Box Score DUE WEST, SC - Erskine College scored its go-ahead touchdown with 14 seconds remaining and beat the Big Blue 24-19 on a Saturday evening in Greenwood, SC. It was a tough loss for Bluefield State (4-2) who had a nine-point lead with just ten minutes left in the game.
The visitors knew they were in for a fight when they headed south for their game with the Flying Fleet. The Fleet's 1-5 record was deceiving, having lost a series of games against strong opponents.
Still, as they've shown all season, the Big Blue came to play.
After winning the toss and deferring to receive the second half kickoff, they surprised the Fleet with an onside kick that they recovered to start the game. But the drive stalled and Erskine forced a punt. The teams traded three-and-outs before Erskine took advantage of a short punt and kicked a 27-yard field goal at the 6:25 mark in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Fleet added to their lead with a twelve-play drive that covered 57 yards. The point after was good and the home team had a 10-0 lead.
However, just as in earlier games, the Big Blue fought back quickly.
Four straight first-down passes from J'Rell Joseph moved the Big Blue from their 39 to the Fleet's 12-yard line. Kish Grandberry then ran it in for the touchdown. The PAT was blocked and the teams went into their locker rooms with the Big Blue trailing 10-6.
Bluefield State started the second half ready to dominate.
They took the kickoff and engineered a 13-play, 74-yard drive that culminated with a 28-yard pass from Joseph to Kentavious Jefferson. The PAT was good and the Big Blue had the lead at 13-10. The rest of the quarter was scoreless thanks to two goal line stands by the Fleet.
 
Bluefield State added to the lead in the fourth quarter when Joseph connected again with Jefferson on a 2-yard pass, capping a 10-play, 47-yard drive. Carson Crossman missed the PAT. However, the Big Blue was up 19-10 with less than ten minutes remaining. 
Erskine bounced right back.
They capped their own 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive with a four-yard run with 6:25 remaining. The PAT was good and Big Blue's lead down to 19-17.
The Big Blue then mounted a drive to put away the Fleet for good.
They moved methodically down the field and reached the Erskine seven with a first-and-goal. They punched it to the three. But no further. Then turned the ball over on downs.
With just 1:41 left in the game, the Big Blue defense was counted on to run out the clock and win the game.
Such was not to be.
Led by quarterback Lance Brownlee, the Fleet started moving the ball quickly. Brownlee crossed the 50 on a fifteen-yard, fourth-down run with less than a minute remaining. Two passes and a run moved the ball to the Big Blue 24 with just 24 seconds left. Brownlee then scored the heartbreaker with a run off well-defensed pass coverage. The PAT was good.
Final score: Erskine 24, Bluefield State 19.
All losses hurt. But this one may have stung a little more.
It was a game where the Big Blue came back strong after being down early. Where they dominated time of possession. But also, one where they couldn't punch it in multiple times at the goal line. Where too many penalties stopped drives, took points off the board.
Afterwards, Coach Tony Coaxum said, "Too many mistakes. Too many penalties. A couple of those cost us touchdowns."
He added, "We have to play to our standard of play. When we're locked in and our guys do what they have to do, we're pretty hard to deal with. We're doing something not many teams have done before."
 
Reading between the lines.
Time of possession: Bluefield State, 38:14; Erskine, 21:46.
Offensive plays: Bluefield State,84; Erskine, 72.
First downs: Bluefield State, 27; Erskine, 22.
Total offense: Bluefield State, 387 yards (175 rushing, 212 passing); Erskine, 322 yards (183 rushing, 139 passing).
Turnovers: Bluefield State, 1 (Fumble); Erskine, 3 (2 interceptions, 1 fumble).
Penalties: Bluefield State, 13 for 195 yards; Erskine, 11 for 157 yards.
Fourth Down Efficiency: Bluefield State, 1 of 5; Erskine, 2 of 2.
 
Big Blue leaders.
OFFENSE
Passing:
J'rell Joseph, 27-42; 212 yards; 2 touchdowns; 0 interceptions.
Rushing:
                     Kish Grandberry, 15-144 yards, 1 touchdown
Markaden Bryant,  5-14 yards
                     Berkarion Black, 1-11 yards
Receiving:             
Kenta Jefferson, 10-53 yards, 2 touchdowns
O.J. Gibbs-Washington, 4-52 yards
Berkarion Black, 5-49 yards
Nuccio Lisitano, 4-30 yards
                      Perry Wilder, 2-27 yards
 
 
Punting:
                     Braxton VanScoy, 4-109 yards; 27.3 average
 
PAT:
                     Carson Crossman, 1-3
 
DEFENSE
Tackles:
Kenya Walker, 7 solo, 1 assist, 1.0 sack
Diego Clark-Bledsoe, 3 solo, 2 assist
Xavier Curry, 4 solo
Vernon Redd, 4 solo
Jhordan Inniss, 4 solo
Jamrarious McClellan, 3 solo, 1 assist
 
Interceptions:
                     CJ Waller
                     Jhordan Inniss