HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Junior quarterback and team captain Carter Sido (Dallas, TX) passed for career-highs of 264 yards and five touchdowns, four of them to sophomore wide receiver Ethan Dowdy (Powhatan), who had career-highs of nine receptions for 101 yards and the four TDs, as Hampden-Sydney College rallied in the second half for a 38-34 come-from-behind and non-conference football home win past Centre (KY) College on Saturday afternoon on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. Freshman running back Fain Barton (Atlanta, GA) added a career-high 103 yards rushing while making his first collegiate start for the host Tigers (2-1), who trailed the visiting Colonels (2-1) 20-17 at halftime, before outscoring them 21-14 in the second half. Junior cornerback James Townsend (Hardeeville, SC) had a career-high 10 tackles and a late game-sealing interception—earning first-year head coach Vince Luvara his first home victory with the Garnet & Grey.
"Great team effort over a very good Centre team," said Luvara. "Once again, with our backs against the wall, the team found a way to come together and make plays in the critical moments. Really proud of this team's effort for four quarters."
H-SC scored the first points of the Hall of Fame Weekend contest late in the first quarter when senior placekicker Elijah Swett (Matthews, NC) connected on his first field goal of the season from 37 yards for the 3-0 advantage. It capped a nine-play, 52-yard drive that included a 28-yard run by Sido on third down and a 17-yard run by Barton.
The Tigers made it 10-0 early in the second quarter when Sido found Dowdy in the end zone for the first of their four scoring connections … this from 15 yards at 13:38, and Swett added the first of his five PAT kicks for the 10-0 lead. It was an eight-play, 61-yard drive that included a pair of Sido runs for 35 yards.
Centre responded with consecutive touchdown passes from Jack Gohmann to Scotty Brown covering 34 yards and three yards, respectively, at 12:42 and 7:25 of the quarter. Cam Tegge added both PAT kicks for a 14-10 advantage.
The Garnet & Grey appeared to take a halftime lead when Sido found redshirt-freshman wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown pass with just 41-seconds left in the half—his first TD reception for the Tigers—and a 17-14 lead. H-SC had taken over at the visitor's 21 after an 11-yard punt following a three-and-out by the defense.
The Colonels, however, answered back with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Gohmann to Carter Chandler with six-seconds on the clock, but missed the PAT kick to lead 20-17 at halftime.
H-SC began the third quarter fast with Sido finding Dowdy over the middle for two more scoring touchdowns, the first a 28-yard connection at 13:23, and the second a 16-yard connection at 9:18. The first score capped a quick five-play, 81-yard drive that featured a 37-yard pass from Sido to senior tight end Sutton Lasso (Raleigh, NC), and a 15-yard connection with Manning Lasso. The second score capped a five-play, 54-yard drive that included a 15-yard pass from Sido to Barton, along with a pass interference penalty that aided the possession. The two touchdowns made it a 31-20 advantage for the home team.
Centre added a touchdown late in the quarter when Gohmann connected with Blake Busson for a 33-yard scoring play, and the Colonels attempted a two-point conversion pass that was incomplete, leaving the score at 31-26 with 4:42 on the clock. The visitors added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to take a 34-31 lead at 9:59, getting a four-yard scoring pass from Gohmann to Chandler, and the duo connected for the two-point conversion, as well.
The Tigers, though, were not to be denied and took their next possession and drove 75 yards on seven plays as Sido connected with Dowdy once-again over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 7:32 left to play. Key to the game-winning drive was a 13-yard connection between Sido and Dowdy on a third-down play, along with a 17-yard run by Barton, while a pair of pass interference penalties helped, as well.
The Colonels managed to drive to the H-SC 13-yard line on its next possession, but freshman cornerback Parks Cromwell (Charlotte, NC) ended things with his first collegiate interception. The Garnet & Grey tried to run out the clock, but were forced to punt, allowing the visitors one more opportunity with the ball and only 22-seconds remaining. Townsend made his clinching interception on the first play and one kneel down end the contest in victory for the Tigers and the first home win for Coach Luvara.
Sido passed for his career-high 264 yards (18-34-1) and five touchdowns with one interception for H-SC, adding 87 yards rushing on 12 attempts. Barton rushed for his game-high and career-high 103 yards on a career-high 25 attempts, adding 19 yards receiving on two receptions in his first collegiate start. Dowdy had his career-high 101 yards receiving, nine receptions and four touchdowns, while Manning Lasso had a career-high 69 yards receiving on five receptions and his first collegiate touchdown. Junior wide receiver Jordan Jackson (Fredericksburg) added 38 yards receiving on one reception, and Sutton Lasso had the 37-yard catch on the day.
Townsend finished with his career-high and game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, the interception and two pass breakups for the Tigers. Cromwell and senior safety Joseph Pierre (Mobile, AL) each added seven tackles, a career-high for Cromwell, who also had a pass breakup. Junior linebacker and team captain Robert Clarke (Atlanta, Ga) added six tackles and a pass breakup, as well, while senior linebacker and team captain Brendan Wallace (Virginia Beach) contributed four tackles, 1.5 for loss, with one sack and one fumble recovery—the fumble forced by senior nickelback Kyle Lafayette (Charleston, SC), who had four tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Gohmann passed for a game-high 385 yards (32-50-2) and five touchdowns with two interceptions for Centre. Brown had a game-high 160 yards receiving on nine receptions and two touchdowns, while Chandler had 99 yards receiving on nine receptions and two touchdowns. Ryan Pyles had eight tackles, including 0.5 for loss, for the Colonels.
It was Hall of Fame Weekend at the College as the 37th class for the Athletic Hall of Fame was inducted on Friday night, and recognized at halftime of the football game, as well. The five honorees included a pair of Football All-Americans and three-year teammates, Nash Nance '15 and Holton Walker '15, along with Special Citations for their head coach and the program's all-time winningest coach, Marty Favret, as well as former Tigers Dickie Cralle '65 and Bill Moore '78, the latter two long-time benefactors of the school and football program.
H-SC has a bye weekend upcoming and will play at home again in two weeks during Family Weekend at the College, hosting ODAC member Guilford (NC) College on Saturday, October 5, at 1 p.m. at Everett Stadium.
Hampden-Sydney Rallies For Home Win Past Centre (KY) 38-34
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20240921_0o2t.xml
2024
Centre
34
Hampden-Sydney
38
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre (2-1) | 0 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 34 |
| Hampden-Sydney (2-1) | 3 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
Sep 21, 2024