HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Fifth-year quarterback Tanner Bernard (Lynchburg) passed for a game-high and career-high 452 yards and five touchdowns to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 37-26 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football victory past Averett University on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. Freshman wide receiver Mason Cunningham (Arlington) had a game-high nine receptions for 130 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while junior wide receiver Jamahdia Whitby (Williamsburg) added 65 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and sophomore wide receiver Austin Fernandez (Warrenton) had a game-high 165 yards receiving and one touchdown for the host Tigers who took a 23-6 lead after one quarter, and led 30-15 at halftime en route to their home win against the visiting Cougars. H-SC improved to 3-3 overall, 2-1 in the ODAC, while AU dropped to 2-4 overall, 0-3 in the ODAC.
With the victory, 23rd-year Hampden-Sydney head coach Marty Favret now totals 143 football coaching wins with the Tigers, tying legendary H-SC Hall of Fame head coach J. Stokeley Fulton, who is the winningest and longest-tenured football coach at the College. Coach Favret now has an overall record of 143-84, while Coach Fulton compiled a record of 143-99-5 over 25 seasons from 1960-84.
H-SC took its first possession 73 yards on eight plays with Bernard connected with Fernandez on a 27-yard scoring play at 12:22. Freshman placekicker Elijah Swett (Matthews, NC) added the PAT for the early 7-0 advantage. Fernandez had an 11-yard reception to begin the drive, while Cunningham had three catches for 29 yards and Whitby added a six-yard reception during the possession.
The Tigers took their second possession 59 yards on five plays with Bernard finding Cunningham for a 20-yard touchdown with 9:34 on the first quarter clock. Swett added the PAT, and was a 14-0 lead. The drive also included runs of five yards and 22 yards by junior running back Melik Frost (Hardeeville, SC), and a completion of 12 yards from Bernard to Fernandez.
H-SC added its third touchdown when Bernard and Whitby connected on a 24-yard scoring play at 6:12. The PAT by Sweet made it a 21-0 contest. It was a four-play, 30-yard possession that was made possible after junior safety Will Pickren (Mount Pleasant, SC) intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards to set things up.
AU followed with its first touchdown on a 75-yard pass from Ryan Curle to Marcus Chapman at 5:15 of the opening quarter; however, the PAT kick attempt was low and hit the helmet of an offensive lineman—credited as a block by fifth-year defensive tackle Michael Harris (Ashland), who pushed his opponent backward on the snap resulting in the ball off the hemet. Sophomore cornerback Kyle Lafayette (Charleston, SC) picked-up the loose ball at the 26 and returned it 74 yards for the two-point defensive conversion—making it a 23-6 margin—and it remained so after one quarter.
The Cougars added a safety early in the second quarter when H-SC snapped the ball over the punter's head in the end zone on a fourth down play. It was 23-8 at 13:56. AU then took its ensuing possession and drove 53 yards on 12 plays for another touchdown, this time on a three-yard run by Bryce Phipps at 7:46, and the PAT was good by Will Caviness to make it a 23-15 contest.
The Tigers added another touchdown before halftime when Bernard and Whitby connected again—this time on a 16-yard pass play at 4:22, capping an 11-play, 77-yard drive. The PAT by Swett had the hosts ahead 30-15, also the halftime score. The long drive included a 16-yard pass from Bernard to senior tight end David Byler (Virginia Beach) on third-and-13, as well as a 14-yard completion to Byler, along with a 32-yard reception by Fernandez, along with a 14-yard pass play from Bernard to Frost on third-and-10.
AU added a 31-yard field goal by Caviness at 8:18 of the third quarter to make it 30-18.
H-SC answered back on its first possession of the third quarter and drove 56 yards on eight plays, ending on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Bernard to Cunningham at 5:46. The PAT by Swett had the Garnet & Grey ahead 37-18. The drive was kept alive by a 19-yard completion from Bernard to Cunningham on third-and-14, while Frost had 10 yards on two rushes, as well—it was 37-18 after three quarters.
The Cougars added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter when Dreylan Martin had a three-yard scoring run with 7:07 remaining. A successful two-point conversion was successful via a pass from Curle to Clayton Shue that provided for the final 37-26 margin of victory for the Tigers.
Bernard passed for his game-high and career-high 452 yards (33-49) and five touchdowns with no interceptions for H-SC. Frost rushed for 52 yards on 19 attempts, adding 14 yards receiving on four catches. Cunningham had his 130 yards receiving on nine receptions and two touchdowns, while Whitby finished with 65 yards receiving on five catches and two touchdowns, Fernandez had his game-high 165 yards receiving on eight receptions and one touchdown, and Byler added 78 yards receiving on six catches.
Junior safety James-Ryan Salvi (Troutville) finished with a game-high 14 tackles and a fumble recovery to lead the Tigers on defense. Pickren added 11 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. Junior linebackers Jaylin Jones (Rustburg) and Tramell Thompson (Queens, NY), along with sophomore defensive end Jordan Akerson (Roanoke) each finished with seven tackles, including three tackles for loss—two sacks by Akerson.
Curle passed for 266 yards (13-31-1) and one touchdown with one interception for AU. Phipps had a game-high 99 yards rushing on 18 attempts and one touchdown, while Martin added four yards on two carries and one touchdown. Chapman had 80 yards receiving on two receptions and one touchdown. Carey Dickerson finished with 11 tackles for the Cougars.
H-SC plays on the road at ODAC member Washington and Lee University on Saturday, October 22, at 1 p.m. in Lexington.
Hampden-Sydney Defeats Visiting Averett 37-26
/seasons/2022/boxscores/20221015_5idk.xml
2022
Averett
26
Hampden-Sydney
37
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Averett (2-4) | 6 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 26 |
| Hampden-Sydney (3-3) | 23 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 37 |
Oct 15, 2022