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BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College football team (3-2, 1-2 USAS) will look to get back to its winning ways when the Tornados take on N.C. Wesleyan College (3-3, 2-1 USAS) on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m. in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Saturday's contest will mark the third time that the Tornados and Battling Bishops have faced off in program history since Brevard began playing an NCAA DIII schedule in 2017. The two sides are 1-1 against each other, with the Tornados taking a high-scoring 58-42 victory in Rocky Mount on October 28, 2017, before the Battling Bishops escaped a late Brevard comeback at Brevard Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018, by a final of 29-21.
Brevard will look to bounce back from consecutive narrow USA South setbacks after opening the season with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2009. After the Tornados opened conference play with a 22-10 victory over defending conference champion Maryville College, Brevard dropped a road contest at Methodist University in the final seconds, 24-23, before returning home to face perennial conference power Huntingdon College. The Hawks pulled away late to take the defensive slugfest from Brevard, 21-10.
Brevard's tenacious defense has been the main storyline through the first five games of the 2019 campaign. The Tornados disruptive secondary has forced a grand total of 13 interceptions through Brevard's first five contests, which sets a new single-season NCAA-era record for interceptions for Tornado football. That total is currently five more than any other school in the USA South, and as of October 20 ranked tied-for-fourth in the nation out of all NCAA DIII Football schools.
Serving as a catalyst for the defensive effort last week, freshman defensive back Joc Pledger was named USA South Football Defensive Rookie of the Week this past Monday. Pledger broke out with two interceptions - including the record-breaker - in addition to five tackles and three pass breakups.
Pledger's honor gives Brevard football three USA South Athlete of the Week honors thus far in 2019, which is in addition to the Tornados' three National honors received this season via D3Football.com's "Team of the Week."
The Battling Bishops bring a potent offensive attack into Saturday's game, as N.C. Wesleyan ranks second in the conference for total offensive yards (2,474) and first in total passing yards (1,412). Individually, N.C. Wesleyan quarterback Donielle Totten ranks second in the conference in passing yards (1,342) and yards-per-game (223.7). Defensively, the Battling Bishops are paced by Antonio Johnson, who leads the conference in tackles (67) and solo tackles (41).
Following Saturday's contest, the Tornados will conclude a two-game road swing by traveling to LaGrange, Georgia to face off against LaGrange College on Saturday, November 2 at 2 p.m.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook. Be sure to follow "brevardcollege" on Flickr for the latest photos from all Brevard College events.
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