Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It started out close, but the Hampden-Sydney Tigers picked up steam as Saturday’s game went on, eventually steamrolling visiting Averett University 42-21. Junior quarterback and team captain Carter Sido passed for a game-high 266 yards and two touchdowns, while running for another one in the win. Meanwhile, freshman wide receiver Manning Lasso set a personal record with a career-high 121 yards receiving. 

With the win, Hampden-Sydney improved to 4-3 overall and 202 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), while the Cougars dropped to 2-5, 0-4 in ODAC play. 

“Really proud of the team, they fought through some adversity early and never gave up,” said first-year Hampden-Sydney Coach Vince Luvara. “Great team win!”

Hampden-Sydney Tigers score first

It was Homecoming Weekend at Hampden-Sydney, with a season-high crowd of 5,104 watching the game. The Tigers scored first on a seven-yard touchdown run from sophomore receiver Ethan Dowdy. Senior placekicker Elijah Swett added the first of his four PAT kicks for the early 7-0 advantage. It capped a six-play, 70-yard drive that included a 19-yard run by Hicks who covered 31 yards on three attempts.

AU tied it at 7-7 with a five-yard scoring run by Shyheim Watlington with 46-seconds left in the opening quarter. Mikhail Iakovlev added the first of his three PAT kicks, and it was 7-7 after 15 minutes of action.

The Cougars added their second touchdown late in the second quarter with only 44-seconds remaining in the half as Louie De lulio connected with Shawn Watlington on an 18-yard scoring play and a 14-7 lead.

The Tigers answered right back with a quick six-play, 87-yard possession that ended with a 50-yard Hail Mary pass from Sido to Lasso, who outjumped several defenders and came down with the ball in the end zone on the final play of the half. Key to the drive were a pair of completions from Sido to Dowdy for 13 and 18 yards, respectively. The PAT kick was no good, however, and the visitors led 14-13 at halftime.

H-SC’s defense forced a three-and-out on AU’s first possession of the third quarter, and Dowdy returned the punt 65 yards to set-up the first score of the second half, a two-yard touchdown run by Hicks on a direct snap at 9:57, giving the Garnet & Grey the lead for good at 20-14. Following another three-and-out by the Cougars, Dowdy added a 16-yard punt return, and the Tigers promptly went 62 yards on seven plays with Sido scoring on a 15-yard touchdown run at 5:00. A 38-yard pass from Sido to senior tight end Sutton Lasso (Raleigh, NC), along with a 12-yard connection from Sido to Dowdy, aided the drive and it was a 27-14 advantage after three quarters.

AU closed to within 27-21 early in the fourth quarter when Trevor Testerman scored on a two-yard touchdown run at 14:06.

H-SC, however, would add two more touchdowns in the final quarter to secure the triumph. Sido found Manning Lasso for an 18-yard scoring play with 7:36 left to play to finish a six-play, 55-yard drive … and Hicks added the two-point conversion run before later scoring on a one-yard touchdown run at 1:23 to complete an 11-play, 65-yard drive. The first scoring drive included an 11-yard pass from Sido to Sutton Lasso, while Manning Lasso had three catches for 42 yards, including the TD. The final scoring drive included 16 yards rushing on three attempts by freshman running back Kaelan Ferris (McLean), as well as a 22-yard pass from Sido to Sutton Lasso toward providing for the final margin of victory.

What’s next? 

The Hampden-Sydney Tigers go on the road next week at ODAC member Bridgewater College on Saturday, November 2, at 2 p.m. in Bridgewater. Please note the later start time against the Eagles (5-2, 3-1), who are currently alone in third place in the conference standings-the Tigers are tied for fourth in the standings after today.