WINCHESTER, Va. - In a game that featured over 600 yards of offense, a 30 minute lightning delay and a heavy downpour over the final 20 minutes of game time, Shenandoah University took a major step forward in its four-year old football program with a 28-14 USA South Conference victory over Ferrum College Saturday evening at Shentel Stadium.

Shenandoah (3-1, 1-0) got its first ever victory over Ferrum (2-1, 0-1) by kicking into another gear following the 30-minute delay. The stoppage, which occurred with 5:45 left in the third quarter and Shenandoah having a 1st and 10 from its own 40, sent both teams running for cover as a fast moving storm moved across the northern Shenandoah Valley.

With no lockerroom facilities at Shentel, SU sent its 102 players into the men's restroom while Ferrum retreated to its buses. After the storm cleared and the teams warmed back up for 10 minutes, the Hornets put together a five play, 59 yard drive that put them back up to stay. The big play on the drive was a 3rd and 12 completion from Wayne Hogwood (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) to Warren Korpanty (Alexandria, Va./Thomas Edison) that set the hosts up with a 1st and 10 on the Ferrum 29.

Hogwood went to Mike McVearry (Bowie, Md./South River) 18 yards on the next play and then Anthony Frates (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) gave the Hornets the lead for good when he rumbled the final 11-yards one play later.

The two teams traded the next six possessions before SU put the final nail in the Panthers coffin with 2:57 left. Anthony McGhee (Reston, Va./South Lakes) capped a five play, 65 yard drive with a 27-yard scamper on 2nd and 6 that saw him start off tackle and then cut back through the heart of the FC defense. For McGhee, who led all rushers with a 144 yards on 24 carries, it was his second touchdown of the evening. He had given his club a 7-0 lead at the 11:24 mark of the second by blasting over on 4th and goal from the 2. This play was one of four successful 4th down conversions for Shenandoah.

Ferrum nearly immediately answered the first McGhee touchdown when Ricky Peace returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the SU 19, but Anthony Hayes (Dale City, Va./CD Hylton) made a touchdown saving tackle. The Panthers then used two rushes to get themselves on the board with 10:39 left. However, Shenandoah remained in the lead when Bobby Corn's PAT attempt was wide right.

SU extended its advantage with a touchdown at the 3:21 mark of the second, but Ferrum tied it by putting together a six play, 80 yard drive on its next possession. Quarterback Jermaine Pitts completed the series on a 25-yard touchdown run and then hit Terrel Mulford for a successful two-point conversion to send everyone to the lockerroom knotted at 14.

Shenandoah outgained the Panthers 375 to 239, including 91 to 21 through the air. In addition to McGhee's 144 yards rushing, Frates added 84 on 21 carries. Moncrief Holmes had 86 yards for the Panthers while Pitts had 53 yards and the touchdown.

Defensively, George Hewan (Lanham, Md./Roosevelt) had 11 tackles (7 solo, 5 for loss) for SU and Jesse Hardesty (Broadway, Va./Broadway) 7. Michael Brown and Anton McClenny each had 15 tackles for Ferrum.

The is the first ever win for the Hornets over Ferrum in seven lifetime meetings dating back to 1965 and its the first Shenandoah win over a team that entered the game with a winning record. SU has also now won six straight games at Shentel Stadium.

Shenandoah travels to Christopher Newport next Saturday at 1:00.