HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Terry Hicks '27 and his Hampden-Sydney College Football teammates are on the cusps of earning their rightful place among the elite teams in the 132-year history of the sport at the College. A victory against archrival Randolph-Macon College (RMC) on Saturday, November 14, on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium would give the Tigers their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship and NCAA Division III Playoff appearance since 2014, their first win against the Yellow Jackets since 2013, and their first home win against RMC since 2010. H-SC enters The Game, considered the oldest small-school rivalry in the South, with a record of 8-1 overall, 6-0 in the ODAC, following a 54-0 road win at Bridgewater College on November 7—its eighth consecutive win after a season-opening 29-20 road loss at Wabash College (IN) on September 5—the eight wins being the program's longest winning streak under third-year head coach Vince Luvara.

Whatever happens this Saturday, Terry has had a season, and a collegiate career, to remember. He has led the ODAC in rushing yards all season and has led Division III since week three when he rushed for a school-record 316 yards on 36 attempts and one touchdown at the University of New England (UNE) on September 19 in Biddeford, Maine. Terry currently totals 1,396 yards on 220 attempts and 11 touchdowns, including six 100-yard games (15 in his career). His season rushing total trails only Jimmy Ferguson '79, who rushed for 1,460 yards in 1977. He currently totals 3,352 career rushing yards on 593 career attempts (5.65), eyeing the school record currently held by C.W. Clemmons '05 (3,771). His 36 career touchdowns in 35 career games has him closing in on second-place Bill Benson '60 (37). Josh Simpson '09 holds the school record with 59 career touchdowns, which is also an ODAC record.

Terry leads the ODAC and Division III in rushing yards and continues to lead the ODAC in rushing yards per game (155.1) and rush yards per carry (6.35, minimum 10 carries per game), rushing attempts per game (24.4), all-purpose yards (1,495) and all-purpose yards per game (166.1), touchdowns, points (66) and points per game (7.3), while fifth in total offense (1,396) and total offense per game (155.1). Terry is also third in Division III rushing yards per game and 10th in all-purpose yards per game.

"Over the last three years, I have watched Terry earn the respect of his teammates and coaches through his work ethic, consistency, and willingness to sacrifice for others. He is the type of young man every coach hopes to have in his program and the type of person every college hopes to develop. His impact extends well beyond the football field, and his legacy at Hampden-Sydney will be measured by far more than the records he sets or the games he wins." –Vince Luvara

Did he ever envision this much success?

"Not really, to be honest," Terry admits. "I finished my sophomore year with 855 yards and sat out a game and a half. I knew at that time something special could happen the next year, especially with the new offense that we were running under (assistant head) Coach (Max) Beal, as much as he loves running the ball. I didn't really see this much happening, but I had a feeling that we could do good things, especially with the offensive alignment up front. We have a good group of guys."

That group up front, a starting offensive line unit historically known as "The Rock", currently features left tackle Thomas Wilson '28, left guard Cash Topinka '28, center Braden McIntire '29, right guard Bill Ball '28 and right tackle Jacob Pressinger '28, along with tight ends Kam Mahoney '27 and Connor Shelton '28.

"Your offense is as good as your offensive lineman," said Terry. "They're the rock of the team. They keep us together, keep the whole team together. First thing I did after the game at UNE was go to the offense line, give them some love. Definitely give a shout-out to those guys. I just run the ball. They make the holes."

Following the record-setting game at UNE (Jimmy Ferguson owned the previous record of 226 yards against Liberty Baptist in 1977), Terry added two more 200-yard efforts to become the first player in the 51-year history of the ODAC with three-straight 200-yard rushing games, including a game-high 227 yards on 36 attempts and two touchdowns at Shenandoah University on October 3 and a game-high 217 yards on 37 attempts and two touchdowns at Roanoke College on October 10. The three games totaled an unprecedented 760 yards on 109 attempts and five touchdowns.

"I try not to think about it too much, but I keep it in the back of my mind," explained Terry. "The sky's the limit of what I can do out there on the field, especially with that confidence. I'm taking a sports psychology class, and we talk about the cognitive part of your brain and ability with your performance. I feel like if you just keep that positive side in your mind right before going out in a game, then that's really what pushes you and gives you that extra motivation to play to your best ability."

