Hampden-Sydney College

BOX SCORE

WINCHESTER, Va. -- Senior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC) rushed for a game-high 227 yards on 36 attempts and two touchdowns to lead (RV)Hampden-Sydney College to a 30-14 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football road win at Shenandoah University on Saturday afternoon in Winchester. Hicks, who ran for a school-record 316 yards at the University of New England (ME) on September 19, has now rushed for 543 yards in the last two games for the Tigers—he totals 754 yards rushing in four games this season to lead the ODAC and rank among the Top Five in NCAA Division III. Hicks also totals 2,710 career yards rushing to rank fifth all-time at the College. Junior quarterback Connor Creech (Winston-Salem, NC) added a game-high and career-high 242 yards passing and one touchdown, as the visiting Tigers (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the victory in their conference opener against the host Hornets (2-2, 0-1 ODAC), who led 14-10 at halftime and through three quarters.

"It wasn't pretty, but we came together and got it done," said third-year head coach Vince Luvara. "That was a tough win on the road against a really talented and well-coached football team. Really proud of our guys effort today, but we need to find a way to play cleaner football."

H-SC, getting votes in this week's AFCA D3 Coaches Poll, forced an SU punt on the game's first possession and promptly went 86 yards on 14 plays with Creech connecting with senior wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) in the left corner of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass at 5:28. Sophomore placekicker Hank Webb (Salisbury, NC) added the PAT kick and the visitors had the early 7-0 advantage. Creech completed throws of 10 yards to Lasso, who was playing in his first game of the season, 13 yards to senior wide receiver Tyler Hendley (Charlotte, NC), 28 yards to sophomore wide receiver Dario Benaglia (Frisco, TX) and 22 yards to Hendley ahead of the scoring toss to Lasso.

SU answered back with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mekhi Brown to Roge't Walker with just three-seconds left on the first-quarter clock. Carson Gallant added the PAT kick and the contest was tied at 7-7 after the opening 15 minutes.

The Tigers went back ahead 10-7 with a 31-yard field goal by Webb at 11:02 of the second quarter, capping a nine-play, 66-yard drive that featured a 20-yard run by Hicks, an 11-yard run by sophomore running back Will Foley (Virginia Beach) and a 20-yard completion to junior tight end Kam Mahoney (Bristow).

The Garnet & Grey yielded a long kickoff return that was further complicated by a pair of penalties on the return that had the Hornets at the 13-yard line; however, junior safety Mitch Ladamus (Fort Mill, SC) forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage that senior cornerback Cam Jackson (Alexandria) recovered and the damage was avoided. Following a punt by the visitors, SU scored its second touchdown of the day when Brown connected with Carter Rodriguez for a 15-yard scoring play, and the PAT kick by Gallant made it a 14-10 margin.

H-SC then drove 61 yards to the Hornets' 18-yard line late in the first half, but elected to go for it on fourth and four, rather than attempt a 35-yard field goal, and turned it over on an interception. SU ran out the clock and led 14-10 at halftime. Hicks had a 16-yard run on the last possession of the half, while Creech completed a 27-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Max Nitti (Appomattox), as well.

It was a scoreless third quarter as the second half began with an exchange of three consecutive punts, before SU returned the late first-half favor by going for it on fourth and eight at its own 28 … with the H-SC defense making the stop and taking over at the 32-yard line. Unfortunately, the Tigers turned it back over on a second down fumble on a bad snap inside the 10, but the Hornets obliged again and missed a 30-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter following a 77-yard drive to the visitors' 13-yard line.

H-SC took possession again with just over a minute left in the third quarter and promptly went 80 yards on nine plays with Hicks scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 13:37 left to play. Webb's PAT kick made it a 17-14 advantage. Keys to the scoring drive were a 12-yard completion from Creech to Nitti on third and eight, and a 43-yard connection with Lasso, while Hicks added an eight-yard run, as well.

The Tigers' defense forced another SU punt and the Garnet & Grey took possession at their own 36-yard line … and promptly went 64 yards on eight plays with Foley scoring on a four-yard touchdown run at 7:29; however, the PAT kick was blocked and the margin was 23-14. The drive featured Hicks with runs of 28 yards and 10 yards, before Foley covered the final 12 yards on three attempts and the score.

H-SC's defense stood tall once-again and forced yet another punt by the Hornets and the Tigers took possession at their own 17-yard line. Everyone in the stadium knew what was happening from there … a steady string of handoffs to Hicks and Foley, who did not disappoint … as the Garnet & Grey went 83 yards on nine plays with Hicks scoring on a seven-yard touchdown run on fourth and two, taking a couple of would-be tacklers along with him into the end zone. Webb added the PAT kick to provide for the final 30-14 margin of victory. Hicks had 57 yards on six attempts, and Foley had the other 26 yards on three attempts.

SU did manage to get to the H-SC 30-yard line as time was running out, but the final play of the game resulted in an interception in the end zone by Ladamus.

H-SC had a season-high 531 yards of total offense, including 289 rushing and 242 passing, as Hicks had his game-high 227 yards rushing on a career-high-tying 36 attempts and a season-high two touchdowns. As mentioned, Hicks has now rushed for 543 yards in the last two games for the Tigers after his school-record 316 yards at the University of New England (ME) on September 19—he totals 754 yards rushing in four games this season to lead the ODAC and rank among the Top Five in NCAA Division III—and also totals 2,710 career yards rushing to rank fifth all-time at the College. Foley added 58 yards rushing on 10 attempts and one touchdown. Creech passed for his game-high and career-high 242 yards (20-31-1) and one touchdown with one interception. Lasso finished with game-highs of five receptions for 82 yards receiving and one touchdown, while playing in his first game this season following rehabilitation from a late-season injury last year. Hendley had three receptions for 54 yards receiving, Benaglia had four receptions for 37 yards receiving and Nitti had two receptions for 39 yards receiving.

Sophomore safety Will Bostwick (Bluffton, SC) had 11 tackles, three solo for the Tigers, while junior linebacker Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) had nine tackles, two solo, and 1.0 for loss. Junior cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC) added eight tackles, five solo, and 1.0 for loss, Ladamus contributed seven tackles, four solo, a forced fumble and the interception, while sophomore linebacker Gavin Gallavan (Richmond) had five tackles, one solo.

SU had 326 yards of total offense, including 108 rushing and 218 passing, as Brown passed for 218 yards (19-29-1) and two touchdowns with one interception. Aidan McCloskey had 74 yards rushing on 18 attempts, while Rodriguez had five receptions for 75 yards receiving and one touchdown. Jaren Mitchell had a game-high 19 tackles, six solo for the Hornets.

H-SC will play its fourth road game in six weeks at Roanoke College on Saturday, October 10, at 4 p.m. at Salem Stadium in Salem.