NEWBERRY – Despite a valiant effort on defense, the Newberry Wolves were unable to upset Jacksonville University on Saturday, as the visiting Division I-FCS Dolphins edged Newberry, 17-14, at Setzler Field.
Newberry falls to 1-1 overall on the season, though the loss does not count against the Wolves in the Division II playoff picture. Jacksonville is now 2-0 on the year, with the Dolphins winning both games by a field goal.
The bad luck started early in the game for the Wolves, as a Kyle Clark field goal attempt narrowly missed wide. Then after forcing Jacksonville to punt, the kick bounced off of a Wolves’ defender and was recovered by the Dolphins. The guests scored three plays later on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kade Bell to Andy Jones.
The Wolves then turned the ball over on downs deep in JU territory, but the Dolphins proceeded to put together the best drive of the afternoon, capping a 13-play, 72-yard drive with a 34-yard Brandon Behr field goal to make it a 10-0 game with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
More misfortune hit the Wolves early in the second quarter, when starting quarterback Raleigh Yeldell was forced from the game with an injury on the second play of the stanza. He was held from the remainder of the game for precautionary reasons, but is expected to return next week.
On backup quarterback Zach Blair’s third drive, the Wolves converted a fourth-and-5 on his 30-yard touchdown pass to Cole Watson, which cut the lead to 10-7 with 3:25 left in the half.
JU had a chance to extend the lead with a 50-yard field goal attempt at the halftime buzzer, but Alstevis Squirewell blocked the attempt to keep the score at 10-7.
Newberry’s defense unleashed a barrage of backfield blitzes at Jacksonville quarterback Kade Bell in the second half, and Jalen Hunter was the first to inflict major damage, sacking Bell while simultaneously stripping and recovering the ball as the Dolphin prepared to throw.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, an interception was followed by a 78-yard touchdown on a swing pass from Bell to Jamal Adjamah, pushing the guests’ lead to 17-7 with 7:38 left in the third.
Blair was also injured enough to be removed from the game, but Braxton Ivery performed admirably. The defense relieved some pressure on him when Taylor McDonnell unleashed another sack-fumble-recover trifecta to give the Wolves the ball at the JU 25.
Three plays later, Ivery rushed to paydirt from eight yards out to cut the Dolphins’ advantage to 17-14 with 4:48 left in the third quarter.
The teams traded punts throughout most of the fourth quarter, engaging in a field position battle. Newberry started to drive near midfield and a diving attempt at a fourth down conversion attempt fell just inches short, handing the Dolphins the narrow win.
DEFENSIVE BARRAGE
– The Wolves’ defense was consistently in the Dolphins’ backfield to disrupt play. Besides the sack-fumble-recover trifectas from Hunter and McDonnell, the scarlet and gray piled up three sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries.
– McDonnell had 11 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.
– Hunter had six total stops with a sack and 2.0 TFLs, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.
– Alstevis Squirewell also had three quarterback hurries, while Will Elm, Josh Parker and Jimmy Holmes each had two quarterback hurries.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Jacksonville outgained Newberry, 333 yards to 268. Newberry rushed for 173 yards but was limited to 95 yards passing on 12-of-32 passing while throwing three interceptions.
– Newberry forced the Dolphins to punt 10 times, but the eight punts of preseason All-American Kyle Clark were very impressive. The senior averaged 43.6 yards per boot with three inside the JU 20-yardline and five fair catches.
– JU scored on its only trip to the red zone, while Newberry went 1-for-4 on red zone chances.
– Romelo Doctor led the Wolves in rushing with 59 yards on 13 carries.
– Cole Watson was the leading receiver with six catches for 73 yards and a score.
UP NEXT
– The Wolves return to the Division II slate, hosting in-state rival North Greenville at 4 p.m. next Saturday.