Terry's known for his physical style of running the ball, and he will seek contact more than trying to avoid it. It's not uncommon to see him lower his shoulder and run over a defensive back for more yards after contact.

"You have that mindset that you're the best one on that field, and there's no one in front of you that can stop you," said Terry. "I think that really comes from my upbringing and who I was watching growing up, guys like Marshawn Lynch and Adrian Peterson. Seeing that aggressive run style, I think it's what I fell in love with, and it's something I strive for when I'm on the field."

Terry began playing football around eight years old in New Bern, North Carolina. He says he fell in love with the game playing quarterback, before being moved to running back in middle school, then briefly to wide receiver in high school, before returning to the running back position with his aggressive style of running the ball. Terry earned All-Conference honors as a senior at Apex Friendship High School in Clayton, North Carolina, but wasn't heavily recruited, earning Division III opportunities from Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon and a preferred walk-on offer from Division II Winston-Salem State University (NC).

"I really didn't know anything about Hampden-Sydney until Coach Zullinger contacted me and I decided to take a visit," explained Terry. "Once I got here, the guys were really cool and we all bonded pretty well. I really just fell in love with the environment of the campus. I'm a big fisherman, big outdoors guy, and once I saw there were ponds outside my dorm that I could fish every day, I think that really helped me fall in love with the campus and the environment here. Ultimately, I decided on Hampden-Sydney, and I think it was a good move."

"Terry was a top target in the 2023 recruiting class and it was a full-staff effort getting him here. We had multiple coaches make the trip down to convince him that H-SC was the right place for him. In the end, I think Terry chose the brotherhood and close-knit community that he saw amongst our players and students on his overnight visit. His success on the field has been unreal this year and for his entire career, but I think I am even more impressed by how much he has matured as a leader and young man. I'd like to think the College had something to do with that." –Associate Head Coach Zach Zullinger '07

The brotherhood and close-knit community led the economics and business major to an event sales internship this past summer with Sports Promotions Group alongside Sutton Lasso '25, a former teammate among the Garnet & Grey. He was able to travel throughout the country and sell soccer gear and brand merchandise at major soccer events.

Terry attributes much of his success to his family. His dad, Noland, played basketball throughout high school and football as a senior. His mom, Danae, competed in track and field through high school. His older brother, Terrell, played football through high school, and his older sister, Nyema, played several sports throughout high school, including basketball, softball, track and field, and volleyball. His younger brother, Donovan, is currently a freshman offensive lineman at DII Fayetteville State University (NC).

"There was really no push to be playing a sport, although we all did play a sport. Once they introduced me to football at a young age, that's really where I fell in love with it. I really wasn't sure if I wanted to play football outside of high school, but I sat down with my parents, and they said if it's something I really enjoy as well as getting a good education, they were all up for it."

Fast-forward again to now and bringing the focus back to The Game, Terry and his teammates understand its importance.

"We're trying to take it, as a whole team, one game at a time," said Terry. "We know what game is this week, and around campus, everyone's talking about it. As a team, as a community here, I think a win would mean a lot. That's what we've been talking about as a team, really, just being a part of this type of history, winning this game. I think it would be a great thing to happen."

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Terry will have an opportunity to play at least one final game as H-SC has secured a runner-up finish in the ODAC at worst, which would qualify the Tigers to host a Chesapeake Challenge Bowl Game on November 21. Of course, a win in The Game would earn the program automatic entry into the postseason NCAA Playoffs. Terry has an opportunity to establish a new season record for rushing yards and to also become the program's all-time leading rusher.

"I'm not too much of a stats guy in all these records," acknowledged Terry. "I really go out for the team and the guys around me. Being the particular man that I am, a chance to leave my name behind here as a record really would mean a lot and shows a lot. That's something to motivate myself and for me to motivate the team. It means a lot to be in this position to break certain records. Definitely shout-out to those guys before me to set the records. It's definitely something in the back of my head that keeps me going hard every game."

As his football career at Hampden-Sydney nears an end, Terry is certain he made the right decision when choosing his college destination.

"I love being out there on the field, locked-in, running the ball," explained Terry. "Then a timeout is called, and now my mind can wake up a little bit outside of the game. I look around, look at the fans, look at the stands, the hills covered with people and fans. After the games, I'm getting notifications from different alumni and Hampden-Sydney fans. Having that fan base and that culture and just seeing that love from the community is something special."

Terry Hicks '27 is something special.