Boxscore **Stats not available at time of release**

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The Limestone University football team got off to a rocky start in the 2021 season opener and could never really find its footing on offense, defense, or special teams as North Greenville University pulled out to a commanding lead on its way to a 37-16 decision on Saturday, September 11.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: North Greenville 37, Limestone 16
Records: North Greenville (1-0), Limestone (0-1)
Location: Younts Stadium
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Sophomore QB Dustin Noller (Rock Hill, S.C.) went 21-of-37 for 252 yards and a pair of TDs
• Graduate WR Cedric Smith (Columbia, S.C.) hauled in four catches for 59 yards
• Senior WR Jadarius Hector (Stapleton, Ga.) added three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown
• Graduate RB Anthony McAfee II (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) rushed 15 times for 51 yards
• Freshman RB Tre Stewart (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had 121 all-purpose yards in his debut
• Freshman TE Jaheim Mathis (Johnson, S.C.) pulled in his first career touchdown
• Graduate LB Jaiden Clayton (Gaffney, S.C.) tallied a game-high 11 tackles and two sacks
• Junior DL Zane Boozer (Liberty, S.C.) finished with seven tackles
• Junior DB Kris Williams (Clinton, N.C.) chipped in six tackles and a pair of breakups
• Junior K Nathan Baker (Easley, S.C.) connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal attempt
• Junior P Austin Kemp (Liberty, S.C.) averaged 41.3 yards per punt, but had two punts blocked
• Limestone committed three turnovers on offense, but was unable to grab any takeaways
• The Saints put up 367 yards of offense, but surrendered 458 yards against the Crusaders

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Limestone won the toss and deferred to the second half, putting the defense on the field to start the 2021 campaign. North Greenville, who had not played a meaningful snap since 2019, promptly took the ball down the field, converting on a 4^th-and-3 before scoring on a 40-yard strike to quickly make it a 7-0 game.
 
The Saints responded on their first offensive possession as Noller connected with freshman WR Mikey Jones (Lexington, S.C.) twice for 17 yards, but a penalty killed the drive. Baker would hit on a career-long 49-yard field goal for Limestone, cutting the deficit to 7-3, but NGU moved the ball with ease to extend the lead to 14-3 late in the frame. The Crusaders combined for 150 yards on their first two first-quarter drives.
 
Second Quarter
 
Following a defensive stop at the end of the first quarter, the Limestone offense found a groove as Smith hauled in a 17-yard pass before Stewart had a nifty catch-and-run to set the visitors up with a first-and-goal at the nine. The Saints got down to the three-yard line but was stuffed on a 4^th-and-goal attempt.
 
North Greenville made the Blue and Gold pay on the ensuing possession as a scramble drill on 3^rd-and-10 turned into a 79-yard catch-and-run as the home team set up shop inside the LU 10-yard line. Two plays later, the Crusaders went up 21-3 as Dre Williams shed several tackles on his way inside the pylon.
 
Clayton ended another North Greenville threat with a 16-yard sack late in the half, but Limestone was unable to capitalize on the offensive end. The Saints caught a break as a roughing the passer penalty negated a defensive score by the Crusaders, but the home team still carried a 21-3 edge into the break.
 
Third Quarter
 
After initially going three-and-out to start the second half, Limestone benefited as North Greenville was called offsides on the punt attempt. Giving new life, the Saints moved the ball down into the redzone, getting 44 yards on the ground from McAfee, but a tipped-ball interception halted the drive inside the 10.
 
Again, the Crusaders would find a way to take advantage as Williams busted off a 94-yard touchdown run down the home sideline to essentially put the game out of reach, 28-3, with 9:14 left in the third quarter.
 
Third time was a charm for the Saints as they were able to finally crack the end zone on their third trip inside the NGU 10-yard line. Noller hit Smith for a 26-yard gain on a 3^rd-and-6, made a tremendous pitch to McAfee to avoid a sack, and then capped the scoring drive with a short touchdown pass to Mathis.  
 
Fourth Quarter
 
North Greenville padded its lead further, blocking a Limestone punt out the back of the end zone for a safety before capping the ensuing possession with a nine-year touchdown pass to make it a 37-10 game early in the fourth. The Saints added a score midway through the period when Noller lobbed a 40-yard TD pass over the defense to Hector, but it was not enough as Limestone dropped its 2021 season opener.
 
TURNING POINT
 
North Greenville took control of the contest with two scoring drives in the first quarter and would not look back from there as the home team built a 28-3 lead a few ticks into the third. The Saints scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half, but they would come too late to really make a difference in the 37-16 loss.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone was 1-of-3 in the redzone, walking away with zero points on its first two trips
• The Saints had two punts blocked on the night and missed an extra point
• The defense has allowed over 450 yards in three straight games dating back to the spring
• The Blue and Gold allowed a touchdown run of 90+ yards for the second time since 2019
• The Saints were 5-of-14 on third-down conversions and 1-of-3 on fourth down
• North Greenville was 8-of-15 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth down

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone will open its 2021 home schedule next weekend as it welcomes Saint Augustine's University to The Reservation for the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 11.