Scots Limit Tigers to 147 Total Yards in Opening Week Victory
SEWANEE, Tenn. – Maryville rode a smothering defense and just enough offense to start the 2023 season with a 28-8 win at Sewanee on Saturday.
The victory broke a 10-year drought and a 10-game drought. The 10 years marked the last time Maryville and Sewanee met in football in a series that began in 1906. The Scots and Tigers are two of only three NCAA Division III programs in the state, and this is the fourth most-played series for the Scots.
Maryville with Saturday's win pulls within 17-15 in the all-time series. This was the first of four scheduled games over the next four years, with two at each home stadium.
The 10-game drought was Maryville's losing streak to nonconference opponents dating to 2017, when the Scots knocked off Hanover and Emory & Henry on consecutive Saturdays.
Maryville defensively held Sewanee to 147 total yards on 57 plays, for an average of 2.6. The Tigers managed just 41 yards on the ground and 106 through the air while possessing the ball for 22:59 to Maryville's 35:01.
"Our defense played exceptionally well, especially when you consider we didn't have a single snap of video to watch on Sewanee and their new coaching staff," Scots head coach Ben Fox said. "I'm proud of them and the staff. They did a fantastic job.
"Offensively, we have a lot of things to clean up. We played hard on both sides; we just didn't play particularly well on offense. There's a lot we can improve on."
Rollins Throws for 203 Yards
First-year Maryville speedster Tyler Moon scored a pair of touchdowns for the Scots, one to open the scoring on an 18-yard toss from Bryson Rollins and another on a 6-yard run that closed things out. Rollins connected on a pair of TD passes to offset three interceptions, although one of those was a Hail Mary attempt at the halftime horn.
Rollins, a sophomore from Elizabethton, finished 13-of-25 passing for 203 yards and was sacked three times. Saturday's yardage total moves Rollins to within 20 of the Maryville career top 10 in passing. He sits at 2,758 yards just one game into his sophomore campaign.
On the ground, Maryville rushed 59 times for 315 yards to post the team's best rushing total since the last game of the 2021 season. Tad Logan Jr. carried 21 times for 97 yards, while Chris Cooper came off the bench to rush six times for 86 yards and a 22-yard TD.
Moon rushed for 63 yards and caught four passes for 18 yards. He also returned a kickoff 31 yards to account for 112 all-purpose yards. Nick Dagel was the leading receiver with five for 48. Bryce Collins punted three times for a 50.3-yard average, including a 60-yarder on his first attempt.
White, Harris Pace Defensive Effort
On defense, linebacker Devon White was the leading Maryville tackler with nine, including two for lost yardage. Jonathan Harris had five stops, including two TFLs and a pair of quarterback hurries. The Scots hurried Jeremiah Young seven times while limiting him to 13-of-24 passing for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Jordan Lacey, Jacob Berven and Kohnor Martin all had quarterback sacks for the Scots.
Maryville is home next Saturday against Centre, which lost 10-7 at home to Hanover on Saturday night for its 2023 opener. The Scots last defeated the Colonels in 2008 and have lost six in a row to their long-time rival.
Kickoff next Saturday is 2 p.m.
Fox is hoping for a great home crowd to match the festivities in Sewanee. Many of those in attendance Saturday were wearing Orange and Garnet.
"There was a good atmosphere there today," Fox said. "We had a ton of fan support, and we are appreciative of those who came to watch us. The band was there and the cheerleaders were there and it was great.
"The hope was we would play well and get a win. We got a win, but I'm not sure how well we played, especially on offense. We cannot wait for our home opener."
