BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Junior quarterback Andrew Puccinelli (Glen Allen) passed for a game-high and career-high 305 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start, and ran for another score, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 70-28 non-conference football victory past Greensboro (NC) College on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium in Hampden-Sydney. Junior running back Melik Frost (Hardeeville, SC) rushed for a game-high and career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns, as well, and added a receiving score for the host Tigers who jumped out to a 28-0 lead after one quarter and led 42-21 at halftime against the visiting Pride. The 70 points scored by H-SC is the most scored since 2012 (68, Guilford, 2012), and the second-highest point total (82, Maryville, 2003) during the 23-year tenure of head coach Marty Favret. H-SC improved to 1-2 overall, while Greensboro dropped to 0-3 overall.

H-SC took its first possession and quickly scored as Puccinelli—making his first college start—connected with junior wide receiver Jamahdia Whitby (Williamsburg) for a 10-yard scoring pass at 7:37 to finish an eight-play, 55-yard drive. Senior placekicker Jack Breedlove (Atlanta, GA) added the first of his 10 PATs for the 7-0 lead. A 10-yard completion from Puccinelli to Frost on third-and-five kept the drive alive, and Frost also had a 13-yard run. It was Puccinelli's first collegiate touchdown pass.

The Tigers got the ball right back when sophomore linebacker Walker Marsh (Raleigh, NC) forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and senior safety Will Shulleeta (Henrico) recovered the ball at the Pride 31. Puccinelli promptly completed two passes to sophomore wide receiver Austin Fernandez (Warrenton), the latter for 13 yards and a touchdown at 6:59. Breedlove's PAT made it 14-0.

H-SC forced another turnover on the next possession when junior linebacker Dorian Green (Martinsville) made an interception with a five-yard return to the GC 35. Six plays later, Frost scored his first touchdown of the day from three yards out at 3:11, and another PAT by Breedlove made it 21-0. Junior running back Josh Jones (South Hill) had an 11-yard run and a 20-yard reception on the possession.

The Tigers forced a three-and-out, and following a punt, took over at their own 22 and quickly went 78 yards on three plays with Puccinelli finding Frost for a 47-yard touchdown pass at 1:07. Breedlove's PAT made it 28-0. Frost and Puccinelli had nine and seven yard runs, respectively, while a penalty aided, as well.

Another three-and-out with a short punt out of bounds gave H-SC the ball at the visitor's 32 on the first possession of the second quarter. Puccinelli connected with freshman wide receiver Mason Cunningham (Arlington) for a 32-yard touchdown pass down at 14:03 on third-and-10, and the PAT by Breedlove made it 35-0. It was Cunningham's first collegiate touchdown reception.

The H-SC defense gained another turnover by the Pride when junior defensive end TJ Gates (Powhatan) forced a fumble that was recovered by senior linebacker Hunter Spence (Colonial Heights) at the GC 35. Frost promptly took it to the end zone on a 35-yard touchdown run at 12:21, and Breedlove's PAT made it 42-0.

GC was able to score three consecutive touchdowns to close the quarter and make it a 42-21 contest at the intermission. JaJuan Givens scored on a 36-yard interception return at 9:09, Da'Shaun Wallace scored on a 15-yard pass from David Loughry II at 1:46, and Rodney Scott Jr. scored on a two-yard run at 1:24. Marano Collins added the three PATs.

H-SC took the first possession of the third quarter and drove 68 yards on 11 plays with Puccinelli scoring on a two-yard touchdown run at 11:16, and the PAT by Breedlove made it 49-21. The drive featured a 19-yard completion from Puccinelli to Cunningham, a 12-yard run by Frost on third-and-two, and a six-yard run by Frost on fourth-and-two.

The Pride answered back with a one-yard touchdown run by Scott at 7:13, and the PAT by Collins made it 49-28.

The Tigers added two more touchdowns in the quarter as Frost found the end zone on scoring runs of 64 and six yards, respectively, at 6:54 and 0:53. Breedlove added the two PATs and the Garnet & Grey led 63-28 after three quarters. The first drive was all Frost on the one play, while the second drive was a nine-play, 85-yard possession that featured a pair of 13-yard runs by Frost, along with completions by Puccinelli of 11 yards to Cunningham on third-and-two, and 10 yards to senior tight end David Byler (Virginia Beach).

H-SC added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter when freshman quarterback Carter Sido (Dallas, TX) scored on a 19-yard run at 5:48, his first collegiate touchdown. The PAT by Breedlove provided for the final 70-28 margin of victory. It was a 15-play, 94-yard drive that featured seven rushes by Sido for 45 yards, including a pair of fourth down conversions. Puccinelli added a 20-yard completion to Cunningham early in the possession, as well.

Puccinelli passed for his game-high and career-high 305 yards (28-33) and the four touchdowns with two interceptions for H-SC, adding a touchdown on the ground, as well. Sido passed for four yards (3-3) and rushed for the 45 yards on seven carries and the one touchdown. Frost rushed for his game-high and career-high 211 yards on 21 attempts and four touchdowns, adding 59 yards receiving on three catches and one touchdown. Cunningham had a game-high and career-high 116 yards receiving on a career-best nine receptions and one touchdown, while Fernandez finished with 60 yards receiving on nine catches and one touchdown, and Whitby had the one catch for 10 yards and the touchdown. The Garnet & Grey did not have to attempt a punt during the lopsided contest.

Junior safety Will Pickren (Mount Pleasant, SC) finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including three solo and nine assists, to lead the Tigers on defense. Junior safety James-Ryan Salvi (Troutville) added 10 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups, while freshman cornerback James Townsend (Hardeeville, SC), junior linebacker Dorian Green (Martinsville), and junior linebacker Jaylin Jones (Rustburg) each finished with six tackles—including a pass breakup by Townsend, one tackle for loss and the interception by Green, along with 0.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry by Jones.

Loughry II passed for 261 yards (23-41) and one touchdown with one interception for GC. Scott had 39 yards rushing on 11 attempts and two touchdowns. Wallace had 27 yards receiving on six receptions and one touchdown. Givens, Tyler Alston, Max Steele and Malik Hargrove each finished with 10 tackles for the Pride.

H-SC is idle next weekend with its bye week, as the Tigers will return to action on the road at Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opponent Bridgewater College on Saturday, October 1, at 2 p.m. in Bridgewater. It will be the first ODAC game of the season against the Eagles.

It was also Hall of Fame Weekend as H-SC inducted five new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame prior to the game in Snyder Hall at the Kirk Athletic Center. Football All-American Trevor Ikwild '11 from the Class of 2021, who was unable to attend last fall's induction, was joined from the 35th Class (of 2022) that included five-time ODAC Men's Tennis singles and double champion Scott Goodman '82, two-time Men's Lacrosse All-American Doug Palmer '99 and Football All-American Ben Rogers '12. In addition, Cannon Watson, the Voice of the Tigers for 28 years, received a special citation. The five outstanding gentlemen were recognized on the field at halftime on Saturday afternoon, as well.