JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 14, 2023) – Sheldon Arnold, II got things started with a pick-6 on the first series of the game and then flood gates opened. 
 
ETSU scored the first 34 points of the contest and never looked back as the Blue & Gold cruised to a 41-10 win over Wofford on Saturday at Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. 
 
The Bucs got help from all three phases as Arnold became the first Buccaneer to return an interception for a touchdown since former teammate Alijah Huzzie did so in last year's season-opening win over Mars Hill. ETSU's defense held Wofford to 177 yards of total offense (114 passing/63 rushing). 
 
Offensively, three different Buccaneers scored touchdowns with Zach Borisch having two touchdown runs, Bryson Irby ripped off a 56-yard burst and William Riddle papssed his first collegiate touchdown to Will Huzzie in the second quarter. In total, ETSU finished with a season-high 422 yards of total offense as the Blue & Gold rushed for 236 yards and threw for 186. 
 
With ETSU's defense and offense rising up to the challenge to snap its three-game losing skid, the Bucs' special teams also delivered. For the second straight game and fourth time this season, the Bucs blocked a punt – thanks to Trey Foster coming in and blocking a punt in the second quarter – leading to the Riddle eight-yard passing touchdown to Huzzie. Redshirt freshman kicker Ewan Johnson also went 2-for-3 on field goal attempts, had eight kickoffs for 469 yards (three touchbacks) and also registered a tackle.
 
With the win, ETSU improved to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in Southern Conference play, while Wofford dipped to 0-7, 0-4. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter
ETSU 7, Wofford 0: The Bucs struck first as Arnold picked off Paul Seeley on the first series of the game and returned it 39 yards for the touchdown, giving ETSU the 7-0 lead with only one minute and 25 seconds coming off the clock. 
 
ETSU 10, Wofford 0: ETSU's offense hit the field for the first time at the 12:37 mark of the quarter and drove 52 yards to set up a 24-yard field goal by Johnson, making it a 10-point lead with 8:14 left in the frame. 
 
Second Quarter
ETSU 17, Wofford 0: The Buccaneer offense finally got their first touchdown of the day when Borisch capped off an 11-play, 55-yard scoring drive with a six-yard run up the middle. With the Bucs running some wildcat on Saturday, Borisch had runs of three, five and six yards on the drive to post his first touchdown in the Blue & Gold.   
 
ETSU 24, Wofford 0: Following the blocked punt by Foster, ETSU started its drive at the Wofford 30-yard line. Five plays later, Riddle found Huzzie open in the middle of the end zone for an eight-yard strike, pushing the Bucs' lead to 24. Even after having a Terrier defensive back draped all over him, Huzzie was still able to haul in the catch for his 18th career score. Riddle also faced some pressure as he was knocked to the ground following the pass and was rewarded with a roughing the passer penalty as he stood in the pocket to deliver the touchdown. 
 
ETSU 27, Wofford 0: ETSU turned its final drive of the half into points when Johnson connected on his second field goal of the day – making a 37-yard attempt with just under a minute left in the quarter. 
 
Third Quarter
ETSU 34, Wofford 0: After winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half, ETSU got the ball to start the third and made quick use of the possession. Facing 2nd-and-8 from the Buccaneer 44-yard line, Irby bounced to the left and took off for the end zone as he scored on the 56-yard burst, marking his second rushing touchdown of over 50 yards this season. 
 
ETSU 34, Wofford 3: Wofford finally got on the board and ruined the Bucs' bid for their second shutout of the season when the Terriers made a 47-yard field with just under a minute left in the quarter.  
 
Fourth Quarter
ETSU 34, Wofford 10: Being held out of the end zone for the first three quarters, Wofford found pay dirt on its first series of the fourth quarter when Seeley found Dylan Djete for a 14-yard reception with 6:16 remaining in the contest.  
 
ETSU 41, Wofford 10: ETSU capped off the scoring when they went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive and Borisch hit the hole through the right side to score from 24 yards out. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• ETSU defeated Wofford for just the second time in 12 chances, while the 41 points marked the most the Buccaneers in a win over the Terriers since scoring 45 in a 21-point win back on Nov. 7, 1998
• The points allowed to the Terriers marked the fewest given up in the series since holding Wofford to seven points in that win on Sept. 10, 1988 
• The Bucs have now won their last two over Wofford at home, marking the first time ETSU has accomplished the feat since Nov. 1, 1986 (W, 52-3) and Sept. 10, 1988 (21-7)
• Bryson Irby recorded his second career 100-yard rushing game as he finished a game-high 137 yards on 17 carries (8.1 average)
• William Riddle, playing in just his second collegiate game, went 8-for-12 for 149 yards and the one touchdown
• Will Huzzie was the main target for Riddle and starter Haynes Eller as the Buccaneer receiver hauled in seven of his nine targets for 93 yards and the touchdown … Following his seven receptions, Huzzie passed Cecil Moore for second all-time on the Buccaneer receptions list with 167
• Huzzie finished with 102 all-purpose yards … To go with his 93 receiving yards, Huzzie had two punt returns for nine yards 
• To go with his 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, Arnold – the two-time reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week winner – added eight tackles and one tackle for loss 
• Stephen Scott and Jaylen George combined for the lone Buccaneer sack on Saturday … George also had one tackle and two quarterback hurries 
• The Bucs had their first game this season where they did not turn the ball over 
• ETSU was 7-of-13 on third down 
• ETSU's average starting field position was its own 38-yard line, compared to Wofford starting on its own 26-yard line 
• The Bucs held the ball for over 10 minutes in the second quarter and 18 minutes of the first half 

 
NEXT GAME UP
ETSU hits the road for back-to-back road games beginning next Saturday for The Rail Rivalry game with No. 20 Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Finley Stadium. 
 
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