GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Emory & Henry Football Team (5-5, 2-4 ODAC) picked up a 30-7 win over Guilford College (2-8, 1-5 ODAC) to close out the 2011 season behind impressive performances on all sides of the ball at the Armfield Athletic Center Saturday. With the victory, the Wasps wrap up back-to-back 5-5 seasons on the gridiron, finishing fifth in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.
Junior placekicker Matt Turchin (Salisbury, N.C.) make the score 3-0 just 2:43 into the contest tying a career-long with a 46-yard field goal. Turchin hit three field goals on the day, tying a school record.
With just under 14:00 to go in the second quarter, senior wide receiver Preston Jennings (Banner Elk, N.C.) caught his 70th pass of the year, setting a new Emory & Henry record for receptions in a season. Jennings finished the contest with seven catches for 36 yards and tabbing the new top mark at 71.
After an interception by junior defensive back Anthony Jones (Bristol, Va.), Emory & Henry capped off a nine-play 84 yard drive with 12:27 in the frame. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Boden (Knoxville, Tenn.) completing a 10-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Sam Edmonds (Roanoke, Va.) for the touchdown. Turchin's extra point made the score 10-0.
Two minutes later, Guilford went 73 yards on six plays for a touchdown by Lawrence Blake to cut the lead to 10-6. The drive was highlighted by a 51-yard catch and run from Zac Halbert to Trey Billian.
With 6:06 left to go in the half, Turchin tied his own record for field goals made in a season with a 29-yarder for his 10th on the year. The score gave the Wasps a 13-6 lead that would last through the end of the half and completed an 11-play, 55-yard drive that ate 4:17 off the clock.
After getting the ball at the Guilford 38 yard line, Emory & Henry freshman running back Joseph Vaughn (Gate City, Va.) scored from 38-yards out on the first play of the Wasps' drive with 9:37 left in the contest. The score was the first of the second half for either team and gave E&H a 20-7 advantage.
The Wasps got another quick crack on offense as junior linebacker Devan Sproles (Norton, Va.) picked off his third pass of the day. E&H would score a touchdown three plays later on a 12-yard reception by senior wideout Adrian Jordan (Covington,Va.) from Boden. Turchin's extra point pushed the lead to 27-6.
Emory & Henry got their last score of the contest with 27 seconds remaining on the clock. Turchin hit his third field goal of the contest, a 32-yard attempt, to give him a school-record 11 field goals on the season.
The Wasps finished with 350 yards of total offense including 281 through the air. Boden was 25-for-46 on the day with two touchdowns for 264 yards. Jordan finished the day with three catches for 72 yard and a touchdown while Edmonds had six catches for 63 yards and a score.
Vaughn led the Emory & Henry rushing attack with 46 yards and a touchdown while junior running back Adam Pugh (Norwalk, Ohio) had 31 yards.
Guilford's offense was led by Halbert with 246 yards on 24-for-53 passing with one touchdown, but four interceptions crippled the Quakers' offensive attack. Ben King had 11 catches for 87 yards while Billian had 85 yards on three grabs. Josh Williams was the Quakers' leading rusher with 44 yards.
Defensively, Emory & Henry was paced by Sproles with three interceptions and added 11 tackles. Sophomore defensive back Jason Hill (Hickory, N.C.) had a team-high 11 tackles. Senior defensive back Michael Young (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had nine tackles while Jones had five tackles to go along with his interception.
Guilford's Robert Smith led all players with 11 tackles and John Scott finished the day with eight stops. Hunter English had six tackles including 2.5 for loss.
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