HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-The Hampden-Sydney football team nearly upset 13th-ranked UW-Platteville at home. The Tigers took a 29-21 lead into the half but were hampered by seven fumbles – three of which were lost – and ultimately fell 38-29. The Tigers enter their bye week at 1-2 overall while the Pioneers improve to 2-0.

The Tiger offense was firing on all cylinders to start the game, with Cam Johnson (Dillwyn, VA/Buckingham) catching a 49-yard touchdown pass from Alec Cobb (Jamestown, NC/Ragsdale) on the opening drive.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, Cobb and Johnson connected again for a six-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead just seven minutes into the game.

UW-Platteville, however, regrouped in the second quarter, scoring three straight touchdowns to take a 21-13 lead midway through the quarter.

Cobb and the Tigers responded two minutes later when Cobb avoided pressure and found Major Morgan (Onancock, VA/Broadwater Academy) in the back of the end zone on a scramble from the 18-yard line.

Cobb found Morgan again four and a half minutes later, and the 22-yard touchdown reception put the Tigers up 29-21 going into the half.

After each team traded punts to start the second half, UW-Platteville made it a one point game with a 32-yard touchdown reception.

The teams traded punts again, and then the Tigers fumbled on the next drive on their own 11-yard line, setting up a 24-yard field goal to put the Pioneers up 31-29 with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.

The Tigers then fumbled again on their own 35-yard line, but the defense came up big forcing a turnover on downs.

UW-Platteville was the only team able to score in the fourth quarter, using a two-yard run from Wyatt Thompson with five minutes remaining to take its final 38-29 lead.

The two offenses put up nearly identical numbers with Platteville earning 328 yards of offense on 79 plays and the Tigers putting up 329 of 74 plays. The Tigers threw for 317 and ran for 12 while Platteville threw for 221 and ran for 107. The difference in the game was the 3-0 difference in turnovers.

On the day, Cobb was 33-of-49 for 317 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Morgan and Johnson both had strong performances, combining for 19 catches, 206 yards, and four touchdowns. Carter Cunningham (Farmville, VA/Fuqua) had nine grabs for 53 yards.

Mike DeMasi (Virginia Beach, VA/Frank W. Cox) carried the ball 11 times for 47 yards.

Defensively, Kendall Blankenship (Appomattox, VA/Appomattox) led the way with seven tackles. Six Tigers had five tackles, including Joe Everette (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) and Griffin Davis (Charlottesville, VA/Monticello) who each had 2.0 tackles-for-loss. Both of Davis' were sacks for a total loss of 17 yards. The Tigers also had nine pass break ups as a unit.

After the bye week, the Tigers will return to action as they host the Eagles of Bridgewater College on September 30. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.