SALISBURY, N.C. — The Catawba College football team's 2026 home opener was a thriller, but the hosts came up just short in a 40-38 setback against North Greenville on Saturday night at Shuford Stadium.
Catawba (1-1) led the contest in total yardage 423-390 with one more first down than the Trailblazers (1-0). North Greenville, however, was much more efficient with 7.6 yards per play against Catawba's 6.1 while the hosts dominated possession, holding the rock for 34:01. Penalties derailed the Catawba Indians as a combined 21 infractions were enforced, favoring NGU 11-10 despite the blue and white leading 101-67 in yardage.
Mason Fortune threw for 295 yards on a 22-for-33 night, tossing one touchdown pass with another coming on the ground. Saeed St. Fleur led Catawba's seven rushers with 74 yards on 16 carries and two TD plunges. Jay Moore toted the pigskin seven times for 42 yards and a touchdown, his first collegiate score. Mike Geter paced the receiver room with 107 yards on five receptions, followed by Nick Venezia who had a team-high six catches for 93 yards and a score.
Jaylen Hinton and Jymiek Sampson headlined the defensive effort with six tackles including one for a loss by each; Sampson also blocked a Trailblazer punt. Jy Favor infiltrated the backfield for 2.5 tackles for loss, totaling five on the night. Julian Brooks hawked down the Trailblazers for 1.5 sacks as Jaden Pierce chipped in a solo sack. Elijah Barber was credited with the team's lone pass breakup on a shot to the end zone.
Handling the kicking duties, freshman Francisco Garcia Rodriguez went 3-for-3 on PATs and put a 40-yard field goal through the uprights.
Down by a possession at 40-32 with five minutes left, Fortune spearheaded a march downfield with five straight completions and a handful of St. Fleur carries. Back-to-back catches for a combined 29 yards by Jaylin Davis got Catawba to the 11-yard line. St. Fleur ran it twice to reach the end zone with 38 seconds to play. Going for two in hopes of leveling the score, Catawba had its pass intercepted by NGU. The ensuing onside kick by Garcia Rodriguez offered a promising bounce, but the Trailblazers recovered to make the 40-38 ledger final.
The Catawba Indians open South Atlantic Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 12, taking on Mars Hill on the road. Kickoff at Meares Stadium is slated for 1:30 p.m.
