LEXINGTON, Va. – The Shenandoah University football team completed its 2018 season Saturday with a 27-24 overtime win at Washington and Lee.
Freshman Rashadeen Byrd Jr. took it in from the 6 to complete the Shenandoah (5-5, 3-4 ODAC) rally from a 21-6 deficit and defeat the Generals (5-4, 3-4) for just the second time in history.
The first win, in 2013, was also in overtime.
IN DEPTH
The Hornets began their comeback with 9:38 to play in the fourth as Hayden Bauserman hit Jalen Hudson for a 17-yard TD pass to complete an 11-play, 82-yard drive.
The Hornets held W&L on downs on the ensuing Generals possession, but a Washington and Lee sack of Bauserman forced a Shenandoah punt with 2:26 to play.
The Shenandoah defense stepped up again, forcing a three-and-out to give the ball back to its offense on the Hornets 35 with 1:02 to play.
Bauserman needed just three plays and 21 seconds to find the end zone once again as he hit Casey Stewart for a 49-yard TD pass. The touchdown reception was Stewart's 15th of the season, setting a new program record. He breaks the mark previously held by Rico Wallace '12.
Following a time-out, Bauserman connected with Jake Wallace for the game-tying two-point conversion with the score knotted at 21-21.
W&L was able to drive to the Shenandoah 30 and attempt a 45-yard field goal as time expired, but it was wide left and short.
In the overtime, W&L had a first-and-goal on the Hornets 10, but was stuffed for no gain on 2nd-and-goal from the 5 and threw an incomplete pass on third down.
Washington and Lee finished the day 0-for-7 thru the air.
Shenandoah needed just three plays to score the game-winning score with Byrd taking it the final 16 yards on a pair of rushes.
The Hornets first touchdown was a 3-yard Bauserman to Ethan Bigbee TD pass at the 4:48 mark of the second. That play finished an 8-play, 65-yard drive.
Bauserman finished his season 355-of-555 for 3832 yards and 43 touchdowns. All are new ODAC and SU season records.
QUOTABLE
"A come from behind win on the road," head coach Scott Yoder said. "There is nothing better than that and I am so happy for our program and especially the seniors."
UP NEXT
This completes the Hornets 2018 season. Shenandoah will officially announce its 2019 schedule next month. SU will play Methodist in the 2019 season opener.
GAME NOTES
- The win is just the second in seven lifetime meetings with W&L
- Shenandoah is now 4-5 all-time in overtime
- The OT win is the first since defeating W&L 21-14 in Winchester on November 16, 2013
- SU is 3-4 in road overtime games
- Bauserman finished the game 40-of-59 for 335 yards and three TDs against three interceptions
- Wallace had 13 receptions for 102 yards
- Tyler Williams led the defense with 17 tackles, including 13 solo
- Shenandoah wore its red, alternate jerseys and is now 4-0 wearing non-white uniforms on the road in its history.
- The Hornets set several records Saturday with Bauserman setting new ODAC and SU season records for passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns and Stewart setting a new school mark for touchdown receptions in a season.
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