FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Shenandoah University held former USA South Conference foe Methodist scoreless over the final three quarters Saturday afternoon to earn a 27-10 non-league football victory over the Monarchs in the season opener for both teams.
 
Shenandoah (1-0) scored 24 unanswered points in dispatching the Monarchs (0-1) for the sixth straight time and 11^th time in 15 lifetime meetings.
 
IN DEPTH
With the game tied, 10-10, at halftime thanks to a nine-play, 51-yard drive that ended with a Steven Hugney-to-Bryar Wheeler touchdown pass at the 8:23 mark of the second, Shenandoah took the lead for good midway through the third.
 
Taking over on its own 18 following a Methodist punt on its initial drive of the second half, the Hornets drove 82 yards in 10 plays and just 2:58 to put themselves up 17-10 with 8:35 remaining in the third.
 
Hugney, who finished 18-for-30 for 227 yards and two touchdowns against one interception, found senior Caleb Reedy in the back of the end zone for the 24-yard score. The catch was the lone one of the game for Reedy.
 
In the fourth, Scott Martin drilled his second field goal of the game, this one from 31 yards, to make it 20-10 before Rashadeen Byrd Jr. bulled over from the 1 with 92 seconds to play.
 
Byrd, Jr.'s rushing touchdown, which capped a 15-play, 87-yard drive, is the 30^th of his career. This breaks the previous program record of 29 originally set by Anthony Frates '06 and matched last season by Byrd, Jr.
 
The Shenandoah defense, which allowed the Methodist eight- and 13-play drives to start the game, turned in seven three-and-outs over the final 45 minutes and snuffed out the Monarchs best opportunity to score by halting them on a fourth-and-one from the SU 6 at the end of the third.
 
The ensuing SU drive ended in Martin's 31-yard field goal.
 
On the seven three-and-outs, the Hornets gave up a combined 13 yards.
 
Returning All-America Ben Burgan led this defensive effort with 12 tackles (nine solo).
 
The Hornets outgained Methodist 437-286, including 210 to 41 on the ground. SU averaged four yards per rush.
 
UP NEXT
Shenandoah plays host to another former USA South Conference foe, N.C. Wesleyan, next Saturday in a 7 p.m. non-league contest.
 
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