ROCKY MOUNT – North Carolina Wesleyan wasted no time in its 2025 football debut, scoring on the first play from scrimmage and never looking back in a 64-12 rout of visiting Averett on Thursday night.
Quarterback Javier Rice hit Michael Pannell for a 75-yard catch-and-run just 23 seconds into the game, sparking a first-half onslaught that had the Battling Bishops up 43-6 at intermission. Rice finished 6-for-9 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Pannell (133 yards, 1 TD) and Tyson Resper (86 yards, 2 TDs) for the bulk of the production through the air.
The ground game proved just as punishing, piling up 396 rushing yards at a 7.1-yard average. Nahjir Seagraves broke free for an 86-yard score down the left sideline as part of his 152-yard night, while Trae Sechrest (83 yards, TD), Keondrick Melton (two rushing TDs), and Zamarreon Winborne (16-yard TD run) all found the end zone.
The Bishops rolled up 627 yards of total offense, compared to just 198 for Averett, and converted 7-of-15 third downs while holding the Cougars to 1.6 yards per carry. North Carolina Wesleyan’s defense also forced a turnover, as Eric Cooper added a third-quarter interception return.
Averett managed two rushing touchdowns from Ethan Ross but could not keep pace with the relentless Wesleyan attack.
NC Wesleyan (1-0), which lost its first four games a season ago – including 41-29 at Averett in the opener – has a complete different vibe to open the 2025 campaign. The Battling Bishops travel to The Apprentice School in Newport News, VA, next Saturday, Sept. 13.
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