GREENWOOD, S.C – The Erskine College football team (3-5) pulled off another fourth-quarter comeback as they defeated Allen University (3-4) by a score of 47-40 at J.W. Babb Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Final | Erskine 47, Allen 40
Records | Erskine 3-5, Allen 3-4
Location | Greenwood, S.C. (J.W. Babb Stadium)
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Dearius Hazel had a game-high 91 rushing yards on 19 carries, including the game-winning touchdown. The Fleet had a season-high 240 rushing yards.
• Allen QB David Wright was 25-for-39 for 344 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
• Senika McKie had a game-high 11 receptions and two of the Fleet's three receiving touchdowns.
• Jamal Barron led the Fleet in tackles (10), while Ivan Hill and Ty Simpson each had an interception.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
After the Erskine defense got a stop to begin the game, the Fleet offense took over in good field position and Javian Bellamy took advantage of the short field with a 26-yard touchdown to give Erskine an early 7-0 lead. Allen answered with a scoring drive of their own, but a failed two-point conversion meant the Fleet maintained a 7-6 lead. Erskine was forced to punt on their next drive, and the Allen offense found the endzone again but another failed two-point conversion made it a 12-7 game after the first quarter.

Second Quarter:
Following an Erskine fumble late in the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets extended their lead with a 36-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter and a successful two-point conversion meant the Fleet deficit was 18-7 just nine seconds into the quarter. But the Fleet offense marched down the field on the ensuing possession with a 13-play drive capped by a Lance Brownlee passing touchdown to Senika McKie to cut the deficit to 18-14. Ivan Hill picked off the Allen QB on the following drive and Kaavon Parker punched it into the endzone for the Fleet just a few plays later as Erskine regained the lead, 21-18. But, the Yellow Jackets closed the half with a 9-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to take a 26-21 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter:
Erskine got the ball to begin the second half and moved the ball down the field to set up a Bennett Caldwell 22-yard field to trim the Allen lead to just two points. On the ensuing kickoff, Jamaar Moore forced a fumble on the Allen kick returner and Dameon Green scooped up the loose ball and ran it into the endzone to put the Fleet back in front, 31-26. The Erskine defense forced a punt on the next drive, and Brownlee led the Fleet down the field with a 9-play drive, ending with Senika McKie's second score of the game to extend Erskine's lead to 38-26 with six minutes remaining in the quarter. Allen tossed a 28-yard touchdown on their next drive to answer right back and make it a 38-32 game after three quarters.
 
Fourth Quarter:
The Fleet moved the ball on their ensuing drive, but a missed field goal meant it remained a six-point lead for the hosts. The Yellow Jackets marched down the field, including a key conversion on fourth-and-four before a touchdown and a two-point conversion put Allen back in front for the first time since the first half, 40-38, with just under nine minutes to go in the game. Brownlee and company answered back behind a couple first-down receptions by McKie before Dearius Hazel willed his way into the endzone from five yards out. The Fleet went for two but did not convert, making it a 44-40 Erskine lead with four and a half minutes remaining. Erskine kicked the ball deep on the ensuing kickoff, but Allen never picked up a bouncing ball in the field of play and Dorian Robinson alertly scooped it off the ground for what ended up being an onside kick that set up the Fleet offense at Allen's 23-yard line. Parker had a 15-yard run to open the drive but Erskine was forced to settle for a field goal to make it a 47-40 game with just over two minutes remaining. On the biggest drive of the game, the Erskine defense stood tall. They forced a fourth-and-five in Allen territory and Ty Simpson iced the game with an interception as the Fleet came from behind for the second consecutive week to knock off Allen, 47-40.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet conclude their three-game home stretch next Saturday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. against Newberry College (5-2) at J.W. Babb Stadium. The Wolves won these teams' first ever meeting back in April 2021 in Newberry by a score of 54-14.
 
Follow the Flying Fleet all season long to get schedule updates, scores, highlights, photo galleries, game notes and more at www.erskinesports.com.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos