Hampden-Sydney College

BOX SCORE

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Senior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC) rushed for a game-high 159 yards on a career-high 38 attempts and two touchdowns to lead (RV)Hampden-Sydney College to a 31-28 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football road win at Washington and Lee University on Saturday afternoon in Lexington. Hicks, the leading rusher in NCAA Division III, had his fifth 100-yard game of the season, and has now rushed for 1,227 yards in seven games this season to lead the ODAC and Division III. Junior quarterback Wendell Thompson (Charlotte, NC) and freshman running back Xavier Howard-Morris (Raleigh, NC) each added a rushing touchdown, as the visiting Tigers (6-1, 4-0 ODAC) led 21-14 at halftime and 31-21 after three quarters en route to the victory against the host Generals (4-3, 2-2 ODAC). The Garnet & Grey have won six-straight games since a season-opening road setback for their longest winning streak under third-year head coach Vince Luvara.
 
"Great team win, all three phases made big plays in the ball game," said Luvara. "The best thing about this team is adversity doesn't exist in their vocabulary. Shout-out to our scout teams this week giving us a great look to be ready today."

W&L took an early 7-0 advantage as Carter Shallcross scored on a three-yard touchdown run at 7:22 of the first quarter with Michael Fernandes adding the first of his four PAT kicks. It was a short 30-yard possession after an interception by the Generals' Nolan Wirick as H-SC turned the ball over on its opening possession of the game.

The Tigers, receiving votes in the latest AFCA D3 Coaches Poll, responded accordingly on its next possession, going 65 yards on nine plays with Hicks scoring the first of his two touchdowns on a two-yard run at 3:12 of the opening quarter. Sophomore placekicker Hank Webb (Salisbury, NC) added the first of his four PAT kicks to tie the contest at 7-7, which remained the score after the opening 15 minutes. Keys to the drive were an eight-yard run by Hicks to get it started, a 10-yard completion to Hicks, an 11-yard run by Thompson and a 13-yard run by sophomore running back Will Foley (Virginia Beach).

H-SC scored again on its next possession after the Garnet & Grey defense forced a punt following a three-and-out. The visitors promptly went 80 yards on 10 plays with Hicks again finding the end zone, this time on a one-yard touchdown run at 11:52 of the second quarter. Webb's PAT kick made it a 14-7 lead as the scoring drive included a 36-yard completion to senior wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) on third down, and runs of 17 yards and 11 yards by Hicks.

W&L drove to the H-SC 19-yard line on its next possession, but the drive stalled and the Generals missed a 36-yard field goal attempt wide left. The Tigers answered with a methodical 15-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run to the right pylon by a diving Thompson on fourth down. The play was initially ruled out of bounds inside the one; however, a replay challenge by Coach Luvara witnessed the officials getting it right with video review and the play was ruled a touchdown. The PAT kick by Webb pushed the advantage to 21-7 with just 1:36 left on the first-half clock. The scoring drive featured completions of 11 yards to Lasso and 16 yards to senior wide receiver Tyler Hendley (Charlotte, NC), while Hicks added 24 yards on the ground and Foley had 11 yards rushing.

W&L added another touchdown late in the half, going 75 yards on 11 plays in just 1:24 with quarterback Ty Collins scoring on a 17-yard run, and Fernandes' PAT kick made it 21-14 at halftime.

H-SC's defense once-again forced a punt following a three-and-out to begin the second half, and the Tigers quickly scored with a four-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 48-yard touchdown run by Howard-Morris at 11:04 of the third quarter on a third-down play near midfield. Webb's PAT kick had the visitors ahead 28-14, as Hicks had 17 yards on three attempts before Howard-Morris broke a couple of tackles and raced to the end zone.

Sophomore Max Nitti (Appomattox) forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by freshman linebacker Colton Bogan (Charlotte, NC) at the W&L 26-yard line. The Garnet & Grey managed to move the ball to the six-yard line where they settled for a 23-yard field goal by Webb with 5:13 on the third-quarter clock for a 31-14 margin.

W&L responded with another late-quarter scoring possession that finished with a 32-yard scoring pass from Collins to Joseph Pizzo on a fourth-and-16 with 1:54 on the clock. The PAT kick by Fernandes provided for a 31-21 contest through 45 minutes.

H-SC's next possession began well with a pair of 14-yard runs by Hicks, and also included a 10-yard completion to Hicks, but the drive stalled and the ball was turned over on downs at the Generals' 33-yard line. The hosts then went 67 yards on 15 plays with Collins scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:53 remaining, and Fernandes' PAT kick made it a three-point contest.

The Garnet & Grey were able run out the clock to secure their road win with three first downs behind the starting offensive line unit, affectionately known as 'The Rock' and consisting of junior Thomas Wilson (Charlotte, NC), junior Cash Topinka (Charlotte, NC), sophomore Braden McIntire (Louisa), junior Bill Ball (Yorktown) and junior Jacob Pressinger (Spotsylvania), along with junior tight ends Kam Mahoney (Bristow) and Connor Shelton (Charlotte, NC). The Tigers took over at their own 25-yard line following a touchback on the final kickoff and gained the three first downs, including a crucial and game-clinching conversion on fourth-and-12 at the home team's 25-yard line on the first play after the two-minute timeout … as Thompson found Hicks out of the backfield for a 17-yard completion with Hicks doing most of the work after the catch. A pair of kneel-downs ended the hard-fought contest with the final 31-28 margin of victory.

H-SC had 394 yards of total offense, including 263 rushing and 131 passing, as Hicks had his game-high 159 yards rushing on his career-high 38 attempts and a season-high-tying two touchdowns, adding season-highs of four receptions and 43 yards receiving. As mentioned, Hicks now totals 1,227 yards rushing this season on 195 attempts (6.3) and nine touchdowns in seven games (175.3)—and also now totals 3,183 career yards rushing to rank fifth all-time at the College and adds 34 career rushing touchdowns that rank fourth all-time. Howard-Morris added 52 yards rushing on three attempts and one touchdown, while Foley had 29 yards on six attempts. Thompson passed for a game-high 131 yards (9-12-0) with no interceptions, adding a career-high 41 yards rushing on eight attempts and one touchdown. Lasso finished four receptions for a game-high 72 yards receiving.

Junior safety Mitch Ladamus (Fort Mill, SC) had 12 tackles, eight solo, 0.5 for loss for the Tigers, while sophomore linebacker Gavin Gallavan (Richmond) had nine tackles, two solo, and one quarterback hurry. Sophomore safety Will Bostwick (Bluffton, SC) had eight tackles, two solo, 0.5 for loss and one pass breakup, while junior cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC) and junior linebacker Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) each added five tackles, including four solo by Cromwell and two solo, 1.0 for loss by Brewer.

W&L had 331 yards of total offense, including 245 rushing and 86 passing, as Ryan Clemens had 111 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Collins added 91 yards rushing on 11 attempts and two touchdowns, and passed for 86 yards (6-13-0) and one touchdown with no interceptions. Pizzo had two receptions for 34 yards receiving and one touchdown. Brennan Stout had a game-high 18 tackles, three solo, and 0.5 for loss for the Generals.

H-SC will return home against Averett University on Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. It'll be Senior Day and Family Weekend at the College, as the program's 13 seniors will be recognized during a special pregame ceremony.