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| Randolph-Macon athletics file photo |
Hampden-Sydney and Randolph-Macon remained tied for first in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, setting up a rivalry game showdown for the conference title next week.
Hampden-Sydney defeated Washington and Lee 35-22 behind three rushing touchdowns and two passing scores from Nash Nance, while Randolph-Macon drove 75 yards in the closing minutes to defeat Bridgewater (Va.) 35-34. Catholic defeated Guilford 38-29, knocking the Quakers out of the three-way tie for the ODAC lead.
More games will be mentioned in our playoff clinchers story, so check that out for teams that have punched their ticket to the Field of 32.
Texas Lutheran came into the day 7-0 and a near-lock for a Pool B playoff spot, and came out of it scorched by Hardin-Simmons, 73-44. The Cowboys jumped all over the Bulldogs early, with consecutive safeties part of a 28-3 first quarter. The Bulldogs made it interesting in the third quarter, drawing to 45-34 when quarterback Brent Peavy capped a 12-play drive with a 1-yard score, and Ty Johnson intercepted an HSU pass and took it back 37 yards for a touchdown. But Josh Christian hit Trei Lewis with a 74-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth, and the Cowboys (4-5) kept pouring it on. HSU's Tevin Mitchell finished with 177 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Framingham State scored in the final minute to beat Bridgewater State, 35-28, and remain in the Pool B playoff picture. Mike Duran fell on a fumble in the end zone at the end of an 18-play drive to give Bridgewater State at 28-27 lead. A short kickoff and 23-yard return allowed Framingham State to feed Melikke van Alstyne -- the star running back had a catch and four carries, the last a 9-yarder with 29 seconds left to give the Rams the win. Wash U stayed in the Pool B conversation as well, rolling over Case Western Reserve 29-0.
Trinity (Conn.) rushed for 249 yards and limited Wesleyan to 270 total in a 40-10 win that prevented the Cardinals from finishing 8-0 for the first time since 1970. The result left three teams atop the NESCAC with 7-1 marks: Wesleyan; Amherst, which beat Williams, 20-7, in the 128th meeting of the longest-running rivalry in D-III; and Middlebury, which beat Tufts, 52-10, sending the Jumbos to their 31st loss in a row, and third consecutive 0-8 season. Bowdoin capped its win in the 125th Bowdoin-Colby game with a crazy ending. Bowdoin scored on a Hail Mary with three seconds left, then gave up a blocked kick return for a defensive two-point conversion, leading 26-22. When Colby tried to lateral its way to the end zone, Bowdoin intercepted a lateral and sprinted to the end zone with a 32-22 win.
Wartburg remained in line for the IIAC title, as Michael Bohlke's fourth quarter field goal stood up in a 16-14 win vs. Central. Simpson was unable to remain tied for the lead, as Bobby Brown ran for a 4-yard touchdown as time expired to lift Buena Vista past the Storm.
Albion forced three turnovers and kept Adrian out of the end zone in a 13-0 win that set up a showdown with idle Hope for the MIAA title and AQ next Saturday.
Rowan's 33-yard touchdown pass just before the half was all the scoring it needed in a 7-6 win over Kean. The Cougars kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, but the Bill McCarty-to-Ed Eisenhart connection as time ran out in the second quarter kept the Profs atop the NJAC and in control of their playoff fates.
Salve Regina pulled away from Coast Guard in the second half of a 25-14 win, setting up their showdown with Endicott for the New England Football Conference title. Endicott defeated Western New England 38-21 to hold up its end of the bargain.