Photography by Pete Galarneau, Jr.
Buckhannon, W.Va. – On Senior Day 2013, the Wesleyan Bobcats manhandled the Urbana Blue Knights 34-13 to close out the season Saturday afternoon at Cebe Ross Field. With the victory the Bobcats finish the season at an overall 5-5 and 5-4 in Mountain East play.
The afternoon kicked off honoring the Bobcat Senior Football members as well as the Senior Athletic Trainers who have played important roles in their athletic careers. Parents, friends, and teammates greeted and escorted their honoree between a Bobcat tunnel formed by team members. Seniors, filled with emotions, walked, danced, and took the field one more time in hopes of solidifying a capstone program win.
Urbana (6-4, 6-2) came in the contest with only one conference loss to powerhouse Shepherd but with the way the Bobcats had been playing of late, players and coaches definitely knew there was a chance to execute and win.
Urbana won the toss and elected to receive placing a stingy Bobcat defense that would force two turnovers and not allow a point on the field to start the game. The Blue Knight offense struggled, to say the least, on third and fourth down's going a combined 0-18. The Bobcat D would hold strong on the first possession snuffing out a 4th and 2 just over Midfield in Wesleyan territory. That would set up the offense with a short field, however, a missed Kasper Bernild field goal would give the ball back to Urbana. The Wesleyan D would hold strong again, this time forcing a punt to give the 'Cats the ball back. Two big first down passes followed by a Michael Anderson run would set up quarterback Jeremy Musselman's 22 yard touchdown pass to senior Lavaughn Hughes to put the 'Cats up 7-0 after one quarter of action.
The second quarter is really when the Bobcats did their damage, scoring 17 points while holding the Blue Knights to a goose egg. Musselman and Hughes would hook up again from the same 22 yard distance for their second touchdown's and Bernild would avenge his miss with a 37 yard make seconds before the half. The highlight play of the day that ignited the crowd, however, came after the second Musselman-Hughes TD connection that pushed Wesleyan ahead 14-0 when Linebacker, Desmond Holley, sacked and forced Urbana's quarterback D.J. Mendenhall to fumble, then returned it 50 yards for the Bobcat score. Bernild would be successful on all three P.A.T.'s and the 'Cats would take the 24-0 lead in to half.
Wesleyan would receive the ball to start the second half but the Blue Knight defense made some adjustments and tightened up, forcing a few Jordan Smith punts. More of the same from the Bobcat D as they held strong ending several Urbana drives on 4th down.
Penalties would plagued the Blue Knights all day hand-cuffing several efforts. After being forced in to a 4th and 17, Urbana's Mendenhall, who doubles as the teams punter, was forced to kick away to Wesleyan All-Time punt return yards holder, Lavaughn Hughes. Hughes would bring the punt back out to the Wesleyan 35 but another personal foul from the Blue Knights would spot the ball at Midfield. On the next play, Michael Anderson, would take a handoff 50 yards and the 'Cats would go up 31-0. The ensuing kickoff would be returned 100 yards for the Urbana touchdown but a blocked P.A.T. by senior Ben Baird would leave the score 31-6.
In the fourth, Bernild would add a career long 46 yard field goal with 8:46 left in the game to give Wesleyan their final tally of the day at 34. The Blue Knights were able to add a forced fumble touchdown return of their own to amass their 13 points. Urbana did not give up, attempting an on-sides kick, however, the ball only traveled nine yards before being recovered by the Blue Knights, thus giving the Bobcats the ball. A few snaps and kneel downs later and the game would be over.
The horn sounded and 2013 Bobcats Football season abruptly ended with a 34-13 win over the conference's number three team. This, just as the team found themselves on a three game winning streak, playing their best football of the year. Unfortunately, the Bobcats will not be eligible for postseason play but have much to be proud of, laying a great foundation for Bobcat Football under first year head coach, George Shehl. Until 2014, Let's Go Bobcats!
