SALISBURY, Md. - The fifth-ranked Wesley
College football team booted home two 22-yard field goals in the
final four minutes of play to defeat upset minded Salisbury
University, 13-10, before 1,368 at Sea Gull Stadium.
The Wolverines (8-0, 4-0 ACFC) clinch the Atlantic Central
Football Conference title, outright, as they went undefeated in
league play.
Wesley kicker Christian Cattanea was the
hero as his 22-yard field goal with five second left proved to be
the game-winner as the Wolverines came back from three-points down
late in the fourth quarter to win the Route 13 rivalry.
The game turned into a defensive struggle as the Sea Gull
defense contained the potent Wolverine offense, who entered the
game averaging 41 points per game, by shutting down senior
quarterback Chris Warrick (16-for-34, 209 yards).
Salisbury (3-5, 1-2 ACFC) took its first lead of the game, 10-7,
at the 12:37 mark in the fourth quarter as junior Brendan
Kincaid kicked a 29-yard field goal through the uprights.
The two teams traded possessions before the Wolverines mounted a
nine-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a Cattanea 22-yard field
goal to square the game at 10 with 3:43 left in the game.
The Wesley drive was kept alive by a roughing the passer penalty
by the Sea Gulls on third down and 10 from the 43-yard line.
Warrick then hit senior wide receiver Michael Clarke (six
receptions, 83 yards) for a 15-yard gain before the drive stalled
on the five-yard line.
On the next Sea Gull possession sophomore quarterback
Ronnie Curley (6-for-15, 73 yards) got intercepted
by Wesley's Sean Matthews, who during the return fumbled the ball
back to SU. The Gulls caught a break but two plays later a
completed Curley pass to sophomore wide receiver Avery
Willie ended in another Sea Gull turnover. Wesley
linebacker Brandon Huntbach supplied the hit that jarred the ball
loose which was immediately recovered by cornerback Bobby Maguire.
The Wolverines then marched 37 yards down the field, in just
over a minute, to win the ballgame.
Wesley freshman tailback Jeremy Robinson scored the game's first
points with a 25-yard run into the end zone with 3:32 left in the
second quarter.
Salisbury gained 219 yards on the ground highlighted by a
75-yard touchdown run by freshman Valdase Morris
(four carries, 90 yards) late in the second quarter. The teams went
into halftime tied 7-7.
Salisbury senior linebacker Billy Leinemann led all Sea Gull
defenders with seven tackles on Senior Day. Before the game SU paid
tribute to the 12 seniors on this year's team.
The Wolverines have now won two straight games in the rivalry
with the Sea Gulls. Wesley holds a 10-7 series advantage.
Salisbury will next travel to Widener University for a 1 p.m,
Saturday, November 4, game against the Pioneers.