Football can’t douse the flames, drops game to Liberty, heartbreaker to Wingate
Posted by The Skyliner on September 10th, 2008Chase Gratz
Staff Writer
The North Greenville University football team attempted to put out the Division I Liberty University Flames in their 2008 season opener on Aug. 30 in Lynchburg, Va.
Turnovers proved to be the Achilles’ heel for the Crusaders. North Greenville had three turnovers in the first half, all of which directly resulted in points for Liberty.
The Crusaders only points during the first half were off a field goal by Michael Sears, junior business administration. Liberty led the game 28-3 at the end of the first half.
The Crusaders did not fare much better in the second half. North Greenville’s only touchdown of the game came from a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richard Harb, sophomore business administration, to wide receiver Marcus Middleton, freshman sport management.
The lead Liberty held over North Greenville was too great for the Crusaders to make a comeback. Liberty University rushed for 440 yards throughout the game. North Greenville fell to Liberty 49-10.
Harb went 21-36 for 178 yards for a touchdown and three picks. Rashad Cummings, senior sport management/business administration, led NGU with 74 yards rushing.
North Greenville’s second game of the season on Sept. 6 against Wingate University was a nailbiter that kept the near capacity crowd of 4,123 on the edge of their seats.
Running back Matt Moore, senior business administration, stepped up to give the Crusaders their first two touchdowns of the game within the last four minutes of the first half. North Greenville took a 17-7 lead into halftime.
During the fourth quarter Cummings broke a tackle and scored for NGU. However, the Crusaders were not able to stop Wingate running back Nelson Wood from scoring on a four-yard run with 5:55 left in the game. Wood’s touchdown put the Bulldogs ahead at the final score of 35-31. The loss dropped NGU to 0-2 on the season.
Wood had 147 yards during the game, 142 of which he gained during the second half.
Moore scored a total of three touchdowns and ended the game with 50 yards rushing. Harb played another solid game going 20-34 for 161 yards. Cummings led the Crusaders on the ground with 150 rushing yards.
Jereme Green, freshman print media, led NGU with 6.5 tackles. Doug Wilson, sophomore undecided, and Emmanuel Davis, senior sport management/business administration, each forced a fumble.
North Greenville University’s next game will be away at Newberry College tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Tags: Fall 2008, Vol. 108 Fall - Issue 1