BLUEFIELD – The much-anticipated battle with Emory & Henry College was close for three quarters, but the visiting Wasps pulled away and defeated the Rams 49-21 Saturday night at Mitchell Stadium.
The Rams took the opening kickoff and marched into Emory & Henry territory before the Wasps intercepted an Aiden Wilder pass in the red zone and returned it to the E&H 33.
The Wasps first play was a big gainer into Bluefield territory and the second play drove them deeper into the Rams' zone. A Carter Frye sack forced a third and long but a BC penalty gave new life to E&H with a first down. E&H, assisted by BC penalties went on to score on a four-yard TD run with 8:15 to play in the quarter to take the lead.
Emory made it 14-0 before the Rams drove the field at the end of the first quarter. After switching ends of the field as the quarter ended, Bluefield got on the scoreboard when Wilder connected with Lowell Patron Jr., from three yards out for the score. Tanner Griffith booted the PAT to make it 14-7 with 14:55 to play in the second.
The Rams wasted little time taking the ball back down the field on the Wasps. Wilder on a keeper got a first down at the two and Wilder kept on the next play for the score. Griffith's extra point tied the game at 14 with 10:06 remaining in the half.
With Emory driving deep in the Rams' red zone, Chris DeBerry picked off a Wasps pass and returned it to the Bluefield 15 yard line, snuffing out the threat. BC could not move the ball and punted it back to Emory & Henry.
E&H retook the lead on a spectacular catch in the end zone with 4:20 to play before halftime when Derrick Yates went up between two BC defenders and came down with the ball. The kick made it 21-14. On the ensuing series the Rams fumbled and E&H got possession on the BC 23 yard line. Four plays later the Wasps were in the end zone on a pass play and with just over two minutes left before halftime Emory & Henry led Bluefield 28-14.
The Rams, on their first possession of the second half, drove deep into Emory & Henry territory, but a pair of passes fell incomplete in the end zone. Griffith's 40-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 8:50 to go in the third.
The Rams drew closer when Wilder kept and scored from one yard out with 4:30 to play in the third. Griffith's PAT made it a 28-21 game. E&H added to its lead on a pick six with just over two minutes to play in the quarter.
The visitors pulled away late to claim the victory. A pair of Emory scores early in the fourth quarter, including a strip six made it 49-21 with 10:50 to play in the contest. BC drove inside the Emory 10 with less than two minutes to play but turned it over on downs.
Wilder completed 19-of-40 passes for 308 yards. Lowell Patron Jr., had five catches for 67 yards and Jaquan Ebron hauled in four passes for 64 yards. Greg Ebron caught three balls for 84 yards.
DaMarcus Wimbush had nine tackles and Charles Cox had eight.
The Rams amassed a season-high 403 yards of total offense in the contest, but were penalized 14 times for 100 yards and committed four turnovers, including two that went for direct scores.
The Rams look to break into the win conference next week when they open Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division play against Union College at Mitchell Stadium. It will be Education Day as BC will celebrate education with all those who serve in the field in Southwest Virginia and Southern West Virginia. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.