ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Junior running back Mitchell Yoder scored a pair of touchdowns, while senior tight end Jaden O'Leary hauled down his first career touchdown reception as the Brevard College football team (1-2, 1-0 USAS) picked up its first victory in its USA South Conference opener against NC Wesleyan College (0-3, 0-1 USAS), 32-7, on Saturday afternoon.
Yoder, a junior running back from Columbus, North Carolina, dashed for 93 yards and a pair of scores while fellow running back Devonte Murray logged 57 yards on nine carries. O'Leary totaled 44 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown reception from Eli Carr, who threw for 193 yards on the afternoon.
Junior linebacker Toby Naylor secured his first career interception, while Steffon Canady totaled eight tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Senior placekicker Stamati Damalos continued his hot stretch, making all three of his field-goal attempts in addition to three extra-point attempts made.
Brevard totaled 335 total yards of offense compared to NCWC's 219, and won comfortably despite going 3-for-13 on third downs. BC's defense held the Battling Bishops to 2.8 yards per play and controlled the time of possession with 38:01 compared to NCWC's 21:59.
Brevard's first offensive possession was stalled near the goal line, but its defense forced a safety to give the Tornados a 2-0 advantage. BC's ensuing possession ended in the Battling Bishops' second fourth-down stop, but Damalos converted a 23-yard field goal that pushed BC's lead to a 5-0 advantage early in the second quarter. The senior from Tarpon Springs, Florida hit a 30-yarder to extend the BC lead, 8-0.
Yoder broke through on Brevard's next possession with a 52-yard touchdown dash that gave the Tornados a two-possession lead, 15-0 that they took into the locker rooms.
Carr found O'Leary for a 31-yard strike to begin the third quarter, pushing the BC lead to 22-0. Just before the conclusion of the third period, the Battling Bishops scored their first TD to cut Brevard's advantage to a 22-7 margin.
Brandon Norris hauled down a 35-yard reception that was followed by Yoder's second rushing touchdown of the afternoon before Damalos' third field goal of the afternoon - a 36-yarder - helped BC wrap up its 32-7 victory.
BC returns home next weekend for a highly-anticipated matchup against Huntingdon College on Saturday, September 25 at 1 p.m. at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
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-BC-