Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Shenandoah University football team had its most prolific night in the history of the program Saturday in a 61-14 non-league win at N.C. Wesleyan.
Shenandoah (2-0) rolled up 555 yards on 99 plays, forced six turnovers and scored the program record 61 points in earning its fourth victory in 11 lifetime meetings with the Battling Bishops (0-2).
The 61 points scored breaks the program record of 54 set in a 54-6 win over Chowan on October 25, 2003.
SU had 334 yards passing and 221 on the ground – quarterback Hayden Bauserman was 27-of-45 for those 334 yards and five touchdowns against one interception with running backs Cory Bell and Mario Wisdom running for 114 and 94 yards, respectively.
That rushing performance, in which the duo combined for three TDs, helped Shenandoah to possess the ball for 36:46 to 23:14 for the Bishops.
"After we moved the ball through the air on that first drive (a 7-play, 65-yard game opening drive that took just 1:54), NCWC made some changes defensively that dared us to run the ball," head coach Scott Yoder said.
"It took us a little bit to adjust to that, but once we did, we were very effective running the ball.
"I thought the guys up front did a great job."
Wisdom's first TD run, a 1-yarder with 4:15 to play in the first, gave the Hornets the lead for good.
That 9-play, 62-yard drive began a span in which Shenandoah scored 41 straight points and turned a 7-6 deficit into a 47-7 lead.
N.C. Wesleyan scored its second TD with 2:59 to play in the third, cutting its deficit from 40 points to 33.
SU answered with Bauserman's final TD pass, a 15-yarder to Matthew Lumpkin at the 11:01 mark of the fourth and closed the book with a Bell 1-yard TD run with 3:32 remaining.
Leading 30-7 at the break, Shenandoah forced three straight three-and-outs from the Bishops and scored touchdowns after each of those drives.
"I thought the defense bailed us out at the end of the first half (coming up with a goal line stand) and to force those three straight three-and-outs was huge," Yoder said.
"We scored after each of those drives and pulled away.
"This was a great team win and I am proud of the effort tonight."
Bauserman completed passes to eight different receivers with Jalen Hudson pulling down seven passes for 61 yards and Dershone Hayman four for 84.
Leonard Scott caught two of Bauserman's five touchdown passes.
Defensively, Nate Hill picked off two passes with Tyler Williams posting a team-high eight tackles.