Staff report
EMORY, Va.— At first glance, the stat sheet looks pretty even from Catawba’s 35-7 South Atlantic Conference loss at Emory & Henry, but special-team breakdowns don’t show up in the rushing and passing numbers — and they are killers.
An 83-yard punt return by Emory & Henry and a muffed punt by Catawba (at (the Catawba 10) allowed Emory & Henry to get on top 14-0 in the early going.
Catawba got back to 14-7 at the half and was still in the game, down 21-7, when the Indians fumbled a snap when they were on the Emory & Henry 1-yard line, ready to make it 21-14. Catawba recovered the loose ball, but the loss was back to the 5. One incomplete pass later, Emory & Henry had a vital stop — and a firm grip on ball game.
Catawba’s TD came early in the second quarter on a Preston Brown to Dee Mitchell 36-yard pass play.
Brown had a pretty quiet day, hitting 12 of 24 for 144 yards. Bennett Galloway provided positive offensive plays with 14 carries for 85 yards. Emory & Henry (2-0, 1-0) contained Bo Pryor. Former North Rowan star Amari McArthur had two catches for 36 yards.
Catawba (1-1, 0-1) did a fine job defensively against Jordan Jackson, the reigning SAC Player of the Week. That appeared to be the right man to focus on, but Emory & Henry QB Charles Mutter did major damage with three rushing TDs, 99 rushing yards, 163 passing yards and a short TD pass.
Jaylen Hinton and Evan Simons made eight stops for the Indians. Alex Evans registered a sack.
A crowd of 2,457 witnessed the action at Fred Selfe Stadium at Nicewonder Field.
UVA Wise, coached by former Indian lineman Gary Bass, is next for Catawba at home.
