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# North Greenville 40, Catawba 38: Montgomery’s late runs outlasted the final rally
- URL: https://www.mayberrysports.com/north-greenville-40-catawba-38-montgomery-s-late-runs-outlasted-the-final-rally/
- Published: 2026-09-17T22:47:29.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-17T22:47:29.000Z
- Author: Rick Mayberry
- Tags: Football, #report, South Atlantic Conference, Catawba, #Import 2026-09-17 22:54

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FOOTBALL · SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 · RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

## Executive brief

Catawba lost 40–38 to North Greenville at Shuford Stadium in Salisbury on September 5\. The Indians led during the fourth quarter and scored in the final minute, but the tying conversion failed. [\[1\]](#source-1)

Mayberry’s assessment: the larger yardage total did not protect Catawba from explosive scoring plays. The offense kept providing chances; the defense could not make the late lead last.

## Official data — game profile

| Metric        | North Greenville | Catawba |
| ------------- | ---------------- | ------- |
| Final         | 40               | 38      |
| Total yards   | 390              | 423     |
| Rushing yards | 178              | 128     |
| Passing yards | 212              | 295     |
| Third downs   | 2/10             | 4/13    |
| Fourth downs  | 2/2              | 3/4     |

Official full-game statistics. [\[1\]](#source-1)

## Decisive possessions

With Catawba ahead 32–27, Kam Montgomery scored from one yard out and then broke a 56-yard touchdown run. The latter score made it 40–32 with 5:21 left. Catawba responded through Saeed St. Fleur, but could not add the necessary two points. [\[2\]](#source-2)

The long touchdown changed the final task. Catawba was no longer chasing a modest scoring opportunity; it needed both a touchdown and a successful conversion. Finishing only the first part left the rally incomplete.

## Player impact

Montgomery combined 212 passing yards with 85 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Jonathan Manley caught three passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. [\[2\]](#source-2)

Mason Fortune passed for 295 yards for Catawba. St. Fleur supplied two rushing scores. [\[1\]](#source-1) The contrast was not simply which quarterback accumulated more passing yardage: Montgomery’s scoring threat on the ground repeatedly changed how the game developed.

## Mayberry’s take

Catawba’s offense deserves credit for creating another chance after surrendering the lead. That response, however, should be evaluated alongside the defensive cost of allowing a long scoring run when a single stop could have preserved a manageable deficit.

The conversion failure was the final visible separator, but it was not the only meaningful play. Focusing the review entirely on that attempt would obscure the possessions that made a two-point play necessary. Both the late defensive sequence and the finishing play belong in the assessment.

## Conference context and evidence note

Catawba finished the nonconference game 1–1 overall. [\[1\]](#source-1) The result supplies a specific lesson about protecting leads rather than a reliable ranking of SAC teams.

The official venue is Salisbury. North Greenville’s narrative and displayed defensive totals differ on individual tackles, so those figures are omitted. Its description of the final conversion is more specific than the box score; this report states only the agreed outcome, a failed tying attempt. [\[1\]](#source-1) [\[2\]](#source-2)

## Sources

[\[1\] Catawba official box score and play-by-play](https://catawbaathletics.com/sports/football/stats/2026/north-greenville/boxscore/6953?ref=mayberrysports.com)

[\[2\] North Greenville Athletics recap](https://www.nguathletics.com/news/2026/9/6/football-trailblazers-earn-thrilling-road-win-to-open-up-2026.aspx?ref=mayberrysports.com)