WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University used the big play Saturday afternoon to key a 30-22 USA South Conference victory over Methodist Saturday afternoon on Sprint Field at Shentel Stadium in the season finale for both teams.
Shenandoah (3-7, 2-5 USA South) clinches its best season since a 7-4 campaign in 2004 with the victory and also snaps a three-game losing streak to the Monarchs (2-8, 1-6).
This win also gives the hosts sole possession of sixth place in the USA South and is the first season-ending victory for the team since a win over Methodist in the 2003 season finale.
Sophomore BJ Smoot had the first of 50-yard plus plays on the afternoon when he returned the opening kick 73 yards to set SU up with a 1st and goal on the Methodist 8.
It took four plays, but Hornets quarterback Vern Lunsford found tight end Kevin Spoth on 4th down for a 3-yard TD pass and Shenandoah had a lead just over two minutes into the contest.
The Monarchs tied it with a 20-play, 92-yard drive at the 12:40 mark of the second, but SU took the lead for good with a 92-yard drive of its own at the end of the second quarter.
Taking over on its own 8 with just 93 seconds to play in the half, Lunsford hit senior Mark Sanford with a 78-yard strike on 1st and 10 from the 21 to set the Hornets up with a 1st and goal on the MU 1.
Kevin Roberts, who finished the day with 99 yards rushing on 24 attempts, took a pitch left on 3rd down for the score.
Kicker Travis Bishop kicked the first of his three field goals, this one from 37 yards, to open the second half scoring.
And then Smoot struck again.
Running a wheel route, Smoot caught the ball on the Monarchs 25 and raced untouched for an 82-yard TD pass.
The 82-yard play was the 19th this season for Smoot of at least 20-yards and the second that went for 80+.
After Methodist made it 24-14 on an Erik Teague to Chris Peoples 38-yard TD pass, Bishop hit 37- and 38-yard field goals to ice the contest.
Teague hooked up with Peoples with 86 seconds remaining for both a 13-yard TD and the ensuing two-point conversion, but the Monarchs hit the on-side kick out of bounds and Shenandoah ran out the clock.
SU outgained Methodist 349-343 as Lunsford set school records for both passing yards in a season (1474) and game (221) with his 10 completion performance.
Joe Lunsford and Corey Giffing both led the defense with 12 tackles with Lunsford also picking off a pass.
