CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College football team christened the brand-new lights at Bailey Memorial Stadium with a school record 69 points, routing visiting Bluefield in a 69-14 home opening victory.
PC moves to 1-1 and hosts Furman on Saturday, September 13 at 7 p.m. Bluefield falls to 0-2.
The Blue Hose scored early and often, ending 10 of their 13 drives with a touchdown.
PC's ground game broke several records. The 62 carries, 523 yards and seven touchdowns all mark school Division I-bests. LaQua Mayes (Rose Hill, Kan.) racked up 161 yards on the ground, the third-most in PC's Division I history. The senior running back broke off a 92-yard rush in the second quarter, the longest-ever in Big South Conference history. Demarcus Rouse (North Augusta, S.C.) also ran for 117 yards, marking the second time in PC Division I history that the team racked up two 100-yard rushers in the same game. Mayes posted two rushing touchdowns, as did Blake Roberts (Cumming, Ga.). Rouse, Darrell Bridges (Rossville, Ga.) and Craig Bryan (Monroeville, Ala.) also scored on the ground.
A Rouse 55-yard touchdown rush gave PC a 69-14 lead with 1:12 left in the game, marking the most points ever in school history. The 69 points eclipse 66 against North Greenville on October 4, 2007 and PC set the previous high of 67 against North Georgia Agricultural School on November 10, 1922.
Freshman Steve Osondu (McDonough, Ga.) led the the Blue Hose defense with a team-high eight tackles and a forced fumble. Khari Rosier (Lithonia, Ga.) posted a team-high three tackles for a loss and Ed Britt (Greensboro, N.C.) recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Daryl Wilson (Hendersonville, N.C.) enjoyed a breakout game with a career day, catching a team-high four balls for 94 yards and two scores. Heys McMath (Savannah, Ga.) posted an efficient evening, going 7-for-8 for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Hose offensive line allowed zero sacks.
A three-and-out—thanks in part to a sack from Mitchell Anderson (Tucker, Ga.)—forced a Bluefield punt on the game's first series. Tobi Antigha (Tampa, Fla.) took the punt to the Rams' 22 and Mayes did the rest, rushing twice and using a 10-yard touchdown run to put PC ahead with 12:47 left in the first quarter, 7-0.
PC's next score came on its third drive. Roberts punched in a three-yard rush to cap an 11-play, 53-yard series that included a short fourth-down conversion in the red zone. The touchdown gave PC a 14-0 lead with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the team's next series, McMath went over the top to find Wilson for a 48-yard score. The touchdown catch marked the sophomore receiver's first-ever and put the Blue Hose up 21-0 with 11:45 left before halftime.
Bluefield nearly broke through midway through the second. Ashten Dixon found David Gianesin for a 33-yard gain that put the Rams on PC's four-yard line, but a fumble on the next play gave PC the ball back. Ryan Brown (Apex, N.C.) recovered the fumble to keep the shutout intact.
PC wasted little time scoring as Mayes broke off a 92-yard run to give PC a 27-0 lead two plays later. The run marked the longest-ever from scrimmage in Big South Conference football history. The senior found his holes and sprinted down the home sideline to paydirt.
The Blue Hose went to the air for the next score after the PC forced another Rams punt. McMath found a leaping Wilson for a 33-yard score that gave PC a 34-0 lead with 4:31 before halftime.
PC received the second half kickoff and assembled a marathon 14-play, 75-yard drive that spanned the opening 6:03 of the third quarter. Roberts iced the drive with a two-yard touchdown rush, his second of the night. PC led 41-0 with 8:57 left in the third.
Darrell Bridges (Rossville, Ga.) scored his first Presbyterian College touchdown with a one-yard punch-in at the 4:39 mark of the third quarter. The short field came from a Devron Glenn (Fort Dorchester, S.C.) 42-yard punt return before Bridges rushed four times and scored.
Britt recovered a muffed punt on Bluefield's next series and ran it in for a 15-yard touchdown return, giving PC a 55-0 lead.
Bluefield broke the shutout bid with a five-play, 74-yard drive highlighted by two long passes to Quincey Mock. Adrian Pope scored on a one-yard rush to make it 55-7 with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
Freshman fullback Craig Bryan (Monroeville, Ala.) made his collegiate debut and capped a nine-play, 71-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush early in the third quarter. PC led after the play, 62-7, with 12:58 left in the game.
Bluefield wrapped up its scoring with a late-game drive. Justin Brown scored from one yard out for a 62-14 tally with 2:14 to go.
