NEWBERRY - Newberry College freshman wideout Derrick Higgins (Darlington, S.C.) broke two school individual records with 200 yards receiving and four touchdown catches as the Indians won in a 54-20 rout of North Greenville College Saturday night in the 2003 home opener of Setzler Field.
The Indians (1-1) also broke a 10-game losing slide, dating back to a win over North Greenville early last season. The point total was the largest since a 55-14 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in the 1996 season and the margin of victory was the most since the 45-3 season-opener to the 2001 season against Edward Waters.
The Crusaders (0-2) took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards, but a holding penalty kept North Greenville from getting into the end zone and Newberry forced a turnover on downs at their own 22-yard line.
The Indians lasted eight plays before a punt, but scored on their next six possessions, including their first of the second half.
Higgins started the scoring off in the first quarter with a 68-yard fade route up the right sideline from red shirt junior Brian Shealy (Leesville, S.C.) to get Newberry on the board with 4:21 remaining in the first period. The extra point was blocked, making the score Newberry 6-0.
The Crusaders lasted on drives of ten and eleven yards, while Newberry scored on drives of 15, five and five yards before North Greenville scored on a five-play, 55-yard drive, capped off by a 16-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Pittman (Marlon, Ind.) to receiver Harold McFadden (Sumter, S.C.) with three seconds remaining in the half.
After downing the squibbed kick at midfield, Shealy heaved a pass down the right sideline again that was tipped by a Crusaders linebacker and into the hands of Higgins, who traipsed into the endzone to finish off the half with Newberry leading 34-6.
The Indians scored again on their first possession of the second half on a pass from quarterback Mazi Drummond (Greer, S.C.) to receiver Tymere Zimmerman (Bennettsville, S.C.), a 12-yard toss which capped off a six-play, 48-yard drive to keep the crowd of 3,105 into the game.
Shealy was the leading rusher and passer. He scored a touchdown run of 25 yards in the second quarter en route to a 118-yard performance on the ground on just six carries. He also threw for 235 yards on a 9-for-14 day through the air, with all four scores to Higgins, which also ties a school record for a quarterback tossing TD scores. Shealy's 353 yards of total offense was a career-best.
The Crusaders were led on the ground by Travis Mosley (Greenwood, S.C.) and his 148 yards on 21 carries. Pittman survived a 15-for-30 day with an interception and 129 yard through the air. Receiver Clay Wiles (Iva, S.C.) led the team with 68 yards on nine catches.
North Greenville travels to Wingate University next Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. contest at Belk Stadium and Martin Field. The Indians travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota for a 2 p.m. EST contest at the University of North Dakota next Saturday.
#GO INDIANS#
