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Sophomore running back Terry Hicks rushed for a game-high 97 yards and two touchdowns as Hampden-Sydney College shut out Guilford (NC) College 31-0. Playing on Saturday, Oct. 5 before a packed house at Lewis C. Everett Stadium, the Tigers started slow, but dominated throughout the game to improve to 3-1, 1-0 in conference play. 

Playing in front of a season-high crowd of 5,018, senior linebacker Brendan Wallace added a career-high 13 tackles, including two for loss with a sack. Junior quarterback Carter Sido also tossed for 113 yards and one touchdown, rushing for 78 yards and one touchdown on the day. This marked the first time Hampden-Sydney had shut out their opponent since March 5, 2021. 

“Great team win over a very good opponent,” said Hampden-Sydney Head Coach Vince Luvara. “Really proud of how hard we played and the finish of our team.”

Breaking down the game

Hampden-Sydney scored the first points when Sido connected with sophomore wide receiver Ethan Dowdy for a 31-yard touchdown pass at 3:27 of the first quarter. Senior placekicker Elijah Swett added the first of his four PAT kicks for the early 7-0 advantage. It capped a six-play, 67-yard drive that included Hicks covering 18 yards on three attempts, and the score remained 7-0 after the opening 15 minutes of action.

Neither team was able to score during the second quarter as the Tigers forced GC into turning the ball over on downs two times along with a punt, while the home team turned it over on downs once, punted once and had a pass intercepted in the end zone. 

The Garnet & Grey added two third-quarter touchdowns, both scored by Hicks … the first a 21-yard run via a direct snap on fourth-and-one at 13:38, and the second a three-yard run on another direct snap on first-and-goal at 5:13. The first score was set-up by a 61-yard kickoff return by junior safety Joseph Gonzalez to begin the second half, a quick four-play, 30-yard possession. The second score finished a four-play, 75-yard possession that included a 25-yard pass from Sido to senior tight end Sutton Lasso (Raleigh, NC), followed by a 45-yard run by Ferris just ahead of the touchdown. The defense forced three punts in the quarter with Wallace adding four more tackles toward a 21-0 margin after three quarters.

The Tigers added a fourth touchdown with 8:37 left to play when Sido ran five yards untouched to the end zone to complete a quick three-play, 10-yard possession. An interception by junior linebacker Max Pickren that he returned 23 yards provided for the great field position and the 28-0 advantage.

The Quakers managed to drive to the H-SC 34-yard line on its next possession, but freshman cornerback Parks Cromwell ended the threat with his second interception of the season that he returned 24 yards. The Tigers were essentially able to run out the clock, driving 64 yards on nine plays with Swett adding his second field goal of the season, a 36-yard attempt with only 16-seconds remaining.

What’s next for Hampden-Sydney?

Hampden-Sydney will play on the road this coming week at ODAC member Washington and Lee University on Saturday, October 12, at 1 p.m. in Lexington.