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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Wofford matched East Tennessee State’s early scoring punch but couldn’t find points after halftime, falling 14–10 Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference play at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium. The Terriers dropped to 2–6 overall and 1–3 in the SoCon, while ETSU improved to 4–5 (2–3).
Bucs strike first, Terriers punch back
ETSU opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when running back Devontae Houston broke a tackle and raced 28 yards for a touchdown, giving the Buccaneers a 7–0 lead.
Wofford responded immediately. Quarterback J.T. Fayard led a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Colby Alexander’s 17-yard touchdown run, tying the game 7–7 with 7:59 left in the first.
Houston struck again late in the quarter, finishing an 11-play drive with a six-yard score to put ETSU ahead 14–7 — a lead that ultimately held.
Spence trims the deficit before halftime
The Terriers sustained another long drive in the second quarter but couldn’t find the end zone. Kicker Sam Spence converted a 34-yard field goal with 8:34 remaining in the half, cutting the ETSU lead to 14–10.
Wofford’s defense held the Buccaneers in check over the final minutes before halftime, sending the Terriers to the locker room down just four points.
Defense dominates in second half
Neither team scored after intermission as both defenses dictated the tempo. Wofford limited Houston’s production and forced multiple punts, while ETSU’s defensive front contained the Terriers’ ground game and stopped two promising drives near midfield.
A late fourth-quarter possession gave Wofford a chance to steal the win, but the Terriers’ offense stalled on third down, allowing ETSU to run out the clock.
Key performers
- QB J.T. Fayard: 22-of-29 passing, 145 yards.
- RB Colby Alexander: 61 rushing yards, 1 TD.
- WR Jayden Harrison: 7 receptions, 79 yards.
- RB Devontae Houston (ETSU): 94 rushing yards, 2 TDs on 18 carries.
By the numbers
ETSU narrowly outgained Wofford 323–307 and held a 20–16 edge in first downs. The Terriers went 5-for-13 on third down and were flagged 13 times for 130 yards, derailing several drives. ETSU committed eight penalties for 100 yards but won the turnover battle and controlled possession for 30:59 compared to Wofford’s 29:01.
Takeaways
Wofford’s defense turned in another solid performance under head coach Shawn Watson, holding a third straight opponent under 21 points. However, recurring issues with execution and discipline — particularly penalties and red-zone inefficiency — again kept the Terriers from finishing.
Despite the loss, Wofford’s young core continues to show flashes of growth, particularly in the passing attack and defensive front.
Next Game: Wofford vs. Samford
📅 Saturday, Nov. 2
📍 Gibbs Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.
⏰ Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. ET
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+
📻 Radio: WOFF 97.1 FM
Wofford returns home to face Samford, a high-powered offensive team currently fighting for position in the SoCon race. The Terriers will aim to clean up penalties and finish drives as they seek their first conference home win of the season.
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