Staff report
Catawbaís football team was aggressive from the start on Saturday.
The Indians won the toss ó and instead of deferring their option to the second half, they elected to take the ball immediately. They moved it 59 yards, Thomas Trexler kicked a 24-yard field goal, and they were on their way to a hard-earned 17-13 SAC road win at Brevard.
ěWe needed to find a way to win a ballgame and we did,î Catawba coach Chip Hester said. ěGuys made big plays in big situations.î
The victory broke a four-game slide for the Indians (3-7, 2-4) and enabled them to escape the SAC cellar. It was their first league win since Sept. 24.
Brevard (3-7, 1-5) wiped out a 10-0 deficit to take a 13-10 lead, but the Indians made a defensive stand early in the fourth quarter to stay in the game. With Brevard at the Catawba 3, Kewone Harris broke up a pass on third down and C.J. Barksdale swatted down a pass on fourth down.
Then Catawba put together a decisive 15-play, 97-yard drive, converting three first downs and once on fourth down.
Jacob Charest twice completed third-down passes to Mario Washington and hit Eric Morman to move the chains on the winning drive, and the Tornados chipped in an offside penalty and a person foul. Josh Wright scored from 9 with 6:34 remaining.
Brevard pushed to the Catawba 32 late in the game, but Barksdale and Damein Lee combined on a third-down sack. Then Jason Taylor and Jacob Hanes stopped a fourth-down pass short of the sticks.
Catawba then ran out the clock.
Jacob Charest was 15-for-20 passing for 171 yards, including a first-half TD toss to Morman. Wright rushed for 58 yards on 20 carries. Nate Charest had five catches for 54 yards.
Harris, a safety, had 13 tackles for the Indians. Linebacker Cory Johnson had 10. Corner Jumal Rolle picked off a pass and contained Brevardís most dangerous receiver.
ěThe defense played great all day and made some huge stands,î Hester said. ěThe offense did just enough. Not pretty, but weíll take it. It just feels great to get a win.î
For Brevard, Aaron Reese threw for 101 yards and ran for 75. Amos Salonick had two interceptions. Prince Simanyu made 18 tackles. Emmanuel Gbunblee (West Rowan) contributed two tackles for the Tornados.