JACKSONVILLE, F.L. – The Erskine College football team (1-1) lost its first game of the season as a second-half comeback gave Edward Waters (1-1) a 21-20 victory on Saturday afternoon at Westside High School Stadium.
 
THE BASICS
Final | Edward Waters 21, Erskine 20
Records | Erskine 1-1, Edward Waters 1-1
Location | Jacksonville, Fla. (Westside High School Stadium)
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Erskine QB Craig Pender was 18-34 for 261 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Fleet outgained the Tigers through the air, 261 yards to 75.
• For the second straight game, both Senika McKie and Javian Bellamy caught a touchdown. Kevon Catoe had a game-high 110 receiving yards on seven catches.
• However, Edward Waters dominated on the ground, rushing for 292 yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
• Erskine won the turnover battle three to one, but the Tigers totaled 21 first downs to Erskine's 13.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Erskine forced a three-and-out on the opening possession, but the Tigers' defense answered back as they got a stop on fourth down on the Fleet's first offensive possession inside the Edward Waters 40-yard line. The Tigers had a 17-yard run on the following play, but it was the Erskine defense who opened the scoring on the ensuing play. Nolan Holloway rocked the Tigers' running back in the backfield, who fumbled the ball, and it was picked up by Correy Massey who ran it 50 yards to the endzone. Erskine had a snap issue on the extra point attempt, but still led 6-0 inside the opening five minutes. Both teams exchanged punts on the following possessions, and then Jeremiah Stevens picked off a Tigers pass as the Fleet offense went back to work. Senika McKie had a big third-down catch to extend Erskine's drive, and just two plays later it was Pender and McKie who hooked up again, this time for a 39-yard touchdown to give the Fleet a 13-0 lead. 
 
Second Quarter:
The Erskine defense continued to dominate, and after getting another stop, the Fleet took over on offense inside their own 20-yard line with 6:20 remaining in the opening half. Pender connected with Kevon Catoe on the first two plays of the drive and Dearius Hazel added a pair of first down runs before Pender found Javian Bellamy for a 24-yard touchdown as the Fleet built a 20-0 lead with 4:48 to go in the first half. The Tigers got on the board on the ensuing drive with a 21-yard rushing touchdown just before the half as Erskine had a 20-7 lead going into the halftime break.
 
Third Quarter:
The Fleet opened the second half with a three-and-out, but the Erskine defense answered as Brandon Lane stripped the Edward Waters quarterback and recovered the fumble for the Fleet's second forced turnover of the day. Both defenses took control until the Tigers cut into the deficit with another rushing touchdown to trim the Erskine lead to 20-14 right before the end of the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter:
On the next Edward Waters possession, the Tigers attempted a 50-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked by Catoe to keep the Fleet lead at six points. But, the Fleet offense went three-and-out on their next possession, and the Tigers took their first lead of the game at 21-20 with a rushing touchdown from three yards out with 6:22 remaining. Both teams again exchanged punts, and the Fleet took over on their own 12-yard line with 2:28 left in the game and one final chance to retake the lead. Pender found Bellamy on the first two plays of the drive as Erskine moved the ball near midfield, but faced a 4th and 8 on their own 38-yard line with less than two minutes left, needing a first down to keep the game alive. Pender scrambled around and attempted to squeeze a pass into a small target, but it fell incomplete as the Fleet were defeated 21-20.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet continue their 2021 season with their home opener against Shorter University (0-1) next Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at J.W. Babb Stadium in Greenwood, S.C.
 
Follow the Flying Fleet all season long to get schedule updates, scores, highlights, photo galleries, game notes and more at www.erskinesports.com.
 
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