BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Homestanding Bridgewater College used a late interception to secure a 27-21 non-league football victory over Shenandoah University Saturday afternoon at Jopson Field.
 
Down 21-0 late in the second, Shenandoah (0-1) began its comeback with a touchdown 45 seconds before halftime and then scored midway through the third to cut the deficit to just seven, 21-14.
 

IN BRIEF

Rashadeen Byrd, Jr. had that first TD, capping a six-play, 55-yard drive with a six-yard blast up the middle.
 
Sophomore Zack Mathis, making his first-ever start, lofted a two-yard fade to Nicholas Rauchwarg at 8:39 of the third to bring the Hornets to within one score.
 
Bridgewater (1-0) answered with a 32-yard Cameron Gieseman field goal to push the lead back to 10 points, 24-14, with 52 seconds remaining in the third.
 
Mathis and Rauchwarg hooked up again, this time for 63-yards, to set the Hornets up to rally for the victory.
 
Taking over after BC ended a 17-play, 50-yard drive with a 27-yard Gieseman field goal, Shenandoah drove it 44 yards in nine plays to set up a 1^st and 10 on the Bridgewater 31 with 1:02 remaining.
 
Mathis was incomplete on first down and then was picked by Brett Tharp at the Eagles 10 to effectively end the contest.
 
Mathis finished 24 of 35 for 217 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
 
Rauchwarg had 101 yards receiving on five catches.
 
Ben Burgan paced the defense with 16 tackles. David Agyei had seven tackles and a first quarter interception that he appeared to end in a touchdown, but he was ruled to have fumbled out of the end zone prior to the ball crossing the goalline. BC took possession on a touchback.
 

UP NEXT

Shenandoah opens up ODAC play Friday night at home versus Hampden-Sydney.
 
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