WILMINGTON, OHIO — The Southern Virginia University football team opened their 2021 season Saturday afternoon, defeating Wilmington College 41-34 in an overtime thriller. 

Coach's Corner

"This was a great win for the team," said head coach Ed Mulitalo. "To see these guys fight through the whole game, and in all facets of the game, the defense, the offense, and the special teams were all tested today. We knew that there would be some bumps, but I was glad that they overcame the adversity together. We will enjoy this win tonight and move on to the next game."

Players of the Game

Davis Pinkston: 15-28 | 355 yards (career and program record) | three touchdowns

Bishope Apodaca: 15 total tackles | ten solo tackles | five assisted tackles| one tackle for loss

Game Notes

First Quarter:

• After a failed first drive, Wilmington took advantage of good field positioning after the Knights' punt on Southern Virginia's 38-yard line
• Wilmington gets on the board first following a Derek Larimer pass to Dallas Rawlings for a four-yard touchdown just six plays later, and converter the extra point (0-7)
• Both defenses held strong, with each team forcing back and forth punts
• With six minutes remaining in the first, Wilmington got optimal field position again and drove down to the Knights' three yard-line
• Ben Hobbs received the ball and rushed for three yards to put the Quakers up 14-0
• Wilmington held defensively, forcing Southern Virginia to go scoreless in the opening quarter

Second Quarter:

• Opening the second, Davis Pinkston completed a 26-yard pass to Chase Pope to bring the Knights to Wilmington's 33-yard line
• Pinkston made quick work of the quarter's opening drive, finding an open Jake Schenk for the 33-yard touchdown to put Southern Virginia on the board 
• The ensuing extra-point was blocked, and the score remained 6-14 with 14 minutes remaining in the half
• The Quakers managed to shave off four minutes in their following drive, converting on a Gabe Dolen field goal to extend the team's lead to 11 points 17-6
• Wilmington forced a punt on the Knights' next drive and again managed a scoring drive with another Dolen field to go up 20-6 with just under three minutes remaining
• Southern Virginia kept to the air with Pinkston going 3-1 on the next drive, finding Chase Wester on the fourth attempt for the 52-yard touchdown
• Derek Bass' field goal attempt was good and cut the Knights' deficit to seven points 13-20 heading into the halftime intermission

Third Quarter:

• Derek Larimer connected to Dallas Rawlings again for the 33-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 14 27-13 at the 10:46 mark
• With five minutes remaining in the quarter, Stockton Ferguson blocked the Quaker's punt and Tyler Wester scooped up the loose ball, scoring the 23-yard fumble recover touchdown, bringing the new score to 27-20
• Southern Virginia got the ball back with three minutes remaining after Cameron Whipple broke up the pass attempt to Jamaun Clark
• The Knights acquired prime field position after downing the Quaker punt at Wilmington's 40-yard line
• Cade Nelson rushed for a 17-yard gain, putting Southern Virginia at the seven-yard line
• Pinkston recorded his third touchdown pass of the game, connecting with Colten Shumway for the seven-yard touchdown to come within one point after the Bass extra point 26-27

Fourth Quarter:

• Quaker go up by eight points 34-26 after a Ben Hobbs one-yard touchdown run
• Jacob Wood put the Knights within two points 32-34, scoring the one-yard touchdown run 
• Davis Pinkston scored the two-point conversion to tie the game with 6:30 remaining
• Both defenses stand tall, denying any more scoring attempts the remainder of the quarter and forcing overtime

Overtime:

• Southern Virginia only needed four plays to score the go-ahead touchdown off of a Cade Nelson one-yard run and a Derek Bass extra point
• Stockton Ferguson, Colby Hyder, and Tyler Wester come up huge defensively, forcing fourth and goal on the three-yard line
• Derek Larimer throws an incomplete pass to Itika Wynn Jr. to solidify the Knights victory

Southern Virginia returns to Knight Stadium Saturday, September 11, for the Knights' home-opener against Bridgewater College. Game time is slated for 1 pm. 

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