HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-The Hampden-Sydney football team suffered its first conference loss this year, falling 36-35 to Shenandoah in a Homecoming thriller. The Tigers now fall to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the ODAC, and the Hornets improve to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
The Tigers were in control early, scoring the game's first 19 points, but the Hornets did not go way, scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to claim the victory.
Hampden-Sydney came out of the gate on fire, scoring on its first three drives of the game while taking less than two minutes to score each.
On the opening possession, Nash Nance (Calhoun, GA/Tennessee) hit Joey Druhan (Purcellville, VA/Loudoun Valley) for a 27-yard score just five plays and 102 seconds into the game.
Three and a half minutes later, Brady Macko (Kill Devil Hills, NC/First Flight) capped off a seven-play, 64-yard drive with a two yard touchdown run. The Tigers, however, failed to convert on two-point attempts on both scores and led 12-0.
The Tigers' next attempt was just as successful, as Nance and the offense drove 84 yards in four plays and 1:13 with Holton Walker (Lynchburg, VA/Brookville) taking a screen pass 50 yards to the end zone.
The Hornet defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding Hampden-Sydney scoreless while forcing a punt and intercepting a pass. Offensively, Shenandoah scored the lone touchdown of the quarter on an Andrew Smith 15-yard run to come within 12 as the halftime score was 19-7.
Hampden-Sydney forced a punt on Shenandoah's opening drive of the third quarter, but the Tiger offense was forced to punt on the ensuing drive from its own 15-yard line. Shenandoah's Byron Mitchell blocked the punt and recovered on the one-yard line, setting up a Drew Ferguson score to put the score at 19-14.
The Tigers then responded six minutes later, and a Dan Alexander (Lynchburg, VA/Presbyterian) 29-yard field goal gave the Tigers an eight point cushion at 22-14.
Shenandoah remained in the game, scoring on a 57-yard pass from Ferguson to Smith just 62 seconds later. The Hornets went for two and failed, leaving the Tigers with a 22-20 lead.
Hampden-Sydney fired right back, using its longest scoring drive of the day – 3:47 – to get Chris Shembo (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Country Day) into the end zone on a four-yard run. After a failed PAT, the Tigers led 28-20.
After ten scoreless minutes, Smith scored on a three-yard run, and Ferguson converted on the two-point attempt to tie the game at 28-28 with 4:17 to play.
The Tigers wasted no time, driving 62 yards behind 45 rushing yards from Nance, to score on a powerful 25-yard run from the quarterback. After the extra point, the Tigers led 35-28 with 2:37 play.
The lead, however, was short lived, as Shenandoah marched down the field scoring on a Qlyl Middeljin 22-yard touchdown reception to come within one at 35-34. Smith then ran in the two point conversion to take the 36-35 lead with 47 seconds to play.
Hampden-Sydney drove past midfield, and had one play to go on the Shenandoah 46-yard line. Nance launched the ball to the end zone, but the Tigers could not come up with a miracle touchdown in the waning seconds.
On the day, Hampden-Sydney tallied 474 yards of offense via 328 passing yards and 146 rushing. Nance was 20-of-37 for 328 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran nine times for 51 yards and a score. Walker was the top target, recording a game-high 132 yards and a score on six catches. Shembo and Druhan combined for 107 yards on seven catches, and Michael Mey (Glen Allen, VA/VMI) had two catches for 49 yards.
On the ground, Shembo led the attack with 79 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Defensively, the Tigers allowed 427 yards of offense on 236 rushing and 191 passing. Robert Stack (Charlotte, NC/Merchant Marine Academy) tallied a game-high 12 tackles. Michael Bazemore (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee), Josh Doggett (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) and Tyler Ikwild (Philomont, VA/Loudoun Valley) each recorded ten tackles.
For Shenandoah, Andrew Smith had a massive game, recording 357 all-purpose yards with 152 on the ground, 95 through the air, and 110 on kick returns. He also ran for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass.
The Tigers will hit the road to face Guilford College on Saturday, November 2 in a crucial ODAC game. Kick off in Greensboro is set for 1:00 pm.
