Staff report
Howard Williamson returned from injury to throw two touchdown passes, and Patrick Dennis added a third as No. 23 Catawba beat SAC rival Mars Hill 24-7 on the road Saturday.
Williamson didn’t put up gaudy numbers but finished 9-for-19 without throwing an interception. Dennis went 2-for-4.
The Indians (3-1, 1-0) won their conference opener thanks in large part to defense and running back Jamelle Cuthbertson.
Catawba held the Lions (3-2, 0-1) to just a first-quarter touchdown and gave up only 39 rushing yards. The Indians, led by Charles McAfee’s seven solo tackles and three tackles for loss, also recorded three sacks and had a 38-yard interception return by defensive lineman Brandon Sutton.
Cuthbertson, meanwhile, averaged 10.5 yards per carry and finished with a game-high 115 rushing yards.
Eric Norman opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Williamson before Mars Hill tied the score at 7-all late in the first quarter. Antonio Hall and Brandon Bunn also had touchdown receptions for the Indians, and Thomas Trexler kicked a 42-yard field goal.
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NOTE: Running back George Bell saw his first action of the season for Catawba. Bell, who led Catawba with 20 touchdowns last season, had been sidelined with a thyroid condition. He rushed six times for 9 yards Saturday.