BOX SCORE
BIDDEFORD, Maine – Senior running back
Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC) rushed for a school-record 317 yards on 36 attempts and one touchdown to lead (RV)Hampden-Sydney College to a wild 43-41 non-conference football road win at the University of New England on Saturday afternoon in Biddeford, Maine. Hicks' career-best effort is the highest single-game rushing total in NCAA Division III this season, and the second-highest total in all NCAA Divisions this season (351, Cephus Harris, Davenport-MI), while the third-highest single-game total in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) history. Junior quarterback
Connor Creech (Winston-Salem, NC) added a career-high three rushing touchdowns, and passed for another, as the visiting Tigers (2-1) trailed 14-12 after one quarter and 28-22 at halftime, but scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to lead 36-28 after three quarters en route to the high-scoring triumph against the host Nor'easters (0-3).
"It wasn't pretty on all three phases, but the guys found a way," said third-year head coach
Vince Luvara. "Really proud of how they fought for 60 minutes as one. We will use the bye week to find a way to get better."
UNE took possession following the opening kickoff and quickly scored on a 34-yard run by Damien Jones just 1:30 into the game … and the PAT kick by Ben Durkin made it 7-0.
H-SC, getting votes in this week's AFCA D3 Coaches Poll, answered back almost as quickly as Creech scored on an eight-yard run around the right side at 11:44 of the opening quarter. The PAT kick by sophomore placekicker
Hank Webb (Salisbury, NC); however, was blocked and it was a 7-6 deficit. Hicks had runs of 11 and 33 yards to spark the quick drive.
The Tigers' defense forced a turnover on downs when sophomore safety
Will Bostwick (Bluffton, SC) and junior linebacker
Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) stopped a fourth down play at their own four-yard line, but the Garnet & Grey returned the favor and fumbled the ball back to the Nor'easters at the five-yard line. The home team quickly scored on the next play, a five-yard touchdown run by Nathan Delgado at 5:25 of the first quarter, and the PAT kick by Durkin made it a 14-6 advantage.
H-SC responded accordingly with a four-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline from Creech to senior wide receiver
Tyler Hendley (Charlotte, NC) in the end zone, but the PAT kick by Webb was wide right, and the score was 14-12 with 4:00 left in the opening quarter. Hicks had a 17-yard run on the possession.
The two teams traded punts, and UNE had to punt yet again, before the visitors drove 78 yards on 13 plays with Webb kicking a 22-yard field goal at 7:46 of the second quarter that gave H-SC its first lead at 15-14. Keys to the possession were a 49-yard connection from Creech to Hendley on third and 19, a nine-yard run by Hicks and a 14-yard connection from Creech to sophomore running back
Will Foley (Virginia Beach).
The Tigers forced another turnover when sophomore defensive end
Braden Lyons (Virginia Beach) had a strip-sack and forced fumble that was recovered by freshman defensive lineman
Matthew Wright (Canton, GA) at the home team's 37. It took seven plays from there with Hicks scoring his first touchdown of the season on a seven-yard run to the right side at 3:21, and the PAT kick by Webb had the Garnet & Grey seemingly in control with a 22-14 lead late in the opening half. Creech had an 11-yard run on the drive with Hicks covering the other 26 yards on the ground.
Unfortunately, the Nor'easters scored two touchdowns over the final 1:31 of the half to lead 28-22 at halftime. Delgado scored first on a one-yard run, and Chris Lang connected with Alex Yeaton on a five-yard pass for the go-ahead score with Durkin adding both PAT kicks. The second score with just 15-seconds left in the half was aided by a 21-yard punt return by Jones after a quick three and out by the visitors.
H-SC began the second half with good field position as Foley returned the kickoff 42 yards to midfield. The Tigers promptly moved downfield with Creech scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run to the right side on fourth and two at 11:03, and Webb's PAT kick made it 29-28. Hicks had a 14-yard run among 25 yards rushing on the quick drive.
