UTICA, N.Y. - The Shenandoah University football team ran its winning streak to three Saturday afternoon with a 28-20 non-conference victory at Utica College.

SU (4-5) jumped out to a 21-0 lead with touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game, but saw host Utica (1-8) get back into it with a touchdown on its penultimate drive of the first half and then returning a fumble 65 yards for a score on the Hornets opening possession of the third. That score made it 21-14 in favor of Shenandoah, but Utica could not get any closer as the visitors iced the game two possessions later when a failed Pioneers fake punt gave SU the ball on the Utica 35. Six plays after that miscue senior Wes Karns (Martinsburg, W. Va./Glenville State) capped the short drive with a 12 yard touchdown run.

UC did answer this score with one of their own, but the Hornets continually won the field position battle in the final 15 minutes of play. Utica was able to cross into SU territory just once in three fourth quarter possessions, and that was after a Matt Connors 53 yard punt return gave the Pioneers the ball on the SU 43. Utica could only advance the ball six yards on the possession and turned the ball over on downs.

Freshman quarterback JJ Brown (King George, Va./King George) was the story offensively for SU. Brown was 6 for 8 for 91 yards through the air; five of his six completions went for first downs. All five of these play also occurred on third down. Brown directed the Hornets to 315 yards in total offense and converted an impressive 9 of 15 third down plays despite having to play without Shenandoah's two starting running backs for much of the second half.

Senior fullback Dennis Robart (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Potomac State) and junior tailback Anthony McGhee (Reston, Va./South Lakes) were both injured during the contest and finished the game on the sidelines. McGhee had a game high 98 yards rushing on 19 attempts before twisting his ankle late in the third quarter while Robart had six carries for 23 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter of action. Freshman Dana Earley (Sterling, Va./Park View) had 12 carries for 52 yards in relief of Robart.

Both Robart and Earley are expected back for next week's season finale.

SU got the early three touchdown advantage on the strength of three drives totaling 154 yards. Brown finished the eight play, 55 yard drive with a five yard TD run at the 9:52 mark of the first, Robart made it 14-0 with a one-yard plunge five minutes later and then McGhee gave the Hornets the big lead with another one-yard run at the 13:19 mark of the second.

Utica got on the board with 2:53 to play in the second by combining seven plays with a costly SU personal foul at the start of the drive. Tyler Clark finished this scoring drive with a nine-yard run.

Shenandoah started the second half with the ball and appeared to be driving for the back breaking score before a fumbled snap from center made it a whole new ballgame. The ball squirted thru JJ Brown's legs and into the SU backfield, where UC free safety Chris Sargis scooped it up and raced 65 yards untouched for the score.

The Pioneers failed on the two point attempt and were unable to get any closer than the final margin for the rest of the way.

McGhee led all rushers with the 98 yards while Dave Hogan had 66 yards on 15 carries for UC.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/fb/2002/110902.htm

Shenandoah completes its season next Saturday with a Dixie Conference contest against Methodist College. Game time at Shentel Stadium is 1:00.