College Football Final – Emory & Henry 34, Guilford 7

EMORY, Va. – Dominic Dunnaville threw two touchdowns and ran for 96 yards in Emory & Henry’s 34-7 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football win over visiting Guilford College in both teams’ season finale Saturday.

The Wasps (6-4, 5-2 ODAC) finished the year on a five-game winning streak, while Guilford (4-6, 1-6 ODAC) ends its season with a sixth straight setback.

Emory & Henry’s defense knocked Guilford starting quarterback Karsten Miller out of the game late in the second quarter after sacking the junior five times in the first half. The Wasps also took advantage of two second-quarter punt return miscues that helped them take a 31-7 halftime lead.

Dunnaville replace starting quarterback Kevin Saxton in the first quarter and kept the Quakers off balance with his arm and legs. The sophomore connected with A.J. Hampton from 26 yards out early in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. The two connected again on a 35-yard scoring pass 1:19 before halftime.

In between touchdown passes, Zeke Vance recovered two fumbled punt returns. The first, at Guilford’s 19-yard line, set up Isaiah Rodgers’ six-yard touchdown run. Vance again came up with the ball in Guilford territory after the Quakers’ misplayed Garrett Morgan’s next punt.

While the Quakers’ defense held the Wasps to three plays and another punt, Vance’s recovery affected the field position. Morgan punted to the Quakers’ eight. After a short pass completion, Harlan Faddis’ picked up his second sack at the Quakers’ three and forced another punt. The Wasps fielded the kick at the Quakers’ 35-yard line and two plays later, Dunnaville hit an open Hampton for a 28-7 Wasps’ lead.

Dunnaville completed eight-of-19 passes for 191 yards and the two scores to Hampton. He also ran 17 times for a game-high 96 yards. Fullback Sam Wagner finished with 93 yards on 10 carries. His 73-yard scoring run opened the game’s scoring. Rodgers had 63 rushing yards on 11 carries. Emory & Henry rolled up 509 total offensive yards, 304 on the ground.

Jaylyn Johnson made a team-high seven tackles to lead the Wasps’ defense, which held Guilford to 238 total offensive yards, 265 below the Quakers’ league-leading season average.

Guilford’s Joe Ferrick took over at quarterback in the final second-quarter drive and played the second half. The sophomore completed 13-of-26 passes for 107 yards, but Emory & Henry’s defense allowed only three third-down conversions in nine second-half chances. Guilford’s Hunter Causey ran 18 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. He finished the year with a career-best 1,047 rushing yards, fourth-best in school history. His nine rushing touchdowns are fifth all-time at Guilford.

Julian Cuthbertson was one of four Quakers with eight tackles. He also had half a sack and an interception.

The game marked the final college contest for the Quakers’ 20 seniors, but Guilford could return as many as 13 starters next fall.