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Hampden-Sydney can clinch second consecutive ODAC title with win next week LEXINGTON, VA (October 18, 2008)–Hampden-Sydney head football coach Marty Favret has been the proud benefactor of several clutch performances from a variety of players thus far in the 2008 season. The same was true once again in the Tigers' 39-29 win over Washington and Lee Saturday, as representatives from the offensive, defensive and special teams units all loomed large to put No. 20 Hampden-Sydney (7-0, 4-0 ODAC) in prime position to claim its second straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference crown. Junior wide receiver Adam Gillette (Franklin, VA/Nanesmond Suffolk) produced a career game, snaring a career-best nine passes for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Both scoring grabs occured in the first half with his second tally, a 19-yard reception from quarterback Corey Sedlar (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin), helping the Tigers sprint out to a 21-9 lead with 5:46 remaining in the opening half. Senior kicker T.C. Stevens (Alton, VA/Halifax) came up huge in crunch time, drilling a 24-yard field goal at the 5:59 mark of the fourth quarter to complete Hampden-Sydney's comeback from an eight-point, second half deficit and give the Tigers a 32-29 lead they would not relinquish. Senior defensive end Zack Sanchez (Richmond, VA/L.C. Bird) had a monster game on the defensive front, making ten total tackles in addition to registering one sack, three tackles-for-loss and forcing three General fumbles, the last of which set up Hampden-Sydney for the back-breaking score; Josh Simpson's (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) two-yard plunge that gave the Tigers breathing room at 39-29 with 3:10 to play in the game. Hampden-Sydney needed each one of these players to hold off a gritty Washington and Lee (4-3, 1-2 ODAC) unit that had taken the Tigers to the limit in last year's 45-42 marathon at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. In that game, Generals' running back Stuart Sitterson had torched Hampden-Sydney for 389 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. On Saturday, Sitterson was forced to leave the game after succumbing to a rib injury late in the first half, departing with just 50 yards rushing on 11 carries. Two Washington and Lee freshman stepped up to lead the Generals' charge, however, and helped erase the early 12-point Tiger advantage by halftime. Hampden-Sydney's defense held Washington and Lee to three field goals in the early going and used a Simpson touchdown run and two Sedlar-to-Gillette scoring strikes to take a 21-9 lead with 5:46 to play in the half. Washington and Lee freshman signal caller Charlie Westfal then took center stage, completing 3-of-3 passes for 34 yards and scrambling for a 14-yard pick up on the Generals' ensuing drive, capping the possession with a 21-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman Cody Smith to cut the Tigers' lead to 21-16. After Hampden-Sydney failed on a fourth-and-four at the Generals' 48-yard line, Westfal led the Generals down the field once more, connecting with Smith for a second time for a 15-yard score, giving Washington and Lee a 22-21 lead at the break. That lead grew to 29-21 on the Generals' second drive of the second half, when Westfal and Smith hooked up for a third time, this time from 20 yards away with 7:21 to play in the third quarter. That's when Sanchez began to make his mark. With the Generals' enjoying a first-and-ten from their own 36 and just over four minutes to play in the third, Sanchez wrapped up Westfal from behind, forcing a fumble that was scooped up by Josh Miller (Stephen's City, VA/Sherando). On the first play of the ensuing drive, Sedlar hit Gillette for 31 yards down to the Generals' one-yard line setting up a Simpson one-yard run that brought the Tigers even at 29-29 following a Sedlar to Gillette two-point conversion. The Tigers and Generals traded punts into the fourth quarter before Hampden-Sydney embarked on the key drive of the contest, one that began with 13:53 to play in the fourth. Sedlar led the offense on a 17-play, 79-yard push that consisted of two fourth-down conversions, including a Sedlar 17-yard floater to reserve tight end Anthony Ricketts (Richmond, VA/Bendictine) on fourth-and-three from the W&L 30, and was capped by Stevens' 24-yard try. That possession melted 7:54 off the clock as Stevens put the Tigers ahead for good at 32-29. But Stevens was not finished. Following Sanchez's third forced fumble of the afternoon and Simpson's third rushing tally that gave H-SC a ten-point advantage, Tigers' junior safety Thomas Hovis (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's) intercepted Westfal on the Generals' first play of their next drive. Stevens and the Tigers set up to punt after a three-and-out, but W&L's Chris Prugar split the line and blocked the punt in Hampden-Sydney territory. The ball came to rest in front of Stevens, who picked up the loose ball and ran ahead for a 21-yard gain that was good enough for a first down, keeping the drive alive and allowing the Tigers to snuff out the rest of the clock. The Tigers amassed 467 yards of offense in the victory, as Sedlar threw for 363 yards and a pair of scores, although he also tossed three interceptions. Simpson finished with 78 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries while also snagging five passes for 44 yards. Zach Miller (Lebanon, VA/Lebanon), the Tigers' leading receiver, had four receptions for 65 yards and Trevor Ikwild led the defensive charge with 11 total tackles and a fumble recovery. Westfal paced the Generals with 252 yards and three touchdowns through the air in addition to 63 yards rushing. Smith had a career-high 11 receptions for 116 yards and all three Westfal scoring throws. Hampden-Sydney can clinch its sixth ODAC championship with a win next Saturday, October 25 as it hosts Catholic University on Hall of Fame Weekend. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 pm. www.hsc.edu/athletics |
