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DURHAM, N.C. - Saint Augustine's College bounced back from last weekend's loss in a big way on Saturday (Sept. 3).
The Falcons scored 17 points off turnovers in a 30-5 lopsided football victory over Catawba in their home opener at Durham County Stadium. It was the first home opening win since 2005 for the Falcons, who evened their overall record at 1-1.
The Falcons, a CIAA member, lead the season series 3-1 including two straight wins over Catawba, who hails from the highly-regarded South Atlantic Conference. This was the largest margin of victory in the series.
The victory was in stark contrast to last weekend's 12-0 loss to Virginia Union played in heavy rain and high wind caused by Hurricane Irene. The Falcons lost six fumbles in the loss.
This time, it was the Falcons forcing turnovers. They intercepted four passes with three leading to scores.
Defensive tackle Shonquez Nelson (So./Lake City, S.C.) picked off two passes. His interception in the second quarter led to a 30-yard field goal by Michael Lima (Redshirt Fr./Miami, Fla.), the first of college career. The field goal gave the Falcons a 9-0 halftime lead.
The Falcons had three interceptions in the second half. Linebacker Chaz Robinson (So./Hampton, Va.) picked off a pass in Catawba territory which led to a 26-yard pass from Teddy Bacote (So./Hampton, Va.) to Jamian Smith (Sr./Kenansville, N.C.). Lima booted the extra point for a 23-3 lead.
On the next possession, Antonio Stewart (Fr./Ellenwood, Ga.), who led the Falcons with nine tackles, intercepted a pass near midfield. The Falcons drove 42 yards on eight plays capped by Bacote's 17-yard pass to Tyron Laughinghouse (R-Jr./Greenville, N.C.). Lima's extra point pushed the score to 30-3 in the third quarter. Nelson had another interception in the fourth quarter, but it led to a Catawba safety for the final score.
Nelson added two quarterback sacks, eight total tackles, one forced fumble and two pass break-ups in his finest defensive performance as a Falcon. Free safety Derrick Manning (Jr./Waldorf, Md.) collected six tackles. The Falcons held Catawba (0-1) to 42 rushing yards.
While the Catawba passing game struggled, the Falcons unleashed their aerial attack with positive results. The Falcons won despite rushing for minus 24 yards because they passed for 296 yards. Joaquin Green (Redshirt Jr./Pittsboro, N.C.) completed 7-of-14 passes for 109 yards including a 40-yard pass to Smith for a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
Bacote stepped in for an injured Green in the third quarter and completed 12-of-18 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. On his first drive, he led the Falcons to a touchdown from 58 yards in five plays. His eight-yard scoring pass to Brian Richards (R-So./Waldorf, Md.) and Lima's extra point extended the lead to 16-3.
Smith had nine receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns as he moved into second place on the school's career list for catches in the modern era. Smith, who has 87 career receptions, needs nine catches to surpass Andre Brown as the career leader. Laughinghouse added five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons visit the University of New Haven in another non-conference game next Saturday (Sept. 10). Game time is 1 p.m. in West Haven, Conn.
