WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University put itself one win away from its first NCAA playoff berth with a 25-15 USA South Conference victory over Averett University Saturday afternoon before 2470 at Shentel Stadium.

Shenandoah (6-2 overall, 4-1 USA South) can punch its ticket with a win over Methodist on November 13. The Hornets are currently tied with Christopher Newport atop the league standings, but SU holds the tiebreaking advantage over CNU by virtue of a 14-10 win on October 2.

Methodist remains a half-game back in the league standings at 3-1; they would need a win over SU plus a CNU loss to either Averett or Ferrum to advance to the NCAA playoffs.

Shenandoah's fifth straight win over Averett (5-3, 2-3) didn't come easy; the game was by far and away the closest in the series between the two schools that both started football in 2000.

Trailing 12-0 after AU scored two touchdowns in the first 5:49 of the game, the Hornets roared back with 18 fourth quarter points to steal the victory.

Sophomore Brandon Lacey (King George, Va./Washington - Lee) got things started when he scampered a second best in school history 78 yards with 10:42 to play to bring SU to within two at 15-13. Quarterback Jon Hoffman (Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field), who didn't start due to a violation of team policy, successfully converted the enusing two-point play to tie the game at 15-15.

Averett went three and out on its next possession, and then SU drove 62 yards in just five plays to score what proved to be the winning touchdown with 7:30 remaining. The final 35 yards came on a Hoffman to Maurice Coleman (Woodbridge, Va./CD Hylton) tight end screen on 2nd and 7.

AU jumped out to a 12-0 by the 9:11 mark of the first by taking advantage of an early Hornets turnover and hitting a 65-yard bomb. Quarterback Blake Derby (Richmond, Va./Blessed Sacrament), who drew the start because of Hoffman's suspension, coughed up a 3rd and 3 snap on the Shenandoah 30. Averett's Kelvin Hutcheson recovered on the 28, and six plays later his club led 6-0.

Jeff Hughley completed that drive by corralled a Scott Swann 4th and 2 pass from the Hornets 5. After Shenandoah's next drive stalled after five plays, AU drove 76 yards in just three snaps to open up a 12-point advantage.

Swann hit Duane Alston down the near sideline for the 65-yard TD play, and it looked like a rout was in the making.

Fortunately for the Homecoming 2004 fans, the SU defense rose to the challenge and save for a second quarter James Thurnes 30-yard field goal, held Averett off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Anthony Frates (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) scored the Hornets first TD of the game, a 4-yarder at the 7:42 mark of the second. The TD gave Frates both the season record, 10, and a tie for the all-time record, 19, at Shenandoah.

Shenandoah had 385 yards in offense, 283 of which came on the ground. For the second straight week, Frates and Lacey both went over 100 yards rushing in the game. Frates had 115 yards on 27 carries while Lacey had 127 on 15. Kyle Wilson had 101 for the Cougars, who also got 239 yards passing from Swann. He was 23 for 26 for two touchdowns and two interceptions, both in the fourth quarter.

Shenandoah hosts nationally ranked Salisbury next week.