WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University opened its 2021 football season Saturday afternoon by rallying for a 28-23 non-league victory over Methodist University.
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The Hornets (1-0) earned the victory by forcing Methodist (0-1) to turn the ball over on downs on the Monarchs final drive of the contest.
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IN DEPTH
Trailing 28-23, MU took advantage of a targeting penalty to drive all the way to the SU 3, but was held out of the end zone as the Shenandoah defense forced a pair of incompletions.
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With the Monarchs out of time outs, SU took a knee with 39 seconds left to ice its 10th victory over Methodist in 14 lifetime meetings.
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Trailing 14-0 after the Monarchs scored two touchdowns in the opening 15:42 of the contest, Shenandoah rallied with 21 straight points in the second and third quarters.
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Senior
Rashadeen Byrd Jr. got the Hornets on the board with a two-yard TD run six seconds before the halftime gun.
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In the third, senior quarterback
Zack Mathis, who came on in relief of freshman
Steven Hugney, threw touchdown passes of 86 and 18 yards to classmate
Ethan Bigbee to put SU on top, 21-14.
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Methodist immediately answered with a five-play, 66-yard drive to tie the game at 21-21.
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But Mathis and Bigbee weren't finished.
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The seniors hooked up again, this time for 38 yards on a fourth-and-three play from the Methodist 38, to provide the winning points.
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The Monarchs made matters interesting by getting a safety with 2:59 left and then driving all the way to the SU 3 on their subsequent drive before stalling out.
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Byrd Jr. finished the game with 74 yards rushing on 20 carries with Bigbee hauling in five receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
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Methodist quarterback Brandon Bullins was 23 of 43 for 231 yards and one touchdown.
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Ben Burgan had 10 tackles for the Hornets.
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UP NEXT
Shenandoah takes to the road to face former USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan. Game time is noon.
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