Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University football team snapped its two-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 34-17 ODAC victory over visiting Catholic University of America.
Shenandoah (4-2, 1-2 ODAC) allowed an opening possession field goal to Catholic (3-3, 1-2), but scored the final 14 points of the first quarter and never trailed again.
After quarterback Hayden Bauserman tossed an interception on the Hornets initial series, SU quickly regained possession thanks to a Jake Shaffer pick and then needed just one play to take a 7-3 lead.
Bauserman, who finished 9 of 18 for 124 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions, tossed his first TD by finding tight end Miles Green down the seam for a 28-yard score.
Backup Travis Barton, Jr. threw the next TD pass as Delaun Richardson took a screen and broke a pair of tackles for a 21-yard score.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the second, with the Hornets scoring on a 28-yard run from junior running back Cedrick Delaney.
The Cardinals, who matched SU with 446 yards in total offense, drove 46 yards in 11 plays to cut the deficit 21-17 with 10:50 remaining in the third.
Shenandoah went three-and-out on its next series and with Catholic driving to the Hornets 20, the momentum looking to be switching sides.
Fortunately for the Sprint Field at Shentel Stadium faithful, the SU defense, led by linebacker Michael Messick's program record 24 tackles, turned in the first of three fourth down stands on the day to snuff out the drive.
The Hornets drove those 80 yards in just six plays, the last 53 on a Bauserman to Delaney swing pass, to extend its lead back to 11 points at 28-17.
The Cards first two possessions of the fourth ended on failed fourth down conversions, the first at the Shenandoah 2, and the Hornets clinched the win following the second one thanks to a Kye Hopkins 65-yard TD burst.
Hopkins took an inside handoff on 3rd-and-2 from the SU 35 and after breaking one tackle at the point of attack, outraced a host of CUA players to paydirt.
The Cards final drive ended in a Weldon Gilchrist, Jr. interception.
Delaney led all players with 136 yards rushing on 21 carries while adding another 81 yards receiving on five receptions.
Matt Perno had 103 yards rushing and Lucas Morley 119 receiving for the visitors.
Catholic quarterback TJ Tutone finished 31 for 54 for 311 yards and two TDs against two interceptions.
Bauserman and Barton combined for a 16 for 28 day that included 206 yards and three touchdowns.
Messick's record setting day included 13 solo tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.
Malik Sims had 11 stops and Jake Payne three sacks among his nine tackles.
Messick breaks the record of 19 tackles he co-held with teammate Micheal Wroble.
Shenandoah begins its final road trip of the season next week with a 1 p.m. ODAC contest at Hampden-Sydney.