WASHINGTON, D.C. – Shenandoah University pitched just the second shutout in school history Saturday afternoon in the Hornets 12-0 season opening victory at Catholic University.
The win for SU (1-0) is also the first-ever for the program in a season opening road game.
However, it was far from easy.
With the game scoreless with 1:18 to play in the second quarter, the Hornets combined a defensive stand with just enough offense to get the winning points. Freshman
Travis Bishop (pictured) drilled a 32-yard field goal to cap a seven play, 14 yard drive that started when Catholic was stopped on 4th and 2 from its own 21. Freshman Kevin Ricca's pass was broken up by junior
Anthony Hayes as running back Jeff Sheehan brought the ball in.
Midway through the third, Shenandoah picked off John Jacobs on a short pass to Nick Bublavi at the SU 20. The offense then turned in a classic Hornets drive – seven of the eight plays were on the ground with
Anthony Frates doing most of the work. The scoring play came on 3rd and 4 from the Catholic 44 –
Jon Hoffman hit a wide open
Richard Redwood at the 10 before he trotted in untouched.
The final score came after sophomore Chris Dooley uncorked a school record 65 punt to pin the Cardinals (0-1) in on their own eight. One play later, junior
Terrence Powell sacked Ricca in the end zone for a safety to give SU the 12-0 advantage.
Catholic did appear to cut the deficit in half with just over a minute to play, but the referees ruled that Ryan Bowman's did not have possession of his end-zone reception, leaving the hosts with a 4th and 15 from the 16. Ricca went to Bowman again on fourth down, but freshman
Dionte Beatty knocked the ball away at the goalline.
CUA had 288 yards in total offense to the Hornets 186; Bublavi led the way with 81 yards receiving and another four rushing. Frates had 29 carries for 89 yards to lead Shenandoah on the ground.
The Hornets did sack Catholic quarterbacks five times, including two by freshman
Andrew Tesnow.
SU hosts Bridgewater next Saturday night at 7:00.
