BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior quarterback and team captain Carter Sido (Dallas, TX) passed for a game-high and career-high 285 yards and four touchdowns, senior wide receiver Jordan Jackson (Fredericksburg) had a game-high and career-high 113 yards receiving and one touchdown, and sophomore wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) added 91 yards receiving and one touchdown, as (RV)Hampden-Sydney College took a thrilling 38-31 non-conference football home win past (RV)Washington & Jefferson (PA) College on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. The host Tigers (2-0) and visiting Presidents (0-2) were tied at 17-17 at halftime, before the Garnet & Grey scored three third-quarter touchdowns to lead 38-24 into the fourth quarter, and stopped W&J via an incomplete pass to the end zone with defensive coverage by junior cornerback Cam Jackson (Alexandria) on the game's final play.

"I'm really proud of this team's resilience," said second-year head coach Vince Luvara. "Every time we lost the momentum or hit some adversity we found a way to pull out of it. Credit to our leadership and our players for finding a way."

H-SC, receiving votes this week in both the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll and the D3football.com Top 25, set the tone early when senior cornerback James Townsend (Hardeeville, SC) made an interception on W&J's first play from scrimmage at the Presidents' 29-yard line. The Tigers, though, had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by junior punter/placekicker Camden Richardson (Midlothian) at 9:42 of the opening quarter—the 11-play, 16-yard possession interrupted by two penalties with Lasso making a 10-yard reception and Sido adding a 17-yard run on fourth-and-14 to keep the drive alive for the 3-0 advantage.

W&J, getting votes in the D3football.com poll, took its second possession and drove 55 yards on 16 plays but had a 29-yard field goal attempt blocked by Cam Jackson and returned 14 yards by senior linebacker and team captain Robert Clarke (Atlanta, GA). Neither team managed any points over the remainder of the quarter with the home team maintaining the 3-0 margin.

The Tigers got on the board again early in the second quarter when junior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC) scored on a two-yard touchdown run at 13:39, and Richardson added the first of his five PAT kicks for a 10-0 lead. It was a seven-play, 88-yard drive that featured a 70-yard completion from Sido to Jordan Jackson.

The Presidents answered with a 28-yard field goal by Deven Wyandt at 8:26, and after trading possessions, H-SC responded with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Sido to senior wide receiver and team captain Mason Cunningham (Arlington) at 4:48—capping a quick three-play, 23-yard drive after sophomore cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC) had forced a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive lineman Wyatt Croson (Warrenton) for a 17-3 advantage.

W&J, however, battled back with two touchdowns late in the quarter to tie it at 17-17 at halftime. Kobe Derosa scored on a one-yard touchdown run at 2:10, and Kellan Stahl added a 15-yard scoring run with 38-seconds left—Wyandt adding two of his four PAT kicks for the visitors.

H-SC took a 24-17 lead when Sido connected with Jordan Jackson on a 29-yard touchdown pass at 9:43 of the third quarter as Jackson made a tremendous catch in the end zone. It was a quick three-play, 43-yard possession. The Tigers made it a 31-17 advantage when Sido found Lasso in the back of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown pass at 6:49 of the quarter. This time it was a five-play, 54-yard drive that included an 11-yard run by senior running back Joseph Gonzalez (Spotsylvania).

The Presidents closed to within 31-24 with 2:34 left in the quarter when Stahl connected with John Peduzzi for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Garnet & Grey responded accordingly as Gonzalez returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to the W&J 37. It only took four plays with Sido tossing a 31-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Kam Mahoney (Bristow) at 00:33, who made a great catch on the ball in the end zone after a deflection for a 38-24 margin into the final quarter.

W&J made it a 38-31 contest when Andrew Sharp scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:47 remaining. H-SC had to punt with 2:47 left on the clock and Richardson forced a fair catch at the visitors' 19. The Presidents drove the length of the field and have first-and-goal at the five with 20-second left to play. Two pass attempts were incomplete with breakups by freshman safety Bristan DeRocher (Marietta, GA) and Cam Jackson, respectively, but appeared to score on third down but a holding penalty nullified the play, and who else—Cam Jackson had another pass breakup in the end zone on the game's final play to preserve the victory.

Sido passed for his game-high and career-high 285 yards (17-26-1) and four touchdowns for H-SC with one interception, adding 28 yards rushing. Hicks rushed for 65 yards on 19 attempts and one touchdown. Jordan Jackson had his game-high and career-high 113 yards receiving on three receptions and one touchdown. Lasso had 91 yards receiving on six receptions and one touchdown, while Mahoney had 36 yards receiving on three receptions and one touchdown, the first of his collegiate career, and Cunningham added 24 yards receiving on two receptions and one touchdown. Richardson averaged 33.2 yards on four punts, including a long of 39 yards. Gonzalez averaged 32.2 yards on six kick returns, including the long return of 51 yards and another of 45 yards—and had a 91-yarder to the house that was nullified by a penalty. Freshman placekicker Hank Webb (Salisbury, NC) had four touchbacks on seven kickoffs.

Sophomore linebacker Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) and sophomore safety Mitch Ladamus (Fort Mill, SC) each had a game-high 12 tackles to lead the Tigers' defense, with Ladamus adding one interception and two pass breakups, and Brewer adding 0.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry—a career-high in tackles for Brewer and tying a career-high for Ladamus. Cromwell and senior safety and team captain Markevus Graves-Franklin (Lynchburg) each had 11 tackles with Cromwell adding 1.0 for loss, one forced fumble and one QB hurry, and Graves-Franklin adding 1.5 for loss. Townsend finished with nine tackles, one interception and two pass breakups, and Clarke added eight tackles, including one sack among 2.0 for loss, and one pass breakup.

Stahl passed for 281 yards (28-51-2) and one touchdown with two interceptions for W&J. Sharp had a game-high 119 yards rushing on 20 attempts and one touchdown. Peduzzi had 112 yards receiving on 11 receptions and one touchdown. Brock Sherman and Da'Jahn Telfair each had nine tackles for the Presidents.

H-SC is 2-0 for the first time since the spring COVID-19 season of 2021 and will welcome visiting Shenandoah University in its Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener on Saturday, September 20, at 1 p.m. at Everett Stadium. It is Hall of Fame Weekend at the College, and the Class of 2025 will be recognized at halftime.