Offense leads Scots to key win during Homecoming

Maryville College’s Fighting Scots win at this year’s homecoming 31 to 26. Photo by Clair Scott.
Maryville College’s Fighting Scots win at this year’s homecoming 31 to 26. Photo by Beau Branton.

Oct. 22. – The Maryville College Football Scots (6-1, 4-0) held on for a 31-26 victory over Averett University (3-3, 2-1) on Saturday. The victory puts the Scots on top of the USA South Conference Standings. With three USA South games left, they now control their own destiny for a USA South Conference Title. The Maryville Football squad is the only undefeated team in USA South Conference play.

The Scots’ Offense marched down Honaker Field multiple times and finished the game with 527 total yards, 353 of those coming through the rushing attack. Sophomore Running Back Elijah Chenier led the Offense with 232 yards on the ground, which ties him for second in Maryville College history for rushing yards in a single game.

Also, Chenier’s 33 carries of the day tied for second in the Maryville College record for rushing attempts in a single game. The 5-foot-8, 189-pound standout also recorded a touchdown on Saturday, his fifth of the 2016 campaign.

The Scots did not waste any time as the Offense took the ball 79 yards in 6 plays, scoring on their opening drive. Maryville led 7-0 with 12:35 left in the first quarter. After the defense held the Averett offense to a 3-and-out, the Scots put points on the board once again.

Senior Quarterback Nick Meyers found Mac Seagle for a 52-yard strike, capping a 3-play, 64-yard drive. With 9:26 left in the first quarter, Maryville led 14-0.

Averett answered the Scots score with their own 10-play, 35-yard drive, ending with a 45-yard field goal. With 5:50 left in the first quarter, the Scots led 14-3.

The Scots used the rest of the remaining time of the first quarter to score again. The Offense put together a 72-yard, 14-play drive that ended with an Ian Hubbs 20-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter. Maryville led 17-3.

Both teams traded multiple possessions in the second quarter, and both teams were held scoreless until the Scots struck with 37 seconds remaining in the half. The Offense went 60-yards in 7 plays, ending with a 37-yard strike from Meyers to a wide-open Logan Winders for a Maryville College touchdown. The Scots went into the break with a 24-3 lead.

Averett scored on their first drive of the second half with a 28-yard field goal. The Scots led 24-6 with 7:11 left to go in the third quarter.

The Scots answered the Averett tally with their own 6-play, 53-yard drive ending with a 13-yard touchdown run from Chenier. The Scots took a commanding 31-6 lead over the Cougars with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

However, Averett regained life, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Cougars’ first touchdown came only 45 seconds into the fourth quarter with a 40-yard touchdown bomb. Averett missed the extra-point and the Scots led 31-12 with 14:15 to go in the game. The Scots Offense was held to a 3-and-out, and Averett struck again. Averett went on a 9-play, 79-yard scoring drive that ended with a 7-yard rushing touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion. The Scots led 31-20 with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars were not done, and the Averett defense recovered a Maryville fumble that set up the Cougars’ offense with good field position. Averett capitalized on the Maryville turnover and scored just 51 seconds later in 3 plays, but failed on the 2-point conversion. The Scots led 31-26 with 7:44 to go. The Scots were forced to put on their next drive, and Averett got the ball back with the opportunity to complete their comeback.

The Scots Defense, which held Averett to only 88 yards on the ground, was forced to make one last stop—and they did. Averett reached midfield, but with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter, Blake Henderson intercepted a pass and ended Averett’s hopes. The Scots’ rushing attack ran out the clock, and Maryville escaped with a 31-26 victory on Home to Howee.

The Scots will travel to LaGrange (3-4, 1-3) next week for another important USA South Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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