Wesley Dismantles Builders
Written and posted by Wesley College Sports Information
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Wesley College defense limited Apprentice to just 77 total yards in a 55-0 victory for the seventh ranked Wolverines.
The Builders ground game was snuffed completely as Apprentice tallied a negative 12 yards rushing and averaged just 1.4 yards per play offensively during the contest. Wesley's defense was so dominant in the contest that the Builders never crossed midfield until there was approximately 10 minutes left in the game and their farthest advance was the Wolverine 31 in the game's final minute.
Jeff Morgan (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) continued his strong play with nine tackles, including three for loss and a sack.
Wesley led just 7-0 midway through the second quarter, but scored 20 points in less than three minutes to break the game open.
The Wolverines had scored on their opening possession after the Builders were pinned deep and a short punt gave Wesley the ball at the Apprentice 42. Wesley benefitted from a pair of penalties by the Builders and Askia Jahad (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) gained the remaining 26 yards, including a two-yard plunge for a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest.
The teams traded punts before heavy winds in Newport News pushed a Wesley field goal try wide, keeping the Wolverines' lead at just 7-0 after the first period.
In the second quarter, Paul Gilstrop (Lindenwold, N.J./Paul VI) sacked Paul Morgan and Devin Hardy (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) brought him down for an eight yard loss on consecutive plays, forcing a punt. A bad snap, however, caused Blake Penix to rush for a 12 yard loss and the Wolverines' took over at the Apprentice eight yardline. A Builder penalty shaved half the distance from there and Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) hit Steven Koudossou (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) for a four yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead with 8:17 to go in the half.
On the first play of the ensuing Apprentice drive, Dakevis Howard (Wilmington, Del./Concord) picked Morgan off and returned it 51 yards for a score and a 20-0 advantage.
The Wesley defense quickly forced a three and out and Sean Hopkins (Georgetown, Del./Sussex Central) returned Penix's punt 37 yards to the Builder 24. On the very first play, Jahad went 24 yards to paydirt and the Wolverines led 27-0 with 6:22 left in the second period.
On the Builders' first drive of the third quarter, Dwayne Glass (Wilingboro, N.J./Holy Cross) forced Morgan to fumble and Hardy fell on the ball at the Apprentice 21. Devar Robinson (Lindenwold, N.J./Lindenwold) rushed 16 yards to the set up a first and goal and on second down, McSweeny connected with Sean McAndrew (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) on a five yard touchdown and a 34-0 lead with 7:53 to play in the period.
Near the end of the third quarter, Jeremiah Howe (Cambridge, Md./Cambridge South) blocked a punt and Tyler Weedon (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) fell on the ball in the end zone as Wesley carried a 40-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Another short punt to open the fourth quarter gave Wesley the ball at the Apprentice 29. Eugene Byrd (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast Catholic) needed three carries to pick up the first 20 yards before Billy Slocum (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) capped the drive with his first career touchdown with 11:37 to play. Dan Tryon (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) rushed in for the two-point conversion and Wesley led 48-0.
The next Builder possession resulted in a Morgan Taylor (Landover, Md./Riverdale Baptist) interception that gave Wesley the ball at midfield. Byrd, Weedon and Joe Bonato (Petersburg, N.J./Ocean City) all picked up rushing yardage on the series, including a nine yard score by Bonato for the game's final score with 4:30 left in the contest.
Wesley had 16 tackles for loss by 12 different players in the game, including three by Jeff Morgan and three more by Chris Mayes (Waldorf, Md./Westlake), including a sack. Jeremy Keith (Centreville, Md./Queen Anne's County) had 1.5 sacks in the game. The defense sacked Paul Morgan and Jonathan Whelan six times on 26 dropbacks.
Jahad, one of six different Wesley players to score in the game, led the team with 51 yards rushing on just 10 carries. Byrd added 48 yards on seven rushes.
McSweeny went 8-of-17 for 83 yards and two scores and an interception and also rushed for 32 yards. He and backup Joe Callahan (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit) completed passes to six different receivers in the game. Koudossou, Howe and Jared Morris (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) each caught two passes, while Koudossou's 45 yards led the team.
Charles Broadus was the only Builder with more than one yard rushing in the game, with 20 yards on 17 attempts. Paul Morgan was just 3-of-11 for 37 yards and a pick, while Whelan was 5-of-9 for 52 yards and an interception. Donta Stewart had six of the team's eight receptions, covering 71 yards.
Aaron Finley led the Builders with eight tackles, including 1.5 for loss and an interception. Darin Spencer added a sack and a forced fumble.
It was Wesley's third shutout of 2011 and the second time Wesley held an opponent to both negative rushing yardage and under 100 total yards.
Wesley wraps up the regular season on November 12 in a key Pool B battle against Huntingdon (Ala.) at Scott D. Miller Stadium.
