Resilient Tigers Continue to Prove Their Prowess
by: Jarrod Ficklin ‘11After defeating closest rivals, Tigers enter second half of season undefeated
After two crucial conference wins, the Tigers remain undefeated in their 2009 campaign for an ODAC title. On Family Weekend, the Tigers shutout the Eagles of Bridgewater 19-0, and one week later, they got a crucial road victory at Emory & Henry downing the Wasps 23-12. Not only did the Tigers pick up two ODAC victories to move to 3-0 in the conference, 6-0 overall, but they defeated the teams picked 2nd and 3rd in the preseason ODAC polls.
The Tigers were picked to win the conference this year but not by a wide margin. The Tigers had the same amount of first place votes as both Emory & Henry and Bridgewater, but since the voting is based on a point system, the Tigers (receiving 44 points) were crowned the preseason champ – Emory & Henry received 38 points while Bridgewater received 36. The Tigers made their dream of receiving the real ODAC crown even more of a reality by beating both the Eagles and Wasps.
Families enjoyed all the festivities of Family Weekend 2009, especially watching the Tigers shutout Bridgewater for the first time since 1981. This was the Tigers’ third straight victory over the Eagles – even more enjoyable considering the Eagles took 8 straight in the series between 1999 and 2006. Corey Sedlar had an even better day considering he became Hampden-Sydney’s all time leading passer, passing – pun intended – J.D. Ricca’s previous mark