Emory & Henry Football Routs Hampden-Sydney, 56-17, Saturday Afternoon In ODAC Action

Derrick Yates eludes a defender after a catch.

EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team (2-2, 1-1 ODAC) racked up 592 yards of total offense on Saturday afternoon as it manhandled Hampden-Sydney College (1-4, 0-3 ODAC) by a 56-17 score. It was the second-most points put up by an E&H squad against the Tigers, second only to a 68-point performance in 1968.

Senior wide receiver Derrick Yates (Abingdon, Va.) set a new Emory & Henry record for receiving yardage in a game with 265 yards. His 13 catches, which ties for fourth-most in program history, included three touchdowns.

The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 56, Hampden-Sydney 17
LOCATION – Emory, Virginia
VENUE – Nicewonder Field at Fred Selfe Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (2-2, 1-1 ODAC); Hampden-Sydney (1-4, 0-3 ODAC)

How It Happened
- H-SC took the opening kickoff and drove down the field but the offense stalled and had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Rhett Andersen.
- After committing a turnover on its first possession and bouncing back to force a punt, Emory & Henry got on the board with a 13-yard touchdown catch by junior wideout Gunner Griffith (Bluff City, Tenn.) from junior quarterback Hunter Taylor (Summerville, S.C.) to make the score 7-3 at the end of one.
- The Wasps scored three touchdowns in the second to take a 28-3 lead into the break. Freshman running back T.J. Tester (Moneta, Va.) scampered in to the end zone from 15 yards out while Griffith and Taylor hooked up again, this time for a 14-yard score, midway through the quarter. Taylor called his own number with 2:23 left to go before the half, scoring on a two yard plunge.
- On the opening kickoff of the second half, the E&H fumbled and gave H-SC a short field. The Tigers took advantage, scoring on the second play as Clay Vick hit Kaleb Smith with a 19-yard pass.
- E&H extended its lead to 42-10 with back-to-back touchdown catches by Yates (21 and 12 yards, respectively) before Hampden-Sydney showed the slightest bit of life with Vick finding Blake Page with a 13-yard touchdown late in the third to make it 42-17.
- In the fourth, the Wasps left no doubt as Yates caught a 31-yard pass from Taylor to break the school record for receiving yards in a game.
- Emory & Henry put a final score on the board with 6:11 to play as freshman quarterback Ander Sloan (Gallatin, Tenn.) galloped 50 yards around the right side and up the sideline for a touchdown on the first carry of his career.

Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Taylor went 26-for-35 through the air for 391 yards and five touchdowns despite throwing a pair of interceptions. He also finished with 26 yards rushing and sixth score accounted for.
- Tester led all players with 84 rushing yards and a touchdown while Sloan had his 50-yard rush for a score.
- Yates' 13 catches for 265 yards and three scores tied for the fifth-most yards in ODAC history while Griffith had seven catches for 56 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Junior Max Yates (Abingdon, Va.) also caught four passes for 49 yards.
- Defensively, sophomore linebacker Ivan Phillips (Kingsport, Tenn.) made nine tackles including two for a loss while sophomore defensive back Zyquis Law (Charlotte, N.C.) had eight stops and a pass defended.
- Senior defensive lineman Da'von Keith (Columbia, S.C.), the reigning ODAC Player of the Week, kept his form with four tackles all for a loss including three sacks. Senior Jayden Rosenboro (Bristol, Tenn.), junior Daniel Flowe (Fredericksburg, Va.) and sophomore Jaylyn Kreimes (Sharps, Va.) each picked off passes.

Hampden-Sydney Individual Leaders
- Vick finished the day 23-for-42 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, throwing three interceptions.
- Smith led the Tigers both in rushing with 51 yards and receiving with 62 yards on eight catches with a touchdown. Dillon Costello added five grabs for 38 yards.
- Jordan Fields posted a game-high 12 tackles while Griffin Davis notched 10 stops. Brad Jeffers and Brendan Weinberg notched interceptions with returns of 18 and 16 yards, respectively.

Up Next
- Emory & Henry will be on the road next week as it visits ODAC-newcomer Southern Virginia University at 1:00 p.m. The contest between the Wasps and Knights will be the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

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