The stage was set, the rivalry renewed, and the fans were ready for an electrifying clash in the Gate City Soup Bowl. Greensboro College football team squared off against their local rivals, Guilford College, in its 2023 season opener. Unfortunately, for The Pride, it ended in a 36-21 loss, leaving their faithful fans with a sense of longing for what could have been.
The game started with a bang, as Greensboro College's offense came out firing on all cylinders. Quarterback Alec Williams-Carr orchestrated a beautifully executed 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deaven Hawkins, setting the tone for the evening. Kicker Alex Mora added the extra point, giving The Pride an early 7-0 lead that ignited the crowd.
Although Guildford would respond, Williams-Carr continued to shine in the first half, engineering another scoring drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Hreiz. Greensboro College headed into halftime with a 13-9 lead.
Guilford, determined to bounce back, rallied with 13 unanswered points. The Quakers' offense found its rhythm and took control of the game, leading 22-13 and leaving The Pride searching for answers.
The rollercoaster continued as Guilford added another score, extending their lead to 29-13. However, Greensboro wasn't ready to wave the white flag just yet. With resilience and determination, Leonard Greer found the end zone with a four-yard rushing touchdown, and a successful two-point conversion brought the score to 21-29 with 10:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
With just over eight minutes left on the clock, Guilford was forced to punt, putting Greensboro in prime position to tie the game. However, fate took an unfortunate turn when a muffed punt gave possession back to Guilford deep in The Pride's territory.
Guilford seized the opportunity and capitalized on the mistake, scoring another touchdown to extend their lead to 36-21. The late-game heroics Greensboro College needed proved elusive on this night.
Despite the loss, Alec Williams-Carr emphasized his talent, completing 19 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns and another 71 yards on the ground. Anthony Hreiz led the receiving corps with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. The run game saw moderate success with Rodney Scott contributed with 46 yards, while Leonard Greer's lone carry found the end zone.
Defensively, The Pride forced three interceptions, thanks to the efforts of Da'shun Scott, Tyler Alston, and Derrick Smith. Dejuan Robinson and Andrew Burgess made their presence felt with sacks, while Darius Benton and Imanuel Ellis combined for a half sack each. Linebacker Max Steele played a pivotal role with nine total tackles and a sack bringing the teams total to 4 on the day.
Head Coach Tyler Card shared his thoughts after the game, saying, "The key to the game is disciplined. We had a couple crucial mistakes but I'm proud of the way these men came out and refused to lay down. While the outcome wasn't what we had hoped for, we'll learn from this experience and come back stronger."
The Pride faithful can take solace in knowing that the season is just beginning, and there are plenty of opportunities ahead for Greensboro College to make their mark. The Gate City Soup Bowl may not have gone their way, but the journey of the 2023 season is far from over.
This Saturday, at 6 PM, The Pride will hit the road and travel to Danville, Virginia, where they will face off against Averett University. It promises to be another thrilling showdown as Greensboro College looks to bounce back and secure their first victory of the season.