UNE missed a 35-yard field goal attempt on its next possession, and the Garnet & Grey took over and quickly covered 80 yards on seven plays with Creech scoring on a two-yard run to the left side with 4:44 on the third-quarter clock. Webb's PAT kick made it a 36-28 advantage after three quarters. Hicks had 57 yards on the first three plays of the possession, including a 37-yard run on first down, while freshman running back
Xavier Howard-Morris (Raleigh, NC) added a 21-yard run on his first collegiate rushing attempt.
The Nor'easters then missed a 28-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter, but the visitors returned the favor and turned the ball back over to the home team on a strip-sack that led to a one-yard touchdown run by Javin Willis with 14:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. A two-point pass attempt failed, as it was a 36-34 contest.
H-SC was forced to punt on its next possession and UNE drove inside the Tigers' 15 before turning the ball over on downs at the 12-yard line. The Garnet & Grey then drove 88 yards on just five plays for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown … a 26-yard run straight up the middle by Howard-Morris for his first collegiate touchdown at 7:02. Webb's PAT kick made it 43-34. Hicks gained 62 yards rushing on the first four plays, including a 35-yard run, before Howard-Morris covered the remaining distance with his 26-yard TD run.
UNE added another touchdown with just 4:13 on the clock as Willis scored on a 10-yard run, and Durkin's PAT kick made it 43-41. The Tigers were able to run out the clock with a couple of first downs on runs of 18 and 17 yards by Hicks to preserve the road victory by the Garnet & Grey.
H-SC had a season-high 503 yards of total offense, including a season-high 359 rushing and 144 passing, as Hicks had his career-high and school-record 317 yards rushing on a career-high 36 attempts and one touchdown.
Jimmy Ferguson '79 had the previous single-game record of 226 yards rushing against Liberty Baptist in 1977 in a game played in Danville. As mentioned, Hicks' effort is the highest single-game rushing total in Division III this season, and the second-highest total in all NCAA Divisions this season (351, Cephus Harris, Davenport-MI), while the third-highest single-game total in ODAC history. Terry now totals 2,484 career rushing yards on 448 career attempts (5.5) and 26 career touchdowns in 29 career games, and ranks eighth all-time in career rushing yards. Howard-Morris added 48 yards rushing on four attempts and one touchdown in his first collegiate action touching the football (second career game). Creech passed for a game-high 144 yards (13-19-0) and one touchdown with no interceptions, adding his career-high three rushing touchdowns. Hendley finished with career-highs of six receptions for 94 yards receiving and one touchdown, while senior wide receiver
James Bishop (Jacksonville, FL) had three receptions for 27 yards. Foley had 153 yards on five kick returns (30.6), including a long of 42 yards.
Bostwick had a career-high and game-high 16 tackles, three solo for the Tigers. Brewer had 15 tackles, seven solo, and 1.0 for loss. Sophomore linebacker
Gavin Gallavan (Richmond) equaled his career-high with 13 tackles, one solo, while junior safety
Mitch Ladamus (Fort Mill, SC) and sophomore safety
Aaron Diggs Berry (Glen Allen) each added 12 tackles, including six solo by Ladamus and five solo, and 1.0 for loss by Diggs Berry with a career-high (12 tackles). Sophomore linebacker
Christian Shaw (Raleigh, NC) added a career-high eight tackles, two solo, and 0.5 for loss.
UNE had 481 yards of total offense, including 452 rushing and just 29 passing, as Jones had 189 yards rushing on 26 attempts and one touchdown. Willis added 143 yards rushing on 24 attempts and two touchdowns, and Delgado had 107 yards rushing on 20 attempt and two touchdowns. Lang passed for 29 yards (4-11-0) and one touchdown with no interceptions. Tajardo France had nine tackles, seven solo, and 1.0 for loss for the Nor'easters.
H-SC will have a bye week (Sept. 26) before beginning ODAC competition on the road—for the third time already this season—at Shenandoah University in two weeks on Saturday, October 3, at 1 p.m. in Winchester.
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