Box Score
After defeating Lincoln to start the 2012 and 2011 campaigns the Wolves fell in the 2013 season opener 33-28 at O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium in front of 3,061 faithful.
Eugene Moten led Cheyney with 255 return yards to give the Wolves excellent field position but several ill-timed turnovers, penalties and missed fourth down opportunities was not the recipe that Coach Lockard called for on opening day.
The Wolves opening drive stalled and after a Jewel Jones punt that landed on the Lincoln 29, no one downed the ball and Lincoln's Elijah Douglas scooped it up and went 71 for the score.
The Wolves were able to knot the game on their next possession. Moten set up the drive with a kick-off return of 37 yards to the Cheyney 41. After seven plays, six of which were rushes, the Wolves Nahum Purdie found himself in the end-zone after a 22 yard gallop. However the Lions answered on their first play from scrimmage when quarterback Dougals Cook connected with Akeem Jordan down the Cheyney sideline for a 55 yard catch and run.
Midway through the second quarter with the Lions leading 14-7, Lincoln again found the end-zone. Cook once again teamed up with Jordan with an 11-yard fade to the near corner to extend the lead to 21-7. The Lions tacked on a 26 yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to take a 24-7 lead into the locker room.
Midway through the third quarter the Wolves were able to force a fumble, one of three on the day, and after a 17 yard fumble return by Maurice Jones the Wolves had first and goal on the Lions 8. Three plays later Purdie was credited with a 13 yard rush for the score. Making the score 24-14. On the ensuing possession the Lions were able to march 65 yards to push the lead to 30-14 after a failed PAT. The Wolves started their next drive on their own 25 and two plays later threw an interception, their second of the afternoon. However, the Cheyney defense was able to hold and Lincoln had to settle for a field goal and extend the lead to 33-14, their biggest margin of the game. The Wolves would immediately answer back as Moten took the kick-off 44 yards and Cheyney began their drive on the Lincoln half of the field. Five plays later Marcus Jones found the end-zone of a three yard rush up the middle. The Wolves PAT failed and Cheyney found themselves down 33-20. Lincoln took over their next drive on their own 22 and three plays later were forced to punt. The snap went over the kickers' head and out of the end-zone and the Wolves were credited with a safety. Cheyney trailed 33-22 at the end of three quarters.
With four and half minutes to play Cheyney was once again were able to force a fumble and took over at midfield. Two and half minutes later Jones found the end-zone but the Wolves two-point conversion failed. With less than two minutes to play Cheyney was forced to attempt an on-sides kick but it went out of bounds the Lions were able to run out the clock and earn a hard fought victory for rookie head coach Ramon Flannigan.
The Wolves are on the road next week at IUP while the Lions travel to Sacred Heart.
