ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Shenandoah University earned its second straight football victory to start the 2021 season with a 30-21 non-league win Saturday at N.C. Wesleyan.
 
The Hornets (2-0) picked off five passes, got three Patrick Ritchie field goals and a 132 rushing yards from Rashadeen Byrd Jr. in earn their seventh lifetime win over N.C. Wesleyan (0-2).
 
IN DEPTH
Richie's final field goal, a 20-yard with 6:44 to play, put SU on top to stay at 23-21.
 
Two plays later, Quante Redd picked off Bishops quarterback Storm Yarborough for the third time to give the Hornets the ball back at the Shenandoah 48.
 
The Hornets earned a first down on 4^th-and-2 from the NCWC 44 before finding themselves facing a 3^rd-and-11 at the NCWC 43 with just over three minutes remaining.
 
Senior Zack Mathis, inserted into the game midway through the third quarter, then completed the biggest pass of the game by finding classmate Brant Butler for a 33-yard gain.
 
SU was now able to essentially run out the clock, and punched in the game-clinching touchdown with 53 seconds remaining.
 
The fourth interception, this one by Ben Burgan, allowed Shenandoah to take a knee for the final play of the game.
 
Keyshawn Wilder had two interceptions and David Agyei one.
 
Ritchie's three field goals, 20, 31, and 20 yards, all came in the second half. His first, at the 8:48 mark of the third, gave Shenandoah its initial lead of the game.
 
The game was knotted at 14-14 at the half with Brant Butler and Gary Garlic scoring the Hornets touchdowns.
 
Mason Caldwell had nine total tackles, including four for loss and two sacks, to lead the defense.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Shenandoah outgained the Bishops, 366-320 with 223 of those yards coming on the ground
• The Hornets had a nearly 11-minute advantage in possession time (35:25 to 24:35) after possessing the ball for 12:15 in the fourth quarter
• The win evens the all-time series at seven wins each.

QUOTABLE
"Nice, gutty win on the road," said head coach Scott Yoder. "I thought our defense did a great job of creating turnovers and helping us find a way to a good win on the road. Just a good effort all the way around."

UP NEXT
Shenandoah opens ODAC play on the road next Saturday in a 1 p.m. game at Hampden-Sydney.
 
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