Erskine College Athletics

DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College football team (2-2, 0-1 CC) was defeated by Shorter University (2-2, 1-1 CC) by a score of 31-24 at Henry C. Oates Stadium on Saturday evening.

Erskine trailed 31-3 halfway through the third quarter but put together a relentless comeback effort highlighted by special individual performances that got the Fleet back within one possession.

THE BASICS
Final | Shorter 31, Erskine 24
Records | Erskine 2-2 (0-1 CC), Shorter 2-2 (1-1 CC)
Location | Due West, S.C. (Henry C. Oates Stadium at Dixie High School)
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ryan Killmer passed for 180 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Shorter had a narrow 199 to 196 advantage in passing yards.
• The Fleet were led by Marquies Lattner (11 carries, 42 yards) on the ground, but the Hawks had a significant edge on the ground, totaling 228 yards themselves.
• Jo Burson led the Fleet receiving corps with four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Jayce Jones added a remarkable 31-yard touchdown on fourth down that was key in the Fleet's comeback efforts.
• Weston Bergman posted a game-high 12 tackles, while Damontia Duff made momentum-changing plays for the second straight week, adding a forced fumble and another blocked field goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Alessandro Santana, Jr.'s 38-yard field goal early in the second quarter tied the game at 3 in what was a cagey and defensive start to the afternoon for both teams.
• However, Shorter took control of the game with three touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the first half, putting the Fleet in a 24-3 deficit at the break.
• The Hawks added a special teams touchdown with seven minutes left in the third quarter, meaning Erskine trailed by a season-high 28 points with just 22 minutes of game time left.
• Erskine responded immediately courtesy of a kick-return touchdown from freshman Reid Giles to start the Fleet's rally.
• Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Damontia Duff delivered a big hit on the Hawks' returner that jarred the ball free and Jeremiah Burson recovered the loose ball, giving the Fleet back possession in prime field position.
• Erskine struggled on the offensive possession and were facing a 4th and 25, but Ryan Killmer launched a last-gasp effort into the endzone that was hauled in by freshman Jayce Jones, who made a spectacular leaping catch for his first collegiate touchdown and got the Fleet even closer, 31-17.
• After a furious and entertaining couple of minutes, the game calmed down until the final moments of the fourth quarter. With the Fleet driving but running out of time, Killmer tossed his second touchdown on the day, thanks to another unbelievable catch, this time by Jo Burson for a 17-yard score to make it 31-24 but with just 42 seconds remaining.
• Erskine was forced to attempt an onside kick, needing the ball back one more time, and Santana, Jr.'s kick was excellent, taking a high hop right at the 45-yard line, but the loose ball was grabbed by the Hawks, who took a knee to run out the final seconds as Erskine's furious comeback effort came up just short in the Fleet's conference opener.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine has its final non-conference game of the regular season with a tough road trip to No. 19 Valdosta State University (3-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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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