SALISBURY, N.C. – The Catawba College football team went toe-to-toe with the 17th-ranked Newberry Wolves at Shuford Stadium on Saturday night but fell by a touchdown, 34-27.
The Wolves scored twice in the first quarter to jump out to a 13-0 lead in the early goings. Catawba got right back in it early in the second quarter when Leroy Bracey Jr. capped a seven play, 52-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown scamper to make it 13-7 with 11:31 left before halftime.
Newberry added another score before the break with 4:34 left in the first half to make it a 20-7 ball game.
After the break, the No. 17 Wolves scored on the first play of their second drive in the second half on a 56-yard run to add to their lead 27-7.
The Catawba Indians fought their way back into the game when they answered back with a score three and a half minutes later. The Catawba offense went 74 yards in eight plays, and capped the drive with points when quarterback Kamron Hill found Kujuan Pryor on a slant pattern at the goalline for a seven-yard touchdown pass. With 2:35 left in the third quarter, Catawba trailed 27-13.
Newberry scored a back-breaking touchdown just before the end of the third quarter when Mario Anderson gashed the Catawba defense for another big run of 57 yards for a touchdown. The deficit moved to 34-13 with 34 seconds left in the quarter. Anderson finished the night with 25 carries for 246 yards rushing and four scores.
Catawba College crept back into the game late behind two quick scoring drives led by freshman signal-caller Kamron Hill. Hill led a five-play, 71-yard drive that took up just two minutes of game clock that ended in a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kobe Christian. This made the score 34-20 with 13:24 left to play.
On Newberry's next drive, the Wolves had a touchdown nullified on an illegal forward pass penalty forcing them to try a 32-yard field goal. The attempt missed wide breathing life back into Catawba's sails.
The offense again went on the move and scored in a hurry. On the first play from scrimmage, Hill found Jaden Lockhart down the left side for a 60-yard connection to put the Indians inside the redzone immediately. Three plays later, Hill found running back Leroy Bracey Jr. in the back corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. This put Catawba down by seven, 34-27 with 7:25 to play.
Catawba got a huge play on the next Newberry possession. With the ball on Catawba's 26-yard line, the Wolves completed a pass and the receiver ran all the way to the six-yard line before being stood up. Cornerback Zy Brown ripped the ball out and Jordan Mitchell hopped on the fumble to give the offense one last chance with 3:06 to play.
After gaining a first down on the opening play of the drive, three plays later, Catawba faced a fourth down and six. On the pass attempt, Hill was brought down for a sack, turning the ball over on downs and sealing the game for the Wolves.
Kamron Hill finished the night by completing 20 of his 27 pass attempts (74% completion percentage) for 296 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw an interception in the third quarter. Bracey Jr. finished the night with 52 rushing yards on 15 attempts and acore to go along with 44 receiving yards on five catches with a score. Jaden Lockhart had three catches for 120 yards. On defense, Catawba was led by Jordan Gregg who made seven stops with two pass break-ups.
The football team will welcome the Limestone Saints to Shuford Stadium for homecoming weekend for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.
