HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA-In the #23 Tigers' 38-14 win over Ferrum College, senior wide receiver Kyle Vance (Onley, VA/Broadwater Academy) tallied a program record 228 receiving yards and one touchdown on 14 receptions. Senior place kicker David Prizzia (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Episcopal) also connected on all five of his PATs putting him at a record 62 consecutive makes spanning back to 2009.
Vance and Prizzia both began their marks early, as the Tigers scored just under two minutes into the game when Travis Lane (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) hit Vance in the end zone on a 19 yard pass. Though the Tigers would not score again in the first quarter, the defense was again solid holding Ferrum to just 38 yards in the quarter, including a fumble recovery from Charlie Shoemaker (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park). Hampden-Sydney was unable to convert on the turnover as Marcco McNeal picked off a Lane pass at the Ferrum nine-yard line. The defense clamped down on the Panthers - whose fake punt attempt was foiled by a Zach Sadovszky (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) pass break up on fourth and five.
Hampden-Sydney was able to use that turnover-on-downs into seven points when Lane hit Vance for three yards, followed by a pitch to Kirk Rohle (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) that led to a 12 yard scamper to the end zone.
Just four minutes later, Prizzia and the Tigers tacked on a field goal to take a 17-0 lead with 4:28 to play in the first half.
It took Ferrum five plays, 77 yards and two and a half minutes to make it a 17-7 game courtesy a Joe Finn four yard rush. After the score, the Tigers had just 1:51 remaining in the half. After back-to-back passes from Lane to Rohle and Vance for 33 yards, Rohle ran for 11 yards right into the end zone putting the Tigers up 24-7 just before the half.
The defense held Ferrum to a three-and-out to start the third stanza, and the Tigers again took advantage. Lane hit Steelman for 20 yards and then Vance for 33, before Rohle ran in for six more points - this time on a six yard run.
After Finn ran the ensuing kick off back to the Hampden-Sydney 30-yard line, sophomore Zach Morgan (Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) prevented a Panther run with an interception on the one yard line.
Neither team could find the end zone for the remainder of the third quarter, but Hampden-Sydney took its final drive of the third into the fourth quarter where Evan King (Lewisburg, WV/Episcopal) pushed the lead to 38-7 on an eight yard run.
The Panthers fought back, scoring on a one yard run from quarterback Marcus Mayo with just over six minutes in the game.
After a Hampden-Sydney turnover, the Panthers were knocking on the door, but Shreve Rohle (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) came up with the big interception in the end zone to give the offense the ball back to run out the clock.
On the day, Lane was 25-of-42 with 362 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Vance had another strong performance with 14 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown. Rohle added three receptions, 48 yards and a score to go with 52 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. Sophomore tight end Mike Goad (Chesterfield, VA/Matoaca) hauled in three receptions for 44 yards.
Defensively, the charge was led by sophomore Sean Stewart's (Alexandria, VA/Mount Vernon) game-high 11 tackles, including 2.5 for-loss. Morgan and Kenny Fryman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) each tallied eight tackles, while Steven Fogleman (Mechanicsville, VA/Hanover) added seven.
Mayo led the Panther offense, throwing for 232 yards, but two interceptions, while completing 13 of his 28 attempts. He was also the team's leading rusher with 62 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Mayo's favorite target was Derrick West who caught three passes for 139 yards.
Hampden-Sydney returns to action next Saturday, as it travels to Montgomery, Alabama to face the Hawks of Huntingdon College. Kick-off is set for 1:00 pm central time.