COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Wofford College football team opened the season with a 21-7 win at Tennessee Tech on Thursday night at Tucker Stadium. The Golden Eagles scored first, but Terriers responded with three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Brad Butler.
 
The Terriers open the season 1-0. Wofford was led by Will Gay with 116 yards on nine carries, while Lorenzo Long added 91 yards and Brad Butler had 85. The defense held Tennessee Tech to 257 total yards and had eight tackles for loss, including five sacks. The Golden Eagles were led by Brock McCoin with seven catches for 94 yards.
 
"It was a very difficult situation tonight," said head coach Mike Ayers. "We are lucky to have a great medical staff that took care of the situation immediately. When you have something happen in a game like that it is a shock. I love every one of these kids and I am thankful everything will be alright. I thought Tennessee Tech did a class thing coming together with our team. It was a tough, hard fought game and they have some players. I am proud of the way that our defense responded and proud of our offense taking care of the ball. We had a great camp and had our guys ready for the game."
 
The Golden Eagles began the game with an onside kick that was recovered by the kicker. After gaining a pair of first downs, the Terriers defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-one to gain possession. The Wofford offense had a penalty on first down and went three-and-out. TTU began their next drive at the Wofford 40-yard line. The Golden Eagles gained two first downs and scored on a four-yard touchdown run by Kip Patton for a 7-0 lead with 6:22 left in the first quarter.
 
On the next drive by the Terriers, Brad Butler ran for a first down and threw to Nick Colvin for a first down. Will Gay picked up a first down on a 19-yard run, but a 42-yard field goal by David Marvin was wide right with seven seconds left in the first quarter. With the ball back, Wofford had first down runs by Blake Morgan and Lorenzo Long. Nick Colvin picked up a first down and then Brad Butler capped the drive with a 10-yard run. The point after was good and the score was tied at 7-7 with 7:37 left in the second quarter.
 
After a first down by the Golden Eagles, Lincoln Stewart had a sack for a loss of eleven yards. A TTU punt gave Wofford the ball back. Will Gay picked up a first down, but the Terriers had to punt. The Golden Eagles began a drive with two minutes left in the first half and gained two first downs before punting. Wofford had the ball back with 28 seconds remaining and Will Gay ran for a 34-yard first down. A 62-yard field goal try by David Marvin as wide right to end the first half.
 
The Golden Eagles had the ball to begin the second half. After four passing first downs, TTU was inside the 20-yard line. A roughing the passer call moved the ball to the eight-yard line. The Terriers defense held and TTU's 24-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 8:56 on the clock in the third quarter.
 
On the Terriers first drive of the second half, Will Gay gained 18 yards and Brad Butler went for 32 yards to move into TTU territory. Nick Colvin had a first down reception and then Brad Butler took it in from 7-yards out for a touchdown. Wofford had a 14-7 lead at 4:05 in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles then had two first downs, but a 46-yard field goal went wide left at 14:18 in the fourth quarter. The Terriers then had a 13 play drive that covered 71 yards and ended with Brad Butler running for a 21-yard touchdown. Wofford had a 21-7 lead with 7:06 left in the game.
 
On the ensuing drive by the Golden Eagles, back-to-back sacks forced a fourth-and-17 when a long pass was intercepted at the five-yard line by Jaleel Green with 4:48 left in the game. Lorenzo Long and Will Gay added first downs as the Terriers were able to run out the clock on the win.
 
Wofford had 388 total yards, with 346 rushing. TTU had 257 total yards, 216 of which were passing. Wofford had a 22 to 16 advantage in first downs. Wofford was 8-of-12 on third downs and 1-of-1 on fourth down. TTU was 6-of-13 on third down. Wofford was called for seven penalties to TTU's two. Wofford had a 32:30 to 27:30 time of possession advantage.
 
Update on Michael Roach
Wofford linebacker Michael Roach collapsed in the team bench area during the third quarter of tonight's game at Tennessee Tech. He was attended to by the athletic training staff, team physicians and EMS. He was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center where he was alert and responsive. A junior from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Roach started the game at outside linebacker. He will be kept overnight for observation.
 
 
Wofford vs. Tennessee Tech Post-Game Notes
With the win, Wofford is 49-58-1 all-time in season openers since posting a 5-1 win over Furman on December 14, 1889 ... Under head coach Mike Ayers, the Terriers are 15-14 in season openers. It was the first season opening win since 2012 against Gardner-Webb.
 
Players with first career starts included Datavious Wilson, George Gbesee, Devin Watson, Chris Boudreaux, and Jason Hill. Blake Morgan's first career carry went for a first down in the second quarter.
 
Will Gay returned to action after missing most of last season due to injury with a 116 yard rushing performance. It was his first career 100-yard rushing game.
 
Game captains were Will Gay, Jaleel Green, John Patterson and Anton Wahrby.
 
Attendance was 9,066 at Tucker Stadium.
 
Wofford remain on the road next week as the face Ole Miss on Saturday, September 10. The game will kick-off at 3:00 p.m. CT and air on the SEC Network.