By VIC DORR JR.
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

H-SC’s Stevens adopts
new role as a ballcarrier

Hampden-Sydney punter/placekicker T.C. Stevens is accustomed to making a contribution with his feet. But not like this.

Stevens, a senior from Alton, punted three times for a 38.7-yard average and delivered the go-ahead field goal with 5:59 remaining in last week’s 39-29 road victory at Washington and Lee. But he made what may have been his biggest play as an impromptu ballcarrier.

H-SC, leading by 10, faced 4th-and-6 from the W&L 43 with just over two minutes remaining. W&L defensive back Chris Prugar pierced Hampden-Sydney’s punt protection and blocked the kick before it left Stevens’ foot. Stevens collected the loose ball and scampered 21 yards up the middle for a first down that enabled W&L to run all but 34 seconds off the clock.

“My only job has been kicker and punter since my freshman year (at Halifax High School), so that’s by far the craziest play I have been a part of,” he said. “It definitely caused a lot of laughs over the weekend.”

Stevens’ recollection of the play:

“The rush came from the right side, but I never really sensed it until the guy was right in my face and it was too late. He was there so quick and apparently that was the best scenario. Instead of deflecting the ball, he basically trapped it on my foot, and when I let my leg down, the ball just rested on the ground and the W&L guy never even saw it.”

Stevens said he “didn’t know at the time if I could legally advance the ball, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. Luckily the field in front of me was wide open, so I just went for it. It was really heads-up blocking by my teammates. There was no ‘fire’ call. They just did a good job at open-field blocking so I could get the first down.”

At first, Stevens said, “It looked to me like I was going to score, but I got caught from behind” at the W&L 32. “My only thought then was, ‘Just don’t fumble and give W&L a second chance to make a play.’”

High-flying effort
from former Skyhawk

Hampden-Sydney defensive end Zach Sanchez, a senior from L.C. Bird, delivered a virtuoso performance against Washington and Lee: 10 tackles, three tackles for loss (one of which was a sack) and three forced fumbles.

One of Sanchez’ forced fumbles created the possession that enabled H-SC to tie the game at 29 late in the third period. Another allowed the Tigers to score a touchdown that inflated a three-point lead to 10 late in the fourth period.

Yellow Jackets’ outlook
clouded by injuries

Misfortune is the last thing Randolph-Macon needs as it attempts to recover from a 2-4 start. But that is precisely what the Yellow Jackets have encountered.

Two key players, senior defensive lineman Gamal Alwan and sophomore placekicker/safety Scott Shope, will likely be sidelined indefinitely by knee injuries. Alwan, a first-team all-ODAC selection two years ago, has appeared in only three of the Yellow Jackets’ six games. He did not play in last week’s 24-10 road loss at Emory & Henry. Even so, he has collected 2.5 tackles for loss. Only two R-MC defenders have more.

Shope was injured last week in practice. Through five games, Shope connected on 5-of-7 field-goal attempts and 11-of-13 conversions. Spencer Bolen will replace him. Bolen, a junior, lost the No. 1 kicker’s job to Shope prior to the 2007 season. Bolen connected on his only field-goal try, a 28-yarder, and his only conversion kick in the loss at Emory & Henry.

Ogun sits at the top
of league’s rushing list

For 60 minutes, Tunde Ogun performed like the most formidable running back in the USA South. At day’s end, that’s exactly what he was.

Ogun, Christopher Newport’s powerful junior from Douglas Freeman High School, rushed for a career-high 225 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday’s 38-31 victory over Maryville. He now leads the USA South in rushing yards (688 in five games), rushing touchdowns (7) and rushing yards per game (137.6).

Ogun has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the Captains’ past four games.

Generals’ Sitterson
expected to play

Washington and Lee senior Stuart Sitterson, one of the ODAC’s most dynamic and versatile running backs, missed the second half of last week’s loss to Hampden-Sydney with badly bruised ribs. When he departed, he had gained 50 yards on 11 carries and was placing significant pressure on H-SC’s defensive flanks.

W&L insiders believe Sitterson will play in Saturday’s date with ODAC foe Guilford. The Generals’ stock will quite possibly plunge if he doesn’t. Sitterson ranks third in the ODAC in rushing yards per game (103.3), second in all-purpose yards (203.3) and first in kickoff return yards (35.6 yards per runback).

No. 11 Highland Cavaliers
win with – yes – defense

U.Va.-Wise typically relies upon offense – specifically, the strong arm of quarterback Randy Hippeard – to outscore Mid-South Conference opponents. But not this time. The Highland Cavaliers, ranked No. 11 in NAIA, used superb second-half defense to rally for a 27-14 victory over Cumberland last week. U.Va.-Wise forced three turnovers and blanked the Bulldogs in the second half.

Marvin White, a junior cornerback from Varina, played the role of defensive sparkplug. His contributions included six tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. He forced a fumble on Cumberland’s first possession of the second half. The Highland Cavaliers, who trailed 14-7 at the time, recovered the fumble and launched a 56-yard scoring drive.

Not that the winners’ effort was entirely defensive. Hippeard passed for 276 yards and a touchdown. He became the first quarterback in U.Va.-Wise history to cross the 10,000-yard/100-touchdown threshold.

Short yardage

Bridgewater gained more than 200 rushing yards for the first time this season in last Saturday’s 27-20 victory over Guilford…Josh Vogelbach, Guilford’s prolific senior quarterback, climbed into fourth place on the Division III career pass yardage (12,477) and total yardage (12,688) lists…Apprentice School freshman wideout Judson McKee tied a program record with three touchdown catches in the Builders’ 47-38 loss to Division II Lake Erie College.   

Posted by Vic Dorr in • College Sports • Division III
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