HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior quarterback Andrew Puccinelli (Glen Allen) passed for a game-high 259 yards and two touchdowns, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a hard-fought 21-17 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football decision at home to Washington and Lee University on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. The host Tigers (4-3, 2-2 ODAC) led 14-0 after one quarter, were ahead 14-7 at halftime, and 17-14 after three quarters, but the visiting Generals (6-1, 4-0 ODAC) scored a late touchdown—a 24-yard scoring run by quarterback Stephen Murrin with 5:04 remaining—for the important conference road win during Homecoming Weekend on the Hill.
H-SC wasted no time taking the opening possession of the contest and driving 75 yards on 10 plays, culminating with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Puccinelli to sophomore wide receiver Mason Cunningham (Arlington)—open in the right corner of the end zone at 10:45. Sophomore placekicker Elijah Swett (Matthews, NC) added the first of two PAT kicks for the quick 7-0 advantage. The possession included a 12-yard pass from Puccinelli to junior tight end Sutton Lasso (Raleigh, NC), 13 and nine yard runs by junior running back JT Diehl (Warrenton), and a 15-yard pass from Puccinelli to senior wide receiver Jamahdia Whitby (Williamsburg).
The Tigers' defense forced a three-and-out on W&L's first possession, and the Garnet & Grey offense proceeded to march right down the field once-again … this time covering 73 yards on eight plays with Puccinelli finding senior wide receiver Braeden Bowling (Cary, NC) wide open down the middle of the field for a 43-yard touchdown pass at the 6:00 mark. Swett's PAT kick made it 14-0 just past the halfway point of the first quarter. The drive featured a 10-yard run by Cunningham and an eight-yard connection from Puccinelli to Cunningham as it was 14-0 after the opening 15 minutes.
The Generals scored the only touchdown of the second quarter when Murrin got loose on a 42-yard touchdown run at 9:03, the PAT kick by Arturo Ramirez, though the home team led 14-7 at the intermission.
H-SC took possession early in the third quarter after another three-and-out by the defense, and put together a nine-play, 47-yard drive that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Swett at 10:05 for a 17-7 advantage. Keys to the drive were a 17-yard pass from Puccinelli to junior wide receiver Austin Fernandez (Warrenton) and a 28-yard run by senior running back Melik Frost (Hardeeville, SC).
The two teams traded possessions before W&L added its second touchdown at 3:32 of the third quarter when Jacob Romero found his way to the end zone on a 44-yard scoring run. The PAT kick by Ramirez made it a 17-14 contest after three quarters.
The Tigers took their first possession of the fourth quarter and drove to the visitors' 30-yard line as Frost rushed for 27 yards on four plays, before the drive stalled on downs. The Generals then drove 70 yards on 10 plays with Murrin scoring what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 24-yard run with 5:04 remaining. Ramirez added the PAT kick for the final 21-17 margin.
H-SC did have two late possessions, but turned the ball over on downs both times while deep in its own territory.
Puccinelli passed for his game-high 259 yards (26-41-0) and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Frost rushed for 88 yards on 17 attempts, adding three receptions for 37 yards. Cunningham had 59 yards receiving on six receptions and one touchdown, while Bowling had 48 yards receiving on two receptions and one touchdown. Whitby finished with seven receptions for 33 yards, and Fernandez finished with five receptions for 56 yards.
Senior defensive end and team captain Tramell Thompson (Queens, NY) finished with nine tackles, including one sack (tackle for loss), to lead the Tigers on defense. Classmate, All-American safety and team captain Will Pickren (Mount Pleasant, SC) added eight tackles, sophomore safety Jaylan Long (Martinsville), junior defensive end Brendan Wallace (Virginia Beach) and sophomore safety Max Pickren (Mount Pleasant, SC) each contributed seven tackles—Long and Wallace each with a half-tackle for loss and Long also forcing a fumble—while senior defensive tackle Kevin Gholson (Montpelier) had six tackles.
Murrin rushed for 94 yards on 13 attempts and two touchdowns, and passed for 36 yards (4-9). Romero had a game-high 107 yards rushing on 18 attempts and one touchdown. Hunter Hawk finished with a game-high 11 tackles and one pass breakup for the Generals.
H-SC goes on the road next weekend at ODAC member Guilford (NC) College on Saturday, October 28, at 1 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The three narrow setbacks this season have all been at home and have come by a total of six points ... Wabash (IN) College scoring with 2:02 on the clock and converting a trick-play pass for its two-point conversion and 29-28 road win on September 2, while Bridgewater College scored with just 23-seconds remaining and converted a run for its two-point conversion and 39-38 road win on Sept. 30.
Hampden-Sydney Falls In Heartbreaker To Washington and Lee 21-17
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20231021_ldf5.xml
2023
Washington and Lee
21
Hampden-Sydney
17
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee (6-1) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Hampden-Sydney (4-3) | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Oct 21, 2023