MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Last season, Chowan College and Shenandoah University combined for 60 points in a Hornets blowout victory. Saturday afternoon the total points were 55, but SU had to hold on for its football life in a 31-24 non-league win.
Shenandoah (5-2) got a Junior Greene (Aroda, Va./Madison County) 45-yard touchdown catch with 6:31 mark sneak out the seven point win over the host Braves (1-6).
Chowan had a chance to tie late in the fourth when drove all the way to the SU 10, but CC quarterback Taylor Furlough was sacked on 4th down and the Hornets ran out the final 1:48 of the game.
The two teams combined for nearly 850 yards in total offense; Shenandoah had 254 of its 456 on the ground. For just the second time in school history, the Hornets had two runners go over the 100-yard mark in the contest. Sophomore Brandon Lacey (King George, Va./Washington-Lee) had 107 yards on 14 carries while junior Anthony Frates (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) added 127 on a school record 29 rushes. Frates also tied a school record with three rushing touchdowns and Lacey pushed his total offense to nearly 200 yards with 83 yards receiving on three catches.
The Braves jumped out to the early lead when it drove 66 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead at the 5:09 mark of the first. Freshman
Corey Williams gave his club the advantage when he hauled in a 32-yard TD pass on fourth and six.
The Hornets answered right back with a 10 play, 84 yard drive that knotted the score at 7-7. Frates capped the drive with a two-yard run on 2nd and goal.
Frates scored the second of what would prove to be three TDs on the next drive; he dove over on 4th and goal from the Chowan 1. This drive covered 75 yards in 11 plays and consumed 5:13.
However, the Braves refused to fold and tied the score just before the half by combining a strong punt return along with another Furlough TD pass. After Adam Powers returned a Bryce Harrington (Merritt Island, Fla./Road Island) punt 21 yards to the SU 27, Furlough found freshman Henry Ford right down the near hash for a score on 1st down, giving his club new life in the process.
SU took the ensuing kick all the way to the CC 15, but the Harrington 32 yard field goal attempt was wide right as time expired. Harrington redeemed himself on the opening drive of the second half as he drilled a 22-yard field goal after the 12 play drive stalled at the Chowan 5.
Two possessions later, the Braves tied it again when Zach Paulk hit a 24-yarder. This field goal set up the furious fourth quarter in which SU got the winning points.
Cary Steward had 86 yards on the ground for the hosts and Furlough was 21 for 38 for 315 yards and two TDs. He also ran for a two-yard score.
SU quarterback Jon Hoffman (Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field) finished 11 for 14 for 202 yards. He also completed passes to a school record seven different receivers.
Shenandoah begins a three-game homestand to complete the 2004 regular season next Saturday with a Homecoming contest against Averett University. Shentel Stadium game time is 4:00.
