WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University football team rolled up nearly 550 yards in total offense Saturday in a 38-35 ODAC victory over Guilford College.
Shenandoah (5-1, 2-1 ODAC) got the game-winning points on a 31-yard
Scott Martin field goal 45 seconds into the fourth quarter.
IN DEPTH
Guilford (1-5, 0-3) gained 452 yards of its own, but threw a pair of red zone interceptions and was held to just 35 yards rushing as the Hornets won for the sixth time in 10 lifetime meetings with the Quakers.
Graduate running back
Rashadeen Byrd Jr. did most of the damage for the hosts as he gained a career high 190 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Byrd Jr. had an even 100 yards and both of his touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes of play on just 13 carries.
The two teams split 56 first half points with each scoring a pair of touchdowns in each quarter. Guilford led 7-0 and 14-7 before Shenandoah scored on consecutive drives bridging the quarter break.
Now up 21-14, the Hornets never trailed again but GC tied the game at both 21-21 and 28-28. SU took the lead for good by driving 61 yards in just three plays (all runs) to start the second half. This drive, which started with a 57-yard scamper by quarterback
Steven Hugney and ended with a Byrd Jr. seven-yard run, put the hosts up 35-28.
Martin's 31-yarder, which split the uprights, gave Shenandoah the 10-point advantage and proved to be the game-winning points.
After Guilford scored its final touchdown, a Bailey Baker six-yard rush with 9:58 to play, it got the ball back just one more time. Taking over at its own 20 after picking Hugney off in the end zone, the Hornets defense allowed one first down but then put the Quakers behind the sticks on a holding penalty and a sack before forcing a pair of Baker incompletions on third and fourth down.
Baker finished his day 29 for 47 for 417 yards and four touchdowns through the air, but was picked off twice and sacked four times.
Hugney was 12 of 17 passing for 185 yards and one score. He was picked off once and sacked three times. He also added 77 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Ben Burgan paced the victors with eight tackles while
Mason Caldwell had three tackles for loss.
NOTABLE
- The 190 yards rushing from Byrd Jr. is the sixth best single game performance in program history.
- The home win is the 25th of head coach Scott Yoder's SU career.
UP NEXT
Shenandoah hosts nationally ranked Randolph-Macon next week in a 1 p.m. ODAC contest.
###
