WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University football team put a cap on an outstanding Homecoming Saturday with a 34-27 ODAC victory over Bridgewater College.
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Trailing 24-0 midway through the second quarter, SU (3-1, 1-1 ODAC) held Bridgewater to just three second half points while picking off a pair of passes to key the comeback victory.
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IN DEPTH
Down 27-20 after Eagles kicker Jackson Hendren drilled a 47-yard field goal with 5:12 to play, the Hornets brought the game back to level with a four-play, 51-yard drive to tie it at 27-27 with 3:20 remaining.
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Rashadeen Byrd Jr., who had 110 yards rushing on 20 carries, finished the game-tying drive with a 35-yard run.
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Bridgewater (2-3, 0-2) took over on its own 30, and two plays later
Quante Redd picked off quarterback Matt Lawton to give the hosts the ball back at the BC 48 with 79 seconds remaining.
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Two
Steven Hugney-to-
Ethan Bigbee completions later, Shenandoah had a 1
st-and-10 at the Eagles 13 and 30 seconds left.
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It took just one more play, a Hugney to
Brant Butler strike, to give the hosts their first lead of the game.
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Butler, who had scored the squad's second touchdown of the game, made a one-handed grab for the winning score.
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Bridgewater advanced to the Shenandoah 32 on its ensuing drive, but a final play throw into the end zone was knocked down.
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The second half heroics capped the biggest comeback in program history and gave the Hornets their sixth win over Bridgewater since restarting football in 2000.
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Hugney, who went the whole way for the first time this season, finished his night 19-of-32 for 287 yards and three TDs.
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Butler had 177 yards on eight catches and
Ethan Bigbee 76 yards on six. Butler had two touchdown receptions and Bigbee one.
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Ben Burgan had 16 tackles and
Jahquan Collins 13 to lead the defense.
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UP NEXT
The Hornets take to the road next Saturday for a noon ODAC contest at Guilford.
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