WINCHESTER, Va. - Catholic University took advantage of two Shenandoah University turnovers and a blocked punt to win 17-6 in non-league football action at Shentel Stadium Thursday night.

The Cardinals (1-0) returned the favor to the Hornets (0-1) by winning the season opener for both schools. Last season, SU pitched just the second shutout in school history in a 12-0 victory on September 3, 2005. This victory was later vacated by Shenandoah for the use of an ineligible player.

Just 43 seconds into the second period, CUA took a lead it would not relinquish when junior Sam Weaver completed a 13-play, 46-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal. Catholic had taken possession to start the drive on its own 44 following 33-yard punt from junior Chris Dooley.

At the 4:25 mark of the third, the visitors scored what proved to be the game-clinching points on a 1-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback John Jacobs. The Cards needed just four plays to stick in the game-winning TD; they took over on the SU 43 following a fumble and got 41 yards in one shot when Jacobs lofted a perfect pass on 2nd and 9 to Myles Sabrick that gave them a 1st and goal from the Hornets 1.

Jacobs took two tries to get the score, but would not be denied on his 2nd and goal sneak.

Shenandoah got itself back into the ballgame as it blocked a Jacobs punt on Catholic's next possession and used five plays to travel the remaining 15 yards. Sophomore Wes Pope blocked Jacobs' boot as he moved right in an attempt to hit the ball with a running start. The blocked punt was just the third in school history and the first since the 2001 season.

Junior Steven King finished the drive with his first career TD - he plowed over from the 1 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for the Shentel Stadium crowd, coach Paul Barnes was unable to build upon this momentum and advanced into CUA territory just one more time before the final horn sounded.

Catholic sealed the contest with just over five minutes to play when Keith Ricca hooked up with Noah Rogers for a 3-yard TD pass. The Cards took over on the Hornets 23 after Olivero (who played the majority of snaps on both offense and defense Thursday night) picked off SU quarterback Blake Derby on the 3rd and 12.

Olivero led all rushers with 17 carries for 58 yards while Ricca was 11 for 17 for 73 yards and Jacobs 3 for 8 for 53 yards.

The two teams combined for only 322 yards in total offense, 252 of which came from the visitors.

Junior Paul Diggs had 10 carries for 41 yards and Derby was 4 for 16 for 32 yards. Diggs' classmate, linebacker Wes Fry, contributed a career high 14 tackles.

Both teams are off for the next 10 days - SU travels to Bridgewater on September 9 while Catholic hosts Ohio Wesleyan.