DANVILLE, VA - Hampden-Sydney football earned its 500thvictory since the first season in 1892 in the 2010 season opener against Averett University .With the 45-30 win, the Tigers improve to 1-0 while extending their road winning streak to 16. Junior quarterback Travis Lane (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) was solid in his debut as starter throwing for 348 yards on 27-of-37 accuracy with four touchdowns and one interception. While Lane led the attack through the air, junior Kirk Rohle (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) amassed 118 yards and two scores on the ground.
Averett'sfirst possession was quick due to the Tiger defense forcing a three-and-out. Things were not smooth off the bat for Hampden-Sydney on offense, however, which started out with an interception. Though the Cougars took the ball right back, the ensuing drive was short lived as the Tigers allowed just 21 yards in the following eight plays.
Starting on their own 39 yard line, the Tigers kicked the offense into high gear with Lane hitting junior Sean Cavanagh (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill)for a ten yard pass, followed by 21 yards on the ground from Rohle. Lane then went back to the air, hitting Kyle Vance (Onley, VA/Broadwater Academy) on back-to-back strikes to put the Tigers on the board.
After the defense again put the clamp on the Averett attack, Rohle found the endzone on a one-yard scamper to cap off a 4-play, 39 yard drive to put the Tigers up 14-0.
The Cougars began to gain momentum on the ensuing drive, but it was short lived. Senior Ty Condrey (Chesterfield, VA/Manchester)sacked Kirkland Brown while also causing and recovering a fumble to give the Tigers the ball in Averett territory.
The second quarter started slowly, with the teams trading six unsuccessful drives and combining for 48 total yards of offense.
The Tigers got the ball on their own five yard line, and Lane connected on consecutive passes to Mike Goad (Chesterfield, VA/Matoaca), Cavanagh and Anthony Mancini (Richmond, VA/Benedictine)for 54 yards. After a combined 35 yards from Rohle and Vance, however, the Tiger offense was held at the Averett five yard line. Though they didn't find the endzone, junior David Prizzia (Jacksonville, FL/Episcopal) connected on a 22 yard field goal to give the Tigers a 17-0 advantage.
Hampden-Sydney's defense again held Averettto a three-and-out with Will Riggenbach (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hill) and Trevor Ikwild (Philomont, VA/Loudon Valley) combining for the stop on a third-and-ten situation. With 2:33 remaining in the half, the Tigers put another seven on the board when Lane and Goad connected on a 14 yard touchdown pass.
Up 24-0 to start the third, Rohle and the Tigers took just 1:57 to make it 31-0 on a seven yard run from the junior back.
Averett responded at the 11:42 mark on a Jeremy Dixon touchdown, but after Regis Craft (Burkeville, VA/Nottoway) sparked the next drive with a 46 yard kickoff return, Lane hit Cavanagh on a four yard pass just two and a half minutes later to up the lead to 38-7.
Ikwild picked off a Kirkland Brown pass to put the Tigers in another position to score. They did just that as Lane threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day, this time to John Michael Sparagna (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee).
Though down 45-7, Averett came up big in the fourth quarter scoring three touchdowns and a safety to put the game at 45-30, but their comeback was not enough as the Tigers kept possession for the final three and a half minutes of the game.
On the day, Rohlefinished with 118 yards on the ground and 40 yards receiving. Vance led all receivers with eight receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown while Cavanagh snared eight passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Defensively sophomore Kenny Fryman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) led the way with 11 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Steven Fogleman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) had ten tackles, while Ikwild added nine tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
Averett'sJeremy Dixon led their receivers with nine receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown while Brown was 16-for-21 for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Hampden-Sydney returns home to face North Carolina Wesleyan next Saturday, September 11. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.
