HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Freshman running back Melik Frost/Bluffton, SC rushed for two touchdowns in his collegiate debut, and the Tigers' defense had three interceptions and a fumble recovery, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to 21-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football home shutout victory past visiting Southern Virginia University Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium.

Senior running back Cole Becker/Spring Lake, NC added a touchdown on the ground, as well, while junior linebacker Peyton Carneal/Hayes, junior defensive back Noah Dowdy/Powhatan and sophomore safety Will Shulleeta/Henrico each had interceptions—senior defensive lineman Tyler Lohman/Centreville added the fumble recovery. H-SC (1-0, 1-0 ODAC) led 7-0 at halftime against the Knights (0-1, 0-1 ODAC), before adding scores in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, in the opening game for 2021 and the first action for the hosts in 469 days.

Following a scoreless first quarter, H-SC got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter at 11:47 when Frost scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Sophomore placekicker Jack Breedlove/Atlanta, GA added the first of his three PATs for the 7-0 advantage. The scoring drive covered 65 yards on 11 plays with Frost gaining 17 yards on the ground, including a 13-yard gain, while junior transfer quarterback Tanner Bernard/Lynchburg had two 14-yard completions to junior running back Kaleb Smith/Rocky Mount and a 10-yard pass to senior captain and wide receiver Dillon Costello/South Riding—Bernard adding a key 10-yard run for a first down, as well.

The Tigers took the first possession of the third quarter and marched 73 yards on 11 plays that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by Becker at 10:13. Breedlove's PAT made it a 14-0 lead for the hosts, who ran the ball nine times on the drive, though the big play was a 19-yard reception by Costello from Bernard. Smith had 15 yards on the ground, Frost added 13 yards and Becker had a 12-yard run on the scoring possession.

H-SC added its third score late in the fourth quarter with just 2:56 remaining when Frost found the end zone for the second time, this touchdown from two yards out, and Breedlove added the PAT to provide for the final margin. It was a six-play, 21-yard drive that was set-up by Carneal's first collegiate interception that he returned 19 yards. The big play was an 18-yard reception made by senior wide receiver Blake Page/Richmond on a pass from Bernard that was tipped before Page made the catch on the sideline at the three yard line.

Bernard, a transfer from NCAA Division II UVA Wise, passed for a game-high 185 yards (23-33) with one interception, adding 31 yards on the ground. Frost finished with a game-high 53 yards rushing on 15 carries and the two touchdowns, adding one reception for six yards, while Becker added 30 yards rushing on 10 attempts and one touchdown. Freshman Josh Jones/South Hill contributed 22 yards rushing on three attempts. Smith had a game-high 82 yards receiving on 10 catches, adding 22 yards rushing on four carries, while Costello had four receptions for 38 yards, freshman wide receiver Braeden Bowling/Cary, NC had one catch for 38 yards and Page added two receptions for 20 yards. H-SC totaled 342 yards of total offense, including 157 yards rushing and 185 yards passing.

H-SC's defense was strong all day, limiting SVU to only 152 yards of total offense, including just 64 yards rushing and 88 yards through the air. Lohman and freshman defensive back Will Pickren/Mt Pleasant, SC led the Tigers with six tackles each, including one for loss and the fumble recovery in the fourth quarter by Lohman, while Pickren provided two big hits in the second half—one in the third quarter and one in the fourth. Senior captain and defensive back Riggs Jordan/Spencer, senior linebacker Brendan Weinberg/Apex, NC and junior cornerback Jordan Fields/Chapel Hill each had five tackles—Jordan with one for loss and one sack and Weinberg with one for loss and a half-sack. Shulleeta, senior captain and defensive lineman Phil Pullen/Manassas, junior linebacker Stephen Cash/Kill Devil Hills, NC, junior defensive back Dallas Robinson/Lorton and freshman defensive lineman Kevin Gholson/Montpelier each contributed four tackles—Pullen with one for loss, along with Cash (half-sack), and Gholson each with 0.5 for loss. Shulleeta returned his first collegiate interception 24 yards and Dowdy had two yards on his first collegiate interception and return. Junior defensive tackle Michael Harris/St. Stephens Church finished with three tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

Davis Pinkston passed for 88 yards (13-16) with one interception, adding seven rushes for 39 yards on the ground for SVU. Woodson Francois had four receptions for 29 yards, and Skylar Johnson added 30 yards receiving on three catches for the Knights. Mitchell Lesue had a game-high 13 tackles, while Bishope Apodaca added 12 tackles—Justin Mitchell with the interception for the visitors.

H-SC avenged a 29-17 road setback at SVU last season (2019) in Buena Vista, and posted its first shutout since September 20, 2014—a 56-0 home win past the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The Tigers will travel to play at ODAC member Shenandoah University on Friday night, March 5, at 7 p.m. in Winchester.