struggles with the defense, especially giving up deep passes.
Despite the setback, Knight emphasized the importance of fighting through the remainder of the season. “We have to play for each other instead of tearing each other apart,” he said, instilling a sense of determination in his team.
Looking to turn things around, the Wolves will travel to Wingate this Saturday, November 9th, before returning home on November 16th for their regular-season finale and Senior Day against Emory & Henry. With the spirit of homecoming still fresh in their hearts, the team hopes to recapture the joy of victory.
