HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-For the third consecutive year, #20 Hampden-Sydney has posted a 7-0 record to start the season. The Tigers jumped out to a 21-3 first quarter lead over the Emory & Henry Wasps and never looked back in front of a Homecoming crowd of over 9,000 fans. The Tigers outscored Emory & Henry 27-7 over the next three stanzas, taking a 48-10 victory to improve to 7-0 and 3-0 in ODAC play heading into their bye week. Emory and Henry falls to 4-3 overall in 0-3 in conference play.
The defense was relentless to start the game, holding the Wasps to three-and-outs on the first three drives. On the other side of the ball, Hampden-Sydney was marching down the field, scoring on all three first quarter drives.
The Tigers' first drive was performed flawlessly, with junior Travis Lane (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) completing all four of his passes for 43 yards while rushing for 21 yards. John Michael Sparagna (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) finished the drive with a seven yard touchdown reception.
Hampden-Sydney's next drive lasted just three plays, with Kyle Vance (Onley, VA/Broadwater Academy) making two receptions, and Evan King (Lewisburg, WV/Episcopal) busting out for a 31 yard touchdown strike.
The next drive was short and sweet, with Lane and Sean Cavanagh (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) connecting on a beautiful 71-yard bomb to go up 21-0.
The Wasps, however, were able to close out the quarter with a 20-yard field goal to make it a 21-3 game.
Emory and Henry used the momentum take its first drive to the Hampden-Sydney one-yard line. The Tiger defense did not break though, as Will Riggenbach (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) and Steven Fogleman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) made a huge stop on fourth-and-one on the one yard line to keep the score 21-3.
The Tigers then drove 98 yards in five minutes with Andrew Bruckner (Chesterfield, VA/L.C. Bird) finding pay dirt on a three yard touchdown reception.
On the first play of the Wasps' ensuing drive, Trevor Ikwild (Philomont, VA/Loudoun Valley) put a bone crushing hit on Preston Jennings to force the fumble and give Hampden-Sydney the ball right back. The Tigers eventually capitalized with a 45-yard field goal from David Prizzia (Jacksonville, FL/Episcopal) to end the half.
The Tigers continued to roll ending the first drive of the half with a 28-yard field goal from Prizzia to go up 34-3.
Emory & Henry again made it into Tiger territory, but could not convert on a fourth-and-seven from the Hampden-Sydney 23-yard line. Lane was intercepted just two plays later to give the ball back, but Bill Doody (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Cardinal Gibbons) returned the favor with a pick of his own, that he returned 46 yards. After a holding penalty on the Wasps, Hampden-Sydney took over on the Emory and Henry 19-yard line.
Just three plays later, Lane and Bruckner connected again, this time for 16 yards, to go up 41-3.
The Wasps responded just two minutes into the fourth quarter with an Adrian Jordan 25 yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 41-10, but Hampden-Sydney used much of the fourth quarter to score the final touchdown of the game on a Regis Craft (Burkeville, VA/Nottoway) 13-yard touchdown run to take the final 48-10 margin.
On the day, Lane was 24-for-31 for 358 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. Cavanagh hauled in seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown while Vance caught a team-high eight receptions for 135 yards. King was the lead rusher with 61 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, and Craft ran for 54 yards and a score on just five carries.
Defensively, Ikwild again led the crew with a game-high 11 tackles while Fogleman tallied nine stops. Riggenbach registered five tackles, with 2.5 for loss and one sack. The Tigers held Emory and Henry to 287 yards of offense while the Tiger offense amassed 498 yards.
The Tigers will return to action after a bye week on Saturday October 30, as they host the Quakers of Guilford College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.
