Pappillion Runs For Three TDs in Methodist's Win at Guilford
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman John Pappillion ran for three touchdowns in visiting Methodist University's 34-21 football win at Guilford College Saturday night.
The Monarchs (1-1) converted two of the Quakers' (0-2) three turnovers into touchdowns and returned a blocked punt for a score in their fourth straight victory over Guilford.
After a scoreless first quarter, Pappillion scored on runs of three and seven yards in the second quarter to open a 21-7 Monarchs' lead at halftime. On the Guilford possession following his first score, Methodist's Van Conyers blocked a Quakers' punt and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown, which opened a 14-0 lead.
The Monarchs went ahead 28-7 in the third quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Reber to Vaughn Cross.
Malcolm McCoy recorded Methodist's second interception of Quakers' freshman Matt Pawlowski on the third quarter's final play, which led to Pappillion's third score of the night, a five-yard jaunt with 13:02 left in regulation.
The Quakers scored on their final two possessions of the game, first on a seven-yard scramble by Pawlowski and then on a 26-yard pass from Pawlowski to rookie Adam Smith with 26 seconds left. Smith's first college touchdown catch capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive that was delayed by 25 minutes when the Armfield Athletic Center lights unexpectedly went out.
Methodist's Reber ran for a team-high 73 yards on 13 carries, completed six-of-12 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown, and also punted six times for a 35.2-yard average. John Flanagan ran 14 times for 46 yards and Pappillion finished with 45 rushing yards on 15 carries. McCoy (6 tackles) and Keltcey Richardson (4 tackles) both made interceptions for Methodist's defense.
Guilford's Smith finished with 13 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in his first college start. Pawlowski completed 31-of-55 passes for 294 yards and a score. Sophomore linebacker Robert Smith paced the defense with a game- and career-high 19 tackles, the most by a Quaker since Josh Clayton made 20 stops versus Catholic University of America Nov. 6, 1999. Smith also forced and recovered a Methodist fumble.
Guilford visits Averett University next Saturday (9/15) in the Quakers'' first road contest of the season and their final nonleague game of the year.
