BUENA VISTA, Va. – Zach Garner passed for 226 yards and three first-half touchdowns in Southern Virginia University’s 36-21 nonconference football
win over visiting Guilford College Saturday. The victory marks the Knights’
(3-4) first in the four-year series with the Quakers (0-5).
Garner’s 24-yard touchdown pass to DeWayne Beamon opened the game’s scoring.
He connected with Barend Hancock III from 29 yards out early in the second
quarter and his 10-yard scoring toss to Brick Wilce four minutes before
halftime opened a 21-7 advantage.
Guilford quarterback Billy Watkins’ one-yard scoring run made it a 21-13
game with 37 seconds left in the second quarter. The Knights blocked the
ensuing point-after kick and safety Chad John returned it for a rare
two-point defensive conversion. The unusual feat gave the hosts a 23-13
halftime edge.
Steven Scott led Southern Virginia’s ground game with 84 rushing yards and
two second-half touchdowns on 13 carries. His 61-yard scoring run late in
the third quarter opened a 30-13 lead. He also scored from four yards out in
the fourth quarter, just two plays after Watkins threw a 32-yard touchdown
pass to Ben King. The Knights’ ensuing point-after attempt was blocked by
Guilford’s Brad Gayhardt. Teammate Justin Williams-Blackwell returned the
loose ball for a defensive two-point conversion, which made the score 36-21.
Southern Virginia rolled up a season-high 461 total offensive yards,
including 235 on the ground. In addition to Scott’s yardage, Steven
Andreasen added 77 rushing yards and Garner picked up 53 yards on five
carries. Linebacker Matt Mellor paced Southern Virginia’s tacklers with 10,
including one of the Knights’ two sacks.
Watkins completed 34 of 53 passes for a career-high 384 yards and two
touchdowns in his first start of the season. He replaced Luke Vandall, who
suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s game against Washington
and Lee University. Ben King(Trinity High School) led Guilford’s receivers for the fifth straight
contest with nine catches for 131 yards and a score. Teammate Justin Parker
also made nine grabs and had 103 receiving yards and one touchdown. Chris
Jessup had a game-high 11 tackles.
Guilford resumes Old Dominion Athletic Conference play next Saturday (10/16)
when it hosts Bridgewater College at 1:00 p.m.
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Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics