SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Cam Beasley scampered 37 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter but 22
nd-ranked Berry College scored the final 28 points of the game in a 44-7 victory over Sewanee in football action here Saturday at Historic McGee Field-Harris Stadium.
The Tigers (2-4, 0-3 SAA) trailed 16-0 at the half before Beasley broke free for a touchdown with 9:02 remaining in the third period, capping a six-play, 71-yard drive for the home team.
Zavion Plunkett returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards plus a 15-yard penalty on the Tigers, setting up a short field for the Vikings (5-1, 3-0). Four plays later Andrew Hunter scored from three yards out.
Nate Lyons returned a punt for a touchdown for Berry later in the quarter though it was negated by a holding penalty. Berry scored three plays later on an 18-yard run from Colby Sikes, who added a 34-yard catch-and-run for a TD early in the fourth period.
Jay Kanazawa added a two-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining in the game for the final points.
Berry scored on its opening drive of the game and again on its next possession after a blocked punt, but the Sewanee defense forced a punt early in the second quarter and
TJ Fields forced a fumble in Tigers territory later in the period. The Vikings also punted on the first possession of the second half before scoring on three consecutive drives after the Sewanee touchdown.
Jacorin Thomas finished with 16 rushes for 70 yards and connected on 9-of-16 passes for 64 yards. Beasley carried six times for 43 yards while
Dyer Barnes caught seven passes for 39 yards. Sewanee was unable to connect with Barnes down the field despite taking several shots.
Christian Lewis completed 10-of-12 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings while Sikes led Berry on the ground with eight rushes for 67 yards.
Berry scored on its opening drive of the game, completing a 22-yard pass to Brendan Gray before Lyons took a screen pass to the left and scampered 41 yards for the touchdown. Lyons took a direct snap and ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 advantage.
Cade Petty blocked the Sewanee punt on the ensuing drive and Andrew Hunter tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to Khamari Smith on the first play. Sikes ran in the two-point try, pushing the lead to 16-0.
The Tigers put together their best drive of the first half on the next possession, moving 41 yards on 13 plays. Thomas rushed seven yards for a first down and gained five yards on fourth down. Barnes caught a nine-yard pass for another first down, but Beasley's pass was intercepted near the end zone by Chaz Pope.
Sewanee forced a turnover late in the second period, Fields poking the ball away from Gray at the Tigers' 20-yard line, with
Jaylen Mack recovering the fumble.
The Tigers travel to Rhodes College next Saturday at 2 p.m. to defend the Orgill Cup and return home November 1 for Homecoming, taking on Trinity University.
