Football Bested by Hornets
The Guilford College football team hosted Shenandoah University in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference matchup. The Quakers fell to the Hornets, 31-20.
Both teams struggled to get the offense going as both punted the ball. On Guilford’s next possession, Bailey Baker found Parker DeHart on third down for a 14-yard pickup and a first down. The very next play, Baker broke through the line and ran 70-yards down the field for the touchdown. With 8:16 left in the first, Guilford led 7-0.
Following a four-and-out by Shenandoah, the Quakers began to piece together on its next drive as Baker went 5-8 including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Messiah Ramseur. Burke Nettles’ extra point was blocked after a delayed hold as GC led 13-0 with 3:26 on the clock.
The two teams went four-and-out before the Hornets took over on its 41-yard line. On their drive that stretched into the second quarter, the visitors found the endzone with a four-yard rushing score. The PAT was good as the difference was 13-7 with 12:09 left in the half.
Turnovers by both teams and a turnover on downs, put Shenandoah at the Guilford 21. The first play from scrimmage, the Hornets’ Steven Hugney found Broden Domenico for the 21-yard score. Following the extra point, the visitors led 14-13 with 6:04 on the clock.
Neither side was able to get anything going on their next drives as Shenandoah led by one-point (14-13) at the half.
The Hornets received the opening kick of the second half and marched down the field in seven plays, covering 71 yards as they kicked a 21-yard field goal to capture a four-point advantage (17-13).
Guilford responded with a scoring drive of its own. The team went 80 yards in eight plays as Baker found Jay Daniels 36-yards downfield in the endzone for the touchdown. The Nettles point after was good to give the home squad a 20-17 lead with 7:37 left in the third.
Shenandoah was starting to put together a solid drive but a fumble forced by Joey Strong Jr. gave the Quakers the ball back as DJ McRae fell on top of it. Unfortunately, Guilford was unable to capitalize as it turned it over on downs.
Using the remainder of the third quarter, the Hornets scored just 1:25 into the fourth on a seven-yard rush. A made extra point gave the visitors the lead back, 24-20.
The Quakers were able to get the ball near midfield but stalled out there as they punted the ball away. Starting at its own 32, Shenandoah went 68 yards over 3:59 of game time to find the endzone and increase its lead to 11 (31-20).
On the ensuing kickoff, Cristofer Atkinson returned the ball 26 yards and gave Guilford great starting position at its own 41. After a few completions from Baker and his own eight-yard rush, the Quakers were at the visitors 37. Unfortunately, the drive ended there as the team went four-and-out.
Forcing a Hornets punt, Guilford seemed to have one more opportunity to get some more points on the board. The offense struggled as it gave the ball back to Shenandoah on downs to end the game by the 11-point margin.
Baker finished the day 16-37 for 233 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing score. DJ McRae led the defense with nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Guilford travels north to Ferrum College on Saturday, October 21. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.