Shenandoah Stops Maryville
WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University used a strong first half combined with a late score Saturday afternoon to down Maryville College 28-21 in USA South Conference football action.
Shenandoah (3-3, 2-1 USA South) jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead, but needed a late touchdown as Maryville (1-5, 1-2) rallied.
Senior Kyle Feldman provided that game-winning score, hauling in a 36-yard touchdown pass from classmate (and roommate) Daniel Wright with 2:27 remaining.
The Hornets needed Feldman's first-ever TD due to a completely different offense from the Scots in the second half.
With negative two yards in total offense before the break, Maryville switched to backup quarterback Melvin Burston to start the second and the freshman delivered, helping MC to 240 yards of total offense in the final 30 minutes.
With 6:13 to play, Burston scrambled for a 31-yard TD to tie the game.
SU then drove 70 yards in just eight plays, finishing with the Wright-to-Feldman strike on 2nd down and 7.
Until Burston's second half heroics, it seemed as if the game was going be a rout as Shenandoah rolled up 298 yards in the opening two quarters to take a 21-0 lead.
SU held the ball for 22:15 in the first half, including an amazing 12:29 in the opening period.
Junior running back Brad Martz did most of the damage, rolling up 140 of his game-high 191 yards rushing in the first 30 minutes.
Defensively, the Hornets had seven tackles (including three sacks) for a total of 40 yards in losses in that same span.
The Hornets finished the game with 416 yards in total offense. In addition to Martz' 191 rushing on 41 carries, senior All-America candidate Rico Wallace had six receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Wright was 15 for 23 for 246 yards, three TD's and two interceptions.
Both interceptions happened deep in Maryville territory.
Sophomore Josh Rogers had nine tackles to pace the defensive effort.
Shenandoah is on the road next Saturday with a 1:00 USA South Conference contest at Methodist.
