EWING, N.J. — For a moment, it looked like Wesley College might be in for yet another nail-biter.
Midway through the third quarter, underdog College of New Jersey cut the Wolverines’ lead to just three points.
But No. 14-ranked Wesley responded by scoring 21 unanswered points to put away a 31-13 victory over the Lions in a New Jersey Athletic Conference football game on Saturday afternoon.
The victory was the third in a row for the Wolverines (4-1 NJAC, 7-1 overall) as well as their fifth straight over TCNJ (2-3 NJAC, 2-6 overall).
Dover High grad Marcellus Pack gave Wesley the lead for good on a 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The senior finished with two TDs, running for 57 yards on seven carries while adding 48 yards on a pair of receptions.
The Wolverines led 10-0 at halftime after Nick Bruhn booted a 27-yard field goal.
The Lions, however, got within 10-7 on a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. The touchdown seemed to wake up the Wolverines, though.
First, freshman fullback Leroy Pendleton muscled his way up the middle for a two-yard TD run that completed a seven-play, 65-yard drive.
Then linebacker Mike Brewer (Woodbridge) had a strip sack, picking up the fumble and returning it 23 yards for the touchdown. The Wolverines’ second TD in 20 seconds quickly stretched their advantage to 24-7.
Pack’s nine-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter pushed Wesley’s lead to 31-7.
QB Jon Mullin completed 17-of-29 passes for 244 yards but with a pair of interceptions. Receiver Ruhann Peele had six catches for 76 yards with Chuck Simpson adding five receptions for 52 yards plus a 59-yard punt return.
Wesley out-gained TCNJ 366 yards to 270.
Defensively, linebacker Jay Holmes (Caesar Rodney) collected eight tackles, with two sacks and a forced fumble. Safety Coray Williams also had eight tackles with Myles James adding an interception.
Wesley hosts Kean in a 1 p.m. game next Saturday.
