Hampden-Sydney College

BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Junior quarterback Wendell Thompson (Charlotte, NC) passed for a game-high and career-high 224 yards and two touchdowns, while senior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC), sophomore running back Will Foley (Virginia Beach) and freshman running back Xavier Howard-Morris (Raleigh, NC) each added two rushing touchdowns, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 64-3 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football home win past Guilford (NC) College on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. The host Tigers led 43-0 at halftime and won their fifth-straight game during Homecoming Weekend on the Hill, improving to 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the ODAC. The visiting Quakers dropped to 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the ODAC.
 
"It was great to be back home in front of our fans after more than a month on the road," said third-year head coach Vince Luvara. "The guys did an outstanding job executing the game plan and playing with great effort from start to finish. It was a great team win, and to be able to do it in front of such an incredible Homecoming crowd made it even more special."

H-SC's defense forced a three-and-out on the game's opening possession and the Tigers' offense took over and promptly drove 54 yards on four plays with Thompson connecting with junior tight end Kam Mahoney (Bristow) on a seven-yard touchdown pass at 12:10 of the first quarter. Junior quarterback Tanner Ballou (Oak Ridge, NC) then connected with freshman defensive lineman Matthew Wright (Canton, GA) on a trick-play for a successful two-point conversion pass attempt and an early 8-0 advantage. The quick scoring drive included a 28-yard completion to senior wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) and a 15-yard completion to Hicks.

H-SC, receiving votes (15) in the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll, forced another punt and took its second possession 94 yards on seven plays with Foley scoring the first of his two touchdowns on a four-yard run at 6:47. Sophomore placekicker Hank Webb (Salisbury, NC) added the first of his eight PAT kicks for a 15-0 margin after one quarter. Keys to the drive were a 37-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Dario Benaglia (Frisco, TX), a 14-yard completion to senior wide receiver Tyler Hendley (Charlotte, NC), a 25-yard completion to junior tight end Connor Shelton (Charlotte, NC)—Shelton's first reception of the season—and a 15-yard run by Thompson.

The Tigers took complete control with four unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter. Hicks scored the first of his two touchdowns on a one-yard run at 12:22, and Webb's PAT kick made it 22-0. It was a six-play, 93-yard possession that included a 15-yard run by Hicks, a 19-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Max Nitti (Appomattox), a 30-yard run by Hicks and a 13-yard run by Hicks. The second score was a 47-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Hendley down the right sideline at 10:42, and Webb's PAT kick made it 29-0 after the quick one-play possession. Foley added his second touchdown on an 80-yard run around the right side and down the sideline at 4:55, and Webb's PAT kick made it 36-0 after a two-play, 99-yard possession that included a 19-yard completion to Lasso after the Garnet & Grey defense stopped the Quakers at the one-yard line on fourth-and-goal. Hicks closed out the quarter and half with another one-yard touchdown run at 1:50, and Webb's PAT kick made it a 43-0 margin at halftime. The quick three-play, 40-yard possession included a 34-yard run by Hicks. The defense forced GC to punt four times in the quarter.

H-SC added two more touchdowns in the third quarter as Howard-Morris scored on a one-yard run at 12:22 and added another one-yard touchdown run at 3:00. Webb added both PAT kicks as the two scores were sandwiched around a 30-yard field by Colby Tucker at 5:44 of the quarter for a 57-3 margin. The Tigers' first scoring drive was a five-play, 75-yard possession—the first of the second half—and included a 56-yard run by Howard-Morris. The second scoring drive was a six-play, 53-yard possession that included a 10-yard run by Howard-Morris, an 11-yard completion from Ballou to junior tight end John Shaw (Raleigh, NC)—his first reception for the Garnet & Grey—and an 11-yard run by Howard-Morris.

The Tigers scored their final touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Ballou connected with senior wide receiver James Bishop (Jacksonville, FL) over the middle for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 9:20 remaining. Webb's PAT kick provided for the final 64-3 margin of victory. It was a quick five-play, 63-yard possession that included a 33-yard run by senior running back Casey Clark (Sykesville, MD).

H-SC had a season-high 649 yards of total offense, including a season-high 387 rushing and 262 passing, behind the starting offensive line unit, affectionately known as The Rock, consisting of junior left tackle Thomas Wilson (Charlotte, NC), junior left guard Cash Topinka (Charlotte, NC), sophomore center Braden McIntire (Louisa), junior right guard Bill Ball (Yorktown) and junior right tackle Jacob Pressinger (Spotsylvania), as well as tight ends Mahoney and Shelton. Hicks finished with a game-high 97 yards rushing on nine attempts and two touchdowns—all in the first half for the leading rusher in the ODAC and NCAA Division III. Hicks did enjoy a milestone afternoon as he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season, now totaling 1,068 yards for his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, and he also surpassed 3,000 career yards rushing, now with 3,024 yards to rank fifth all-time at the College. Howard-Morris had a career-high 90 yards rushing on eight attempts and two touchdowns—all in the third quarter. Foley had 84 yards rushing on two attempts and two touchdowns—all in the first half. Clark finished with a career-high 69 yards rushing on seven attempts—all in the fourth quarter, while freshman running back Mason Relaford-Hollingsworth (Union City, GA) added a career-high 26 yards rushing on his first two collegiate attempts in the fourth quarter, as well.

Thompson passed for his game-high and career-high 224 yards (12-15-1) and two touchdowns with one interception, adding 22 yards rushing on two attempts. Ballou passed for a career-high 38 yards (3-3-0) and one touchdown with no interceptions in his first collegiate action at quarterback. Hendley had two receptions for 61 yards receiving and one touchdown, Lasso had two receptions for 47 yards receiving and Benaglia had two receptions for 39 yards receiving. Mahoney (seven yards) and Bishop (19 yards) had their receiving touchdowns on their only receptions. Freshman wide receiver Colton Lubbe (Warrenton) had 40 yards on two punt returns, including a long of 33 yards, along with one kickoff return for 33 yards, as well.

Freshman linebacker Colton Bogan (Charlotte, NC) had a game-high and career-high 10 tackles, six solo, 1.5 for loss, and 1.0 sacks for the Tigers. Sophomore linebacker Gavin Gallavan (Richmond) and freshman linebacker JR Beamer (Haymarket) each added six tackles, including four solo, 1.0 for loss and 1.0 sacks by Gallavan, and two solo, 0.5 for loss by Beamer. Senior safety Wade Warren (Raleigh, NC), junior cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC), junior safety Mitch Ladamus (Fort Mill, SC) and sophomore safety Will Bostwick (Bluffton, SC) each contributed five tackles, including four solo and 1.0 for loss by Warren—who had a career-high (5), three solo by Cromwell, one solo by Ladamus and one solo by Bostwick.

Guilford had 307 yards of total offense, including 98 rushing and 209 passing, as Nick Danciu passed for 209 yards (18-32-0) with no interceptions. Malik Woodard had 63 yards rushing on 13 attempts. Shane Shapiro had four receptions for a game-high 98 yards receiving. Owen Whelan had six tackles, three solo, and one interception for the Quakers.

The 1976 Hampden-Sydney Football Team was recognized at halftime – that team hosted the first Division III regular-season game ever televised by a major network (ABC), and defeated then co-No. 1 Madison College (JMU) 21-14 on Sept. 25, 1976.

H-SC will play on the road at ODAC opponent Washington and Lee University on Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. in Lexington.