Football Sends Barr Out a Winner

Hornets Beat Utica 35-16 to Give Barr Win in Last Home Contest

For More Information Contact: Scott Musa 540.665.5417

WINCHESTER , Va. – Shenandoah University closed out its 2001 home season Saturday afternoon with a 35-16 victory before 2447 fans at Shentel Stadium. The rare Saturday afternoon contest gave Shenandoah a perfect bookend to its first season at Shentel. SU finished 2-3 in its new stadium and drew 13179 for the five dates.

Shenandoah (4-5) seized control of the contest with a pair of touchdowns in the second and third quarters. Freshman Richard Hodge ( Pearisburg , Va. / Narrows ), the current Dixie Conference Rookie Offensive Player of the Week, gave SU a four touchdown advantage with his 1-yard plunge at the conclusion of the third quarter. Hodge’s second touchdown in as many weeks capped off a 10-play drive that drained 5:24 from the clock. 

The Hornets defense made the early scores stand up as they dominated play in the first half.   Utica (0-7) was held to just three total yards and one first down in the first 30 minutes play; the Pioneers did not dent the scoreboard until the 8:20 mark of the fourth quarter.

Shenandoah took a lead it would never relinquish midway through the second period when fullback Dennis Robart ( Cuyahoga Falls , Oh./Potomac St. ) busted over from six yards out for his third touchdown of the season. The run completed a six-play, 49-yard drive that consumed 2:58 .

SU then capitalized on the first of three major mistakes that Utica would make in the punt game. The Pioneers could manage just a three-yard punt on their ensuing possession; this gave the hosts the ball back at the Utica 32. Eight plays later, Robart walked in from the 1 to give SU a 14-0 lead.

The Pioneers punt problems also contributed to the Hornets next score. Chris Stargis muffed Ben Willard’s (Trumansburg, NY/Potomac State) 52-yarder, giving SU the ball back on the Utica 9. Junior Wes Karns (Martinsburg, W.Va./Glenville State) made the score 21-0 three plays later with a 5-yard run around right end.   

Hodge’s touchdown can directly as a result of the final punt miscue. Freshman Kenny Weaver (Ruckersville, Va./William Monroe) blocked the first punt in Shenandoah’s two-year football history with 5:18 to play in the third. This gave the Hornets the ball with a short field for the second time in three possessions.

With the game no longer in doubt, the Utica offense came alive in the fourth.  The Pioneers took advantage of Hornet substitutions as they scored on a balanced 14-play, 66-yard drive with 8:20 remaining in the game to narrow the gap to 28-8.  Utica closed out the scoring late in the contest with a 6-play, 66-yard drive culminating with a touchdown pass from Adam Luciano to Nick Bossert with 1:36 left.

Karns led the Hornets on the ground with 76 yards and the touchdown on 15 carries. He also had the squad’s only reception of the afternoon. Junior Greg Anderson ( Clifton , Va. /Catholic) led the defense with 10 tackles and a pass breakup.

Joe Dattellas led the Pioneers with 104 yards rushing on 16 carries. He set up Utica ’s second score with a 55-yard jaunt. Michael Romandetti had a strong performance for the visitors on defense with 13 tackles. He also had two sacks.

A complete box score can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/fb/2001/110301.htm 

The Hornets will travel to Methodist College next Saturday for the final game of their second intercollegiate season. Game time in Fayetteville , N.C. is 1:00 .