WASHINGTON, D.C.-Head Coach Marty Favret enjoyed a nice homecoming at his alma mater as his #22 Tigers defeated Catholic University 35-27 in the first week of ODAC play. Hampden-Sydney received a huge offensive boost from sophomore running back Evan King (Lewisburg, WV/Episcopal), who scored the final three touchdowns of the game. With the win, Hampden-Sydney improves to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the ODAC.
Hampden-Sydney took just two drives to strike first. On the seven play, 80 yard drive, junior quarterback Travis Lane (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) was four for five for 66 yards, including the 39 yard touchdown pass to junior Sean Cavanagh (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill).
Four plays later, however, Catholic tied the game at 7-7 after Greg Cordivari hit Lawerence DeSimone for a five yard touchdown.
Hampden-Sydney fumbled on the first play of the next drive, which set up Catholic for an 11 play, 70 yard drive that lasted for four and a half minutes. On fourth and 11, Cordivari and the Cardinals chose to go four seven rather than three, and it paid off with a 30 yard touchdown pass to Tanner Keefe to end the first quarter up 14-7.
Both teams traded punts to start the second quarter, but on the Tigers' second drive they found pay dirt. With the ball on the Catholic 33, it took just one play with Lane hitting Kyle Vance (Onley, VA/Broadwater Academy) for the equalizer.
Hampden-Sydney's defense forced a three-and-out, but Scotty Braswell picked off Lane in the end zone to give the Cardinals possession. Catholic began to steadily march down the field, take over six minutes on the drive. They reached the Hampden-Sydney 12-yard line, but the Tigers would not allow another first down, forcing Catholic to settle for a 21 yard field goal to go up 17-14 heading into intermission.
The Tigers pounced first in the second half. After Chris Shembo (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Country Day) danced his way 31 yards to the Catholic two yard line, King capped off the 53 yard drive with the two yard scamper.
Just 11 plays later, however, Catholic struck right back with a 28 yard field goal to cut the Hampden-Sydney lead to 21-20.
The back-and-forth scoring continued, with Hampden-Sydney scoring on the ensuing drive. After 14 plays, 61 yards and almost seven minutes, King again ran into the end zone, this time to go up 28-20 to end the third quarter.
After a Catholic three-and-out, Hampden-Sydney added a cushion to the lead with a four yard touchdown scamper from King with 10:17 left in the game.
The two possession lead was not safe, as Catholic - in front of its Homecoming crowd - quickly moved the ball 85 yards down the field for a Cordivari to Alonza Cooke six yard touchdown connection.
The comeback was too late, though, as Hampden-Sydney was able to control and move the ball for the final 5:44 of the game for the 35-27 win.
Offensively, Lane was 25-for-34 for 319 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Vance and Cavanagh combined for 11 receptions, 207 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Andrew Bruckner (Chesterfield, VA/L.C. Bird) had a game-high nine receptions for 83 yards. King tallied 71 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Catholic's Pitensberger led all rushers with 185 yards on 35 carries. Cordivari was 24-for-32 with 234 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Trevor Ikwild (Philomont, VA/Loudoun Valley) led all tacklers with 17, while Steven Fogleman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) tallied 10 stops. August Berling (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) and Kenny Fryman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) each had nine tackles.
Hampden-Sydney returns to action next Saturday, October 9 as it travels to Bridgewater, Virginia to face the Eagles of Bridgewater College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.
