DANVILLE, Va. -- Senior quarterback Andrew Puccinelli (Glen Allen) passed for a game-high and career-high 448 yards and three touchdowns, sophomore wide receiver Mason Cunningham (Arlington) had a game-high and career-high 199 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and sophomore placekicker Elijah Swett (Matthews, NC) kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal with 43-seconds remaining to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 31-28 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football road win at Averett University on Saturday in Danville. The visiting Tigers (4-2, 2-1) trailed 17-14 after one quarter, but led 28-17 at halftime and through three quarters, en route to the victory against the host Cougars (3-3, 0-3 ODAC).
H-SC wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as senior wide receiver Jamahdia Whitby (Williamsburg) took a direct snap and ran around the right side for a 20-yard touchdown run at 13:29 of the first quarter. Swett added the first of his four PAT kicks to provide for the early 7-0 advantage, capping a quick five-play, 75-yard opening possession that also included a 22-yard run by senior running back Melik Frost (Hardeeville, SC) and an 18-yard completion from Puccinelli to Cunningham.
AU responded with 17 unanswered points to lead 17-7, getting a 43-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Lytton at 9:19 … an 80-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Jackson to Jamahrie Owens at 8:00 … and a 30-yard field goal from Will Caviness at 3:25 … Caviness adding both PAT kicks, as well.
The Tigers, however, answered back before the quarter ended with a 54-yard touchdown pass-play from Puccinelli to Cunningham with just eight-seconds on the clock. Swett's PAT made it 17-14 after one quarter, finishing another quick drive, this time a seven-play, 78-yard possession.
H-SC added two second-quarter touchdowns—for 21 unanswered points—to lead 28-17 at the intermission. The first score of the quarter came at 9:07 when Puccinelli found Frost out of the backfield for a 36-yard touchdown pass, and the second score came at 4:43 when Puccinelli and Cunningham connected once-again, this time for a 64-yard touchdown pass-play. Swett converted both PATs as the Garnet & Grey took an 11-point margin into the break. The touchdown by Frost completed a nine-play, 84-yard drive that included completions of 10 and nine yards from Puccinelli to senior wide receiver Braeden Bowling (Cary, NC), along with a 14-yard run by junior running back JT Diehl (Warrenton). The touchdown by Cunningham capped a five-play, 97-yard drive that included a 10-yard completion from Puccinelli to Whitby, along with a 13-yard run by Frost. A 21-yard field goal attempt by Swett with 11-seconds left in the half was blocked by the Cougars.
It was a scoreless third quarter between the two teams as the respective defenses combined to force three punts and a pair of turnovers on downs, leaving it a 28-17 contest through three quarters.
AU added a 36-yard field goal by Caviness at 9:03 of the fourth quarter to close the margin to 28-20.
H-SC then drove to the Cougars' 11-yard line but a 28-yard field goal attempt by Swett was once-again blocked with 5:52 remaining. The possession included a 24-yard completion from Puccinelli to Whitby and a 35-yard completion from Puccinelli to junior tight end Sutton Lasso (Raleigh, NC).
AU came right back with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Shawn Watlington at 5:06, and a successful two-point PAT conversion pass from Jackson to Christian Williams tied the contest at 28-28.
The Tigers started their final possession at their own 25-yard line and drove 63 yards on 10 plays to the Cougars' 12-yard line for Swett's game-winning 29-yard field goal with just 43-seconds on the clock to provide for the final 31-28 margin of victory. The drive included completions of 11 and 21 yards from Puccinelli to Whitby, while Cunningham had a pair of six-yard receptions, as well—the field goal unit doing its job and making sure AU did not get another blocked kick. However, the hosts did have a potential game-tying 48-yard field goal attempt by Caviness fall short on the final play of the contest.
Puccinelli passed for his game-high and career-high 448 yards (31-47-0) and three touchdowns with no interceptions for H-SC. Cunningham had his game-high and career-high 199 yards receiving on 10 receptions and two touchdowns, while Whitby finished with a career-high 10 receptions for 101 yards receiving, adding 20 yards rushing on one attempt and one touchdown. Frost rushed for 72 yards on 19 attempts, adding two receptions for 41 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Senior All-American safety and team captain Will Pickren (Mount Pleasant, SC) finished with 11 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup to lead the Tigers on defense. Senior safety and team captain James-Ryan Salvi (Troutville) added nine tackles, while senior linebacker Dorian Green (Martinsville), junior linebacker Jackson Lott (Norfolk) and sophomore safety Jaylan Long (Martinsville) each had seven tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss by Long. Freshman cornerback Jay Daniels (Arlington) added a career-high six tackles and one pass breakup.
Jackson passed for 329 yards (16-36-0) and two touchdowns with no interceptions for AU. Lytton had a game-high 129 yards rushing on 23 attempts and one touchdown. Watlington had eight receptions for 176 yards receiving and one touchdown. Jahlin Russell finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry for the Cougars.
H-SC will return home next weekend to welcome ODAC opponent Washington and Lee University on Saturday, October 21, at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. It will be Homecoming Weekend on the Hill, along with Team Hall of Fame Weekend at the College.
Hampden-Sydney Wins On The Road At Averett 31-28
/seasons/2023/boxscores/20231014_5byb.xml
2023
Hampden-Sydney
31
Averett
28
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden-Sydney (4-2) | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 31 |
| Averett (3-3) | 17 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 28 |
Oct 14, 2023