Box Score Game Box (pdf)
Inside Wofford Football
CLINTON, S.C. – In the 2011 season opener for the Wofford football team, the Terriers needed a last minute touchdown catch to take a 35-28 win over Presbyterian at Bailey Memorial Stadium. Jeff Ashley had two touchdown catches, including the game winner, as the Terriers overcame penalties and turnovers for the win.
The Terriers start the season 1-0 and the Blue Hose are 0-1. Wofford was led by Eric Breitenstein with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Mitch Allen was 7-of-14 passing for 138 yards and he added 44 rushing yards and a touchdown. Alvin Scioneaux led the team with ten tackles, including two sacks. Penalties were a problem for the Terriers, with eleven for 121 yards in the game.
“I was pleased with the way the kids sucked it up and kept fighting,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “We know that in a week we have to go down to Clemson. Today was hot and today was humid and I am sure Saturday in Clemson it will be hot and humid as well. We are a team that probably did not look like we have the potential to be a championship team. I think if we can iron out a few wrinkles here and there we will be all right.”
The Blue Hose won the toss and received the opening kickoff. After gaining two first downs, Presbyterian was forced to punt. The Terriers picked up three first downs on their first series, but turned the ball over on downs. On the second series for the Blue Hose, they gained two first downs before once again punting. Wofford was then forced three-and-out.
With 1:11 left in the first quarter, the Blue Hose scored first with a 28-yard run by Seth Moreland to take a 7-0 lead. The Terriers opened their next drive with a 37-yard run by Alex Dunmire. Derek Boyce added a 16-yard first down run to end the first quarter. Eric Breitenstein ran the ball in from ten yards out for a touchdown which tied the game at seven with 12:56 in the second quarter.
Presbyterian was driving when Blake Wylie tipped a pass that was intercepted by Josh Holt at the 25-yard line. A reverse by Brenton Bersin gained 32 yards for the Terriers. On fourth-and-eight, Mitch Allen found Joseph Inman for 17 yards and the first down. Mitch Allen ran the ball in from the five yard line for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 5:07 left in the first half.
The Wofford defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession by the Blue Hose. The Terriers used a 37-yard run by Donovan Johnson to move into Blue Hose territory, but were forced to punt with 1:44 left in the half. Presbyterian punted with under a minute remaining in the half. Wofford gained a first down by Eric Breitenstein to end the second quarter with a 14-7 lead.
To open the second half, the Terriers took a 21-7 lead when Lavadrick Farrar threw a halfback pass to a wide open Jeff Ashley for a 44-yard touchdown with 12:09 on the clock. The Blue Hose went three-and-out on their first possession of the second half and punted. Mitch Allen was intercepted by Justin Bethel to end the next drive by Wofford. The Blue Hose attempted a 30-yard field goal that went wide right.
The Terriers then used a 50-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Allen to Andrew Young on the far sideline to push the lead to 28-7 with 6:56 left in the third quarter. The Blue Hose were able to put together a drive, aided by a pass interference call, that was capped by a four-yard touchdown pass to Joey Gilkey with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.
Wofford went three-and-out and punted, giving the Blue Hose the ball at midfield. Once again, key penalties against Wofford helped Presbyterian as they scored on a four-yard run by Demarcus Rouse with 10:15 in the fourth quarter to make it a 28-21 game. On the next drive, a pitch was fumbled by the Terriers, giving the Blue Hose the ball at the Wofford 47-yard line. A 28-yard pass completion to Arthur Williams put the ball inside the 15-yard line. On fourth-and-one, quarterback Ryan Singer ran for the first down to the four-yard line. Lance Byrd scored from four-yards out to tie the game at 28 with 5:32 in the fourth quarter.
With the ball back, the Terriers went three-and-out with two incompletions. The Blue Hose gained one first down before punting back to Wofford with 2:21 left in the game. Donovan Johnson had a 20-yard run, which was followed by a 25-yard carry by Eric Breitenstein. With 51 seconds left, Mitch Allen found Jeff Ashley for a 26-yard touchdown as he reached the ball out and hit the pylon. Stephon Shelton intercepted Ryan Singer with 26 seconds left in the game to take a 35-28 win.
Wofford had 534 total yards, with 352 on the ground. Presbyterian had 326 total yards, 209 of which were passing. Wofford had the time of possession advantage by a 30:03 to 29:57 margin. Wofford was 6-of-12 on third downs and 1-of-2 on fourth down. Presbyterian was 5-of-13 on third down and converted one fourth down. Each team had two turnovers.
The Terriers will travel to Clemson next weekend for a 3:30 p.m. contest against the Tigers. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Wofford vs. Presbyterian Post-Game Notes
In season openers, Wofford is 47-55-1 all-time. Under Mike Ayers, the team is 13-11 in season openers. The last time Wofford won a season opener was in 2008 (losses in 2009 at USF and 2010 at Ohio).
The game was the 82nd in the series between Wofford and Presbyterian that dates to 1914. The Blue Hose have a 40-39-3 lead in the series, but Wofford has won the last four meetings.
The third quarter touchdown reception by Jeff Ashley was the first of his career and a career-long. The pass by Lavadrick Farrar was the first of his career. The 50-yard touchdown catch by Andrew Young was the first of his career.
Joseph Inman had two catches for 27 yards. His previous season-best was two catches in 2009.
Eric Breitenstein had 19 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. It marked his eleventh career 100+ yard game, which is the fifth-most in school history.
The 121 yards in penalties were the fifth-most in school history and the most in a game since 1982.
Game captains were Mitch Allen and Mike Niam.
Attendance was 5,108 at Bailey Stadium.
