Football Falls to Newberry 35-28

NEWBERRY, SC – Newberry overcame a disastrous second quarter to rally past visiting Catawba 35-28 in South Atlantic Conference football action on Saturday night at Setzler Field.  The Wolves improve to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians fall to 2-1 and 0-1.

The Wolves led 7-0 after the opening quarter, but Catawba cashed in on a nine-play drive on the first snap of the second quarter when BJ Sherrill (Cleveland, NC/W. Rowan HS) threw an eight-yard scoring pass to Tyler Hamilton (Charlotte, NC/Vance HS).  Newberry fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Indians scored two plays later when Sherrill again hooked up with Hamilton, this time from 12-yards out for a 14-7 lead.

Newberry survived a fumble on the next kickoff, but Dureal Elmore fumbled the first snap from scrimmage and Jumal Rolle (Wilson, NC/Beddingfield HS) returned it to the Wolves one-yard-line.  Sherrill took it in from there and Catawba led 21-7 at the 13:29 mark of the quarter, scoring three times in span of a minute and 25 seconds.

Newberry capped a 93-yard drive in 13 plays on a 16 yard pass from WT Murden to Jason Livingston with just over two minutes left in the half to trim the margin to 21-14.  Sherrill answered back.  He completed a 43-yard pass to Diante Hodges (Fayetteville, NC/Smith HS) then tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jarrid McKinney (Charlotte, NC/Providence HS) with 1:10 left in the half to give the Indians a 28-14 edge at the break.

The game turned midway through the third quarter when Newberry stopped Catawba at the Wolves 35-yard-line on fourth down.  On the next play, Murden found Livingston for a 61-yard score that pulled Newberry within 28-21.  After a three-and-out by Catawba, Murden threw his fourth scoring pass of the day, this time to Byron Dickerson, to tie the score at 28-all late in the third quarter.

Sherrill was intercepted on the next three Catawba possessions with the second one returned 41 yards for the go-ahead score by Alstevis Squirewell with 13:41 remaining.  Catawba drove inside the Newberry 10 with six minutes left, but were denied on downs.  The final chance for the Indians ended on an interception in the end zone with 1:39 to go.

Sherrill accounted for all four Catawba scored, throwing for three and rushing for another.  He completed 24-of-43 pass for 237 yards, but was picked off five times.  The Indians ran for only 54 yards with Bobby Morrison (Statesville, NC/W. Iredell HS) gaining 38 of those.  Hamilton and Nate Charest (Charlotte, NC/Butler HS) each had six receptions.

Murden went 27-of-42 for 331 yards and the four scores.  He was intercepted twice.  Corey Washington, who caught Newberry's first touchdown, had eight catches on the day.  The Wolves ran for just 57 yards.

Rolle had two interceptions, a fumble recovery and blocked a late Newberry field goal attempt for his third blocked kick in two games.  Scotty Floyd (Gastonia, NC/Ashbrook HS), LJ McCray (Charlotte, NC/Harding HS) and Chad Endres (Wellington, FL/Wellington HS/Jacksonville) all made eight stops for the Indians.