Moore, Moeller go down in first televised NGU game
By: John Lamb
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Sports
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Staff Writer
A T.V. broadcast, live band and good old-fashioned low country boil added to a somewhat bittersweet night at North Greenville University.
When driving to Tigerville Thursday afternoon, the resemblance of a carnival appeared from behind the trees alongside Highway 414.
A red sea of students, tents and canopies crowded the grounds in front of Younts Stadium. Mixed feelings of excitement and laid-back anticipation filled the air before a game that would go down in the record books, no matter the outcome.
Sept. 13, 2007, will forever be remembered as the first live televised game for the football team - a match up between two teams coming off record-breaking seasons.
Newberry College (3-0) advanced to the second round of the Division-II NCAA playoffs and hosted their first ever playoff home game last fall, while North Greenville (0-3) won the Victory Bowl, the national championship for the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Not only will Thursday be remembered for the pre-game festivities, it will also be remembered as a more somber game.
During the last quarter of play, with a little over five minutes left, running back Matt Moore, sophomore business administration, was injured as he received a hard hit. The stadium fell silent, and players and students of NGU knelt in prayer.
Newberry's players gathered on the 25-yard line and prayed for Moore.
The EMS crews took no chances and rushed Moore to the hospital in downtown Greenville where he underwent tests that came out normal. Moore remained at the hospital overnight for observation.
The last game at Fogle Field produced several record-breaking numbers, but Thursday night's statistics resembled more of a normal game.
The Indians held the Crusader offense, averaging over 500 yards a game this season, to 314 yards.
The first half of the game saw both teams score alternating touchdowns.
In the second half, however, the Indians started to prevail as injuries began to plague the Crusaders.
Starting quarterback Eric Moeller, senior mathematics, received a mild concussion in the third quarter, and Ricky Casko, freshman sport management, took the reigns for the rest of the night.
After the half, NGU scored only six points to Newberry's 20 as the remaining Crusader faithful saw the Indians win 39-20.
Rashaad Cummings, junior sport management/business administration, led the Crusader's offense with 17 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
"He played really well and he was really seeing [the field], especially the first half," head coach Mike Taylor said. "He really looked like he belonged out their on that field."
Moeller finished with 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Moore led the receiving core with three catches for 40 yards.
The Crusaders will be back in action on Saturday, September 20, traveling to Edward Waters University.
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