Sexton's night ends quickly against Fayetteville State

Dan Wiederer
FayObserver.com

Cam Sexton's Division II joyride hit an unforeseeable road block Saturday night at Fayetteville State.

On his first pass of the night - a 9-yard completion to Travis Landrum - Sexton was hit late by FSU defensive end Jamaal Dixon. And that was that.

Night over.

With barely a minute gone by in the first quarter of Catawba's 21-20 win at Nick Jeralds Stadium, the Indians starting quarterback was propped up on a sideline trainer's table, grimacing in pain as team trainers examined his right ankle.


Sexton tried to put weight on the foot but couldn't. He wrapped a bag of ice around it but was in too much pain to return.
Dennis takes over

Catawba turned to Patrick Dennis in relief. And the junior backup stepped forward, throwing for 164 yards with two second-half touchdown passes.

Sexton, meanwhile, initially sat anxiously on the bench, burying his face in his hands and shaking his head. This was not the return to Fayetteville he had envisioned.

By halftime, the Scotland High School product and former University of North Carolina signal caller was gone from Nick Jeralds Stadium, headed with his parents to Chapel Hill for X-rays.

Results of those tests were not known after the game. But Catawba coach Chip Hester had his fingers crossed that it was nothing more than a sprain.

"That's the hope," Hester said. "His ankle was sore. He couldn't push off. But beyond that, I don't have any other details. We'll have to wait and find out."

Earlier in the week, Fayetteville State coach Kenny Phillips had been eager for his defense to be tested against such a talented and proven college quarterback. Phillips talked of trying to find ways to rattle Sexton. But when Dixon rolled up onto Sexton's plant leg on Catawba's third offensive play, the quarterback's night was finished right when it started.

On the opposing sideline, Phillips admits he felt a bit of sympathy.

"I hope the kid's OK," he said. "Because I know he's been through some tough times in his college career. And I can only hope he can come back in and play the rest of the year for those guys."