SEWANEE, Tenn. (Sept. 16, 2016) – Despite giving up only 21 points for the third straight week, the Sewanee football team dropped to 0-3 this season as Southern Athletic Association (SAA) rival Birmingham-Southern held on for a 21-16 win, Saturday, at historic Hardee-McGee Field at Harris Stadium.
Like the past two weeks, Sewanee had the ball late in the fourth quarter. However, despite driving to the BSC 32 yard line, freshman quarterback Sam Hearn fumbled after he was sacked. The Panthers then recovered the ensuing loose ball with 54 seconds to play.
Sewanee started the contest by marching 70 yards on 12 plays on the game's first possession. The Tigers then took an early 3-0 lead as kicker Michael Jacobs made a 21-yard field goal.
The Tigers continued to lead until midway into the second quarter. After limiting the Panthers to only 40 yards on their first four possessions, BSC scored when quarterback Kerrigan Pennington broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run. That score was set up on the Tigers' previous drive when Hearn was sacked and fumbled at the Sewanee 35 yard line.
With BSC ahead 7-3 to start the second half, the Panthers quickly extended their lead. After receiving the opening kickoff, BSC drove 71 yards in only five plays. On first and 10 from the Sewanee 21 yard line, Pennington found Daniel Lopera in the corner of the end zone for his second touchdown.
On the Tigers next possession, Sewanee failed to pick up a first down. On fourth and two, John Cleveland punted a long kick down field. Trying to fair catch the punt, BSC fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Sewanee. However, the Tigers did not retain the ball due to an illegal formation. Forced to re-kick, Sewanee fumbled the next snap, which gave the ball back to BSC at the Sewanee 11. A play later, BSC's ran a reverse running play that scored Jamal Watkins.
Sewanee answered on its next drive, as running back Mikey Plancher scored a career-long 32-yard touchdown run with 5:26 left in the third.
The Tigers then pulled to within one score with 8:41 remaining as James Hewell found Sam Hearn on a trick play. Hearn first threw the ball to Hewell. Hewell then tossed the ball back to Hearn who caught the pass on the opposite side of the field and ran into the end zone behind a wall of blockers.
BSC had a chance to ice the game with a field goal on its next possession, however, Ryder Andrews's attempt missed wide right. That set up the Tigers' final drive that ended with the turnover.
Overall, Sewanee finished with 320 yards of total offense. That included career-high 132 passing yards from Hearn. Hearn's favorite target of the day was his older brother, junior receiver Steve Hearn, who finished with nine catches for 84 yards. Senior Divine Maloney also played well with three catches for 30 yards.
On defense, safety Lee Menefee added a career-high seven tackles while linebackers Tony Dykes and B.J. Addison each added five solo stops.
Despite dominating the time of possession battle by over 10 minutes, Sewanee was outrushed by BSC 234-173.
Cole Murphy led BSC with 10 tackles while Pennington finished with 251 yards of total offense and two scores.
Sewanee returns to action with a 6:00 p.m. (EST) game at Berry next Saturday.
For more information on Sewanee Athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com. You can also check the Tigers out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.