College Football Final – Guilford 47, Southern Virginia 31

GREENSBORO, N.C. (10-3-08) – Redshirt-senior quarterback Josh Vogelbach (N. Fort Myers, Fla./Bishop Verot (East Carolina)) threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns in Guilford College’s 47-31 nonconference football win over visiting Southern Virginia University Friday night. The wild contest featured 78 points, eight fumbles, including two returned for touchdowns, a 90-yard kickoff return for a score, four turnovers and 904 total offensive yards between the two teams.

The lead changed hands three times within a five-minute span around halftime. With Guilford trailing 14-13, Vogelbach hit Chad Kastor (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota) with an 11-yard scoring strike with six seconds left in the second quarter. The score gave Guilford a 19-14 halftime lead. Southern Virginia regained the advantage on its first second-half possession when freshman Harry Collins (Brooklet, Ga./Bulloch Academy) ran for the second of his two touchdowns. Stephen Webster’s (Alpine, Utah/Utah) extra point made it a 21-19 Knights’ lead, but Guilford’s Jordan Nelson (Hudson, N.C./West Caldwell) returned Webster’s ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, which gave the hosts the lead for good. Vogelbach’s subsequent two-point conversion pass to Kastor opened a 27-21 lead Guilford did not relinquish.

Quakers’ wideout Kevin Vaughn (Mount Airy, N.C./East Surry) caught 12 passes for 193 and two scores, both career highs. His 193 receiving yards stand fifth in school history. His 60-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter built a 34-24 Quakers’ edge. Teammate Justin Parker (Greensboro, N.C./Southern Guilford) rushed for over 100 yards for the third time in four weeks, gaining 109 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. His second score, a 28-yard jaunt with 5:57 left in regulation, marked his career-high seventh rushing touchdown of the year.

Southern Virginia drove to Guilford’s three-yard line on its ensuing possession, but the Quakers’ defense held. Junior Chris Cain (Asheboro, N.C./Southwestern Randolph) forced a Collins fumble at the Quakers’ five-yard line, which sophomore teammate Josh Singletary (Rose Hill, N.C./Wallace-Rose Hill) picked up and returned 90 yards for his first college score and a 47-24 Guilford lead.

Southern Virginia senior quarterback Luke Taylor (Litchfield Park, Ariz./Mesa C.C.) completed 17-of-36 passes for 190 yards in his first game in three weeks due to injury. He threw a five-yard scoring pass to Jace Allen (Draper, Utah/Dixie State) with 61 seconds left to provide the game’s final margin. Tight end Brett Petty (Saginaw, Texas/North Texas) made eight grabs for 161 yards. Collins finished with 158 rushing yards on 33 carries, both game highs.

Sophomore Ryan Hammond (Liberty, N.C./Eastern Randolph (Methodist)) led four Guilford defenders in double-digit tackles with a game- and career-high 13 stops (5 solo). R.J. Lassiter (Liberty, N.C./Eastern Randolph (Methodist)) made eight tackles and two interceptions, both of which led to Guilford touchdowns.

Following an off week, Guilford resumes Old Dominion Athletic Conference play Oct. 18 versus visiting Bridgewater College. The Knights, who ended a four-game road trip at Guilford, return home Oct. 11 to host Frostburg State University.

The rare Friday night game marked the first on Guilford’s campus and Guilford’s first Friday football game since 1949. The game was played on a Friday to accommodate commitments Southern Virginia has to a general conference Saturday sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The university serves the Latter Day Saint community.