Five-Peat: Wesley Wins ACFC Title
DOVER, Del. - The third-ranked Wesley College football team clinched its fifth straight Atlantic Central Football Conference Championship with a 30-12 win over Salisbury in the Route 13 Rivalry.
It was Wesley's 15th consecutive conference win, dating back to 2005.
Salisbury appeared to grab the momentum at the beginning of the game with a 37-yard kick return by Jonathan Briscoe and three plays later the Sea Gulls were on the Wesley 36. However, on the next play, Sean Kelly lofted a pass short and Aaron Benson (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) went up to get it for his fourth interception of the year and returned it 31 yards to the Wesley 46.
The Wolverine offense then went on a nine-play, 54-yard drive. On the final play of the drive, Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) threw to Sean McAndrew (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township), who made a one-handed grab for the score eight yard touchdown.
The score stood at 7-0 in the second quarter when a 30-yard pass from Kelly to Tyler Curley set up a four yard touchdown run by Warren Anderson. Dakevis Howard (Wilmington, Del./Concord) blocked the extra point attempt and Wesley remained on top 7-6 with 11:42 left in the half.
The two squads then traded turnovers, with Wesley regaining possession on a fumble recovery by Howard off a forced fumble by Chris Mayes (Waldorf, Md./Westlake).
McSweeny dialed McAndrew's number again, firing a five yard laser to the tight end for his second touchdown of the day and a 14-6 Wesley lead.
A tackle for loss by Mike Asiedu (Yonkers, N.Y./Gorton) and a sack by Mike Ward (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) on the next Sea Gull series forced a punt and Wesley took over at its own 24. On the first play, Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) broke containment on the left side and found the corner for a 76-yard touchdown run to put the Wolverines ahead 21-6 at the half.
Wesley was forced to punt on the opening drive of the second half, but received more heroics from Howard, who forced and recovered a fumble on the return to give the Wolverines the ball at Salisbury's 43. A 37-yard rush by McSweeny set up a nine-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Bacote (Burlington, N.J./Lenape Regional) as the Wolverines went ahead 28-6.
Salisbury tried to mount a comeback, scoring on a six yard rush by Valdase Morris, but had more problems with the point after. The Sea Gulls went for two and Asiedu intercepted Kelly's pass and returned it 100 yards for a 30-12 lead to cap the scoring.
Mayes had a monster game for the Wesley defense. The sophomore end led the team with nine tackles, eight solo, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Asiedu, Marcus Wilson (Pennsauken, N.J./Camden Catholic) and Ward all had 2.5 tackles for loss as the Wolverines tallied 16 tackles for loss in the contest. Wesley also forced four fumbles in the game, with Mayes, Asiedu, Howard and Reggie Millner (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) all separating Sea Gulls from the ball.
The Wolverine defense limited Salisbury's option running game to just 84 yards on 39 carries and just 197 yards of total offense.
The Wolverines, however, rushed for 206 yards on the day. Jackson led the attack with his second straight 100-yard game, rushing 19 times for 127 yards.
McSweeny added 78 yards on the ground and added 161 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Gene Knight (Baltimore, Md./Overlea), McAndrew and Leonard Stevenson (Nanjemoy, Md./Lackey) all had three catches.
Morris and Bryan Woolson paced the Sea Gulls with 44 yards apiece on the ground and Ricky Cassidy led the defense with a game-high 10 tackles.
Wesley will look for another win with its third straight home game, hosting Lake Erie College on November 7.
