GREENSBORO, N.C. – Host Guilford College took advantage of a pair of Shenandoah University miscues to key a 55-38 ODAC football victory Saturday afternoon at the rainy Armfield Athletic Center.
After the two teams traded touchdowns on the opening four possessions of the contest, Shenandoah (3-2, 0-2 ODAC) appeared to take the upper hand by forcing a Guilford (4-1, 1-1) punt.
Unfortunately, the 42-yard Tyler Hunt pinned SU at its own 10, and three plays later a Robert Smith pick-six interception of a Hayden Bauserman pass gave GC a lead it would not relinquish.
Trailing 34-17 late in the second quarter, the Hornets appeared to get back in it as Bauserman tossed a 7-yard TD pass to Michael Ashwell 36 seconds prior to the halftime gun.
But Guilford had other ideas.
De'Eric Bell, who gained 153 yards rushing, ran the ensuing kick back 92 yards for a score to extend the Quakers advantage back to 17 points and give the hosts big momentum heading into halftime.
Shenandoah, which gained a season-high 603 yards on the day, had 173 of that total in the third quarter but only was able to produce seven points during the stanza as it missed a 42-yard field goal attempt and failed to convert on fourth down on two occasions inside GC territory.
The Quakers scored the initial two touchdowns of the fourth to coast home to the victory. The second of those touchdowns came on a possession gained thanks to a Hornets fumbled kickoff return at midfield.
Bauserman, who set school records for completions, attempts and passing yards, closed the book on the day's scoring with a 5-yard TD pass to Qlyl Middelijn at the 4:21 mark of the fourth.
GC then ran out the clock on the ensuing possession.
Led by Bauserman's 450 yards passing on 37 completions in 65 attempts, Shenandoah gained the 603 yards to the Quakers' 563.
The two teams combined for 732 yards in offense in the opening 30 minutes of play.
Bauserman completed passes to nine different receivers with Michael Ashwell posting 162 yards receiving on a school-record-tying 12 catches.
Deshon Brown had 106 yards receiving on 11 catches and freshman Jalen Hudson, playing for the injured Cedrick Delaney, had 118 yards rushing on 12 carries.
GC quarterback Matt Pawlowski was 18 for 36 for 363 yards and four TDs against zero interceptions.
Adam Smith had 253 of those yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches.
The Hornets return home next Saturday for a 1 p.m. ODAC kickoff against Catholic.
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