B.J. Sherrill (West Rowan) threw for 371 yards, the seventh-best passing game in Catawba history, but the Indians still lost 27-20 at UNC Pembroke’s Johnson Stadium on Saturday night.
Sherrill, a redshirt freshman, was 32-for-52 passing, including touchdown strikes to Diante Hodges and Nate Charest. Jarrid McKinney had a tremendous receiving day for the Indians (3-2) with 10 catches for 178 yards. Charest made 11 grabs for 108.
Catawba scored first, with a 40-yard kickoff return by L.J. McCray leading to Sherrill’s 23-yard scoring pass to Hodges.
The Braves (4-1) then ran off 17 unanswered points.
Chad Hollandsworth’s 28-yard field goal pulled the Indians within 17-10 at halftime.
Elliott Powell broke a 97-yard scoring run for the Braves at the outset of the second half, but Catawba cut the deficit to 24-17 on Sherrill’s TD pass to Charest in the last minute of the third quarter.
Catawba had its chances in the final quarter, driving inside the UNCP 10 before being stopped and missing a field-goal try.
Sherrill fumbled while being sacked, and UNCP added a field goal by Connor Haskins for a 27-17 cushion with 1:59 left to play.
Catawba got its final points on a Hollandsworth field goal with 20 seconds left. Catawba then recovered an onside kick, but Sherrill was picked off on the last play of the game.
Bobby Morrison rushed for 67 yards for the Indians.
Jonathan Efird (A.L. Brown) did a nice job managing the game at quarterback for the Braves, who were missing injured starter Luke Charles.
Efird was an efficient 17-for-23 for 130 yards, and the Braves didn’t turn it over.
Catawba had a big edge in yards gained (464-316), but UNCP won the turnover battle 4-0.
Cornerback Tevin Carr and linebacker Cory Johnson had nine tackles each to lead Catawba’s defense.
Linebacker Cadarreus Mason (South Rowan) starred for UNCP. He was in on eight tackles, forced a fumble and knocked down a pass.
Catawba is home against Carson-Newman on Oct. 6.