Nice Article on Saturday's Game from TriCities.com

EMORY, Va. -- Seconds after Saturday’s ODAC football game at Fred Selfe Stadium, Hampden-Sydney receiver Sean Cavanagh walked to midfield, shook his head and summed up the three hour and 19 minute thrill-fest. “Man, that was insane,” said Cavanagh as his giddy teammates danced around him. In a marquee homecoming showdown before 5,398 fans, HSC and Emory & Henry combined for 925 yards, nine turnovers and enough big plays to fill a season highlight package. For the third time this season, E&H came up one play short in a 38-36 loss to the Tigers. Long after consoling his anguished players, emotional E&H head coach Don Montgomery struggled to come to terms with the latest soul-sucking loss “This is a very challenging feeling,” Montgomery said. “It’s not easy on these young men to keep bouncing back. You’ve got to have a heart of steel.” The day started in nightmarish fashion for E&H, which lost two fumbles in the opening five minutes. Relying on their clever passing game, the Tigers built a 19-0 lead after the first quarter and led 38-24 entering the fourth quarter...

 The Wasps appeared to be doomed, but sophomore quarterback Kyle Boden kept firing strikes to his sure-handed cast of receivers.  With 1:06 left in the game, Boden connected with Davon Ross for a 16-yard scoring connection. HSC cornerback Zach Morgan was forced to leave the game with a concussion while trying to break up the pass. The suspense mounted when E&H kicker Matt Turchin uncorked a wicked on-side kick, which the Wasps recovered at their own 39. Working with just one timeout, the unflappable Boden guided his team on a nine-play drive culminating in an eight-yard scoring connection to Ross as time expired. The Wasps (4-3, 1-2) trailed 38-36, and all that remained for overtime was the two-point conversion.  “We were definitely holding our breath, what else can you do in that situation,” Cavanagh said. In a surgeon-like performance, Boden completed a total of 51 passes for 390 yards and three scores in 65 attempts. Entering the day, the E&H offensive line had allowed just one sack.  Boden’s final connection came on the decisive two-point attempt but three HSC tacklers smothered the E&H receiver at the three-yard line. “That was a crazy 65 seconds,” HSC coach Marty Favret said. “We got the early lead, but we knew that Don’s team would keep battling and I give Emory a lot of credit for making plays. I didn’t want overtime, that’s for sure.” Eight different players caught passes for E&H, which continually poked at the HSC secondary with nifty tunnel screens and slant patterns. It was a day for gaudy stats, and no player performed better than E&H receiver Preston Jennings. The 6-foot-1 junior from Banner Elk, N.C., set an ODAC single-game record with 21 receptions for 111 yards and a score. “It was a pretty wild game but it stinks that we came out on the losing end,” Jennings said. “I would have been happy with just one catch if we could have won the game.” HSC linebacker Kenny Fryman, who collected 12 tackles, was impressed with the prolific Boden and the imaginative Wasps.  “We were just trying to find a way to stop them. We finally got the big play when we needed it at the end,” said Fryman, who assisted on the decisive two-point conversion attempt. While the outlook was grim at times, E&H senior receiver Adrian Jordan said the Wasps had confidence in the passing attack. Jordan caught seven passes for 96 yards. “It all starts with practice and it carries over to games,” Jordan said. “We’re blocking for each other, getting open with good routes, and making plays. We fought all day and put up a lot of points against a good team. Every game, it just seems to come down to that one final play.” Behind the threesome of running back Kirk Rohle (149 yards rushing, two scores), quarterback Travis Lane (291 yards passing) and the 6-1Cavanagh (11 receptions 159 yards), the Tigers (6-1, 3-0) were able to counter the E&H offense. “I didn’t expect Emory to be throwing the ball that much, but they looked good,” Cavanagh said. Cavanagh savored the pulse-pounding finish. “You always love to win by a big score, but winning a wild ODAC game like this is the best feeling,” Cavanagh said. While the Tigers celebrated, E&H junior cornerback Anthony Jones and his teammates experienced a far different emotion. “This team never gives up, but our hearts are bleeding right now,” Jones said.   agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544.