NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College football team closed out the 2009 season with a 28-3 victory over visiting Brevard College at Setzler Field on Saturday.

Newberry finishes the season at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in South Atlantic Conference play, while Brevard ends the year at 7-4 overall and 3-4 in the SAC.

Brandon Gantt (Lexington, S.C.) closed out his stellar senior season by completing 13-of-23 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. David Smith (Union, S.C.) had four catches for 77 yards and a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter, while David Brown (Goose Creek, S.C.) had four receptions for 67 yards and a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Senior running back S.J. Worrell (Madison, Ga.) had 12 carries for 54 yards and a 16-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Gerald Legree (St. Helena Island, S.C.) closed out his career with 13 carries for 84 yards. Gantt also carried the ball seven times for 58 yards and was not sacked.

Defensively, senior captain Andre Moyd (Andrews, S.C.) got the scoring started in the second quarter when he returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown. Senior cornerback Antonio Patton (Woodruff, S.C.) tied for the team lead in tackles with seven stops including two for a loss, while junior safety Ron Parker (St. Helena Island, S.C.) had seven tackles with three for a loss and a forced fumble. Marcus Nelums (Columbia, S.C.) had a fumble recovery and Brian Spencer (Columbia, S.C.) picked off a Brevard pass in the end zone.

Newberry has now defeated Brevard in all four meetings between the two schools and has not allowed a touchdown to the Tornados. The win and 6-4 record gives Newberry its fifth straight winning season, which is the longest stretch of winning seasons for the scarlet and gray since seven straight from 1953-1959 under head coach Harvey Kirkland.

Head coach Todd Knight becomes the first Newberry head coach to have a winning season in his first campaign since Reed Charpia led the Indians to a 7-3 record in 1978. Gantt ends his career ranked fifth in Newberry history in career total offense with 4,384 yards. He is sixth in career passing yardage (3,616) and seventh in touchdown passes (20). Senior receiver Kelton Tindal (Sumter, S.C.) ended his career just two yards short of a milestone with 1,998 career receiving yards.

 

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