SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Cooper Alford caught an eight-yard touchdown and Sewanee's defense forced five turnovers but the Tigers dropped their season opener, 28-8, here Saturday at Harris Stadium.
Sewanee picked off three passes and forced a pair of fumbles but could only convert those miscues into one score, Alford's TD grab just before halftime for a 14-8 Tigers deficit at the break. Penalties at inopportune moments and 1-for-14 on third-down conversions did not allow the Sewanee offense to gain any rhythm during the contest.
"I saw a lot of positives, guys providing some depth, which we need going forward," head coach
Andy McCollum said. "We had a couple of turnovers, some costly penalties, and those are things for us to get corrected. We had some plays and didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had."
Sewanee managed just 147 yards of total offense, including 41 on the ground.
Jeremiah Young finished 13-of-24 passing for 106 yards and one TD and
Michael McGhee posted 50 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Maryville ran 84 total plays and held the ball for 35:01 of the contest.
Maryville drove inside the Tigers 10 on the opening drive of the game but a sack by
Tucker Kirk forced a fumble and ended the drive. After an exchange of punts the Scots got on the board late in the first quarter thanks to a nine-play, 58-yard drive.
Rollins found Nick Dagel for 21 yards and on fourth down he hit Tyler Moon on the right side of the end zone from 18 yards for a 7-0 Scots lead with 1:53 to play in the period.
The Tigers forced an interception early in the second quarter, with
Kason Holder catching a tipped ball near midfield, but the Sewanee offense was unable to get a first down. On the ensuing home team possession,
Ethan Britt fumbled a third-down pass and Maryville recovered at its own 49.
The Scots struck quickly, with Rollins scrambling right and finding Tyler Ferguson on the backline of the end zone for a 29-yard TD pass and a 14-0 advantage for the visitors.
Sewanee's defense setup its counterpart late in the first half thanks to a strip sack by
Desmond Gilbert, giving the Tigers 1
st-and-10 at the Maryville 16-yard line. After a facemask penalty, Young found Alford over the middle for an eight-yard touchdown. McGhee took the direct snap on the swinging gate and plunged in for the two-point conversion.
Micah Millraney intercepted a Hail Mary just short of the end zone on the final play of the first half. Sewanee managed just 61 yards of total offense in the opening two periods but trailed just 14-8.
Chris Cooper scored from 22 yards out midway through the third quarter and Tyler Moon carried six yards for the final Scots score early in the fourth period.
Sewanee plays at Westminster (Mo.) next week before returning home to take on Millsaps College for Hall of Fame weekend.
