Staff report
NEWBERRY, S.C. — Former Salisbury High hero Mike Geter made one of the key plays of the game, and Catawba’s defense stood tall in Saturday’s South Atlantic Conference football victory at Newberry.
Running back Bennett Galloway scored all three Catawba touchdowns in a 21-10 victory, while QB Preston Brown directed a turnover-free offense to win a tough ball game. It was the kind of game Catawba (3-1, 2-1) has been losing in recent seasons, especially on the road.
Scoring runs by Galloway capped marches of 75 and 79 yards by the Indians in the first half. In between those two drives, Newberry’s big-play guy Keith Desaussure broke loose on the old end around to get the Wolves (2-1, 1-1) on the scoreboard at Setzler Field.
Catawba’s defense came through with two massive stops in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
The Wolves had second-and-1 at the Catawba 13, but the Indians got the stop, and Newberry settled for the field goal that cut the Indians’ lead to 14-10.
Geter, who was mostly a quarterback during his record-setting days at Salisbury High, settled under the ensuing kickoff and returned it 41 yards to the Catawba 48 to provide the field position for the 52-yard drive that made it 21-10. Galloway got the TD from the 2 on fourth down — a big call by head coach Tyler Haines — and Bryson Sims added the PAT with eight minutes left.
Catawba’s defense got the clinching stop on a fourth down play after Newberry had pushed to the Catawba 4.
Newberry QB Reed Charpia threw for 202 yards, but the Indians did a good job against Desaussure and contained the run.
Catawba owned the line of scrimmage and had a major advantage in rushing yards. Galloway had 16 carries for 147 yards. Brown threw for 179 yards, finding eight different receivers, including Amari McArthur (North Rowan).
Newberry’s defensive standout, linebacker Jamar “Mikey” Blandin, had 10 tackles for the Wolves and made a sack.
The Indians will take a break from SAC play this Saturday, hosting Southern Connecticut State (1-1) at 4 p.m. After that, the Indians will take on six straight league opponents.
Newberry travels to Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday in the Battle for the Bishop’s Trophy.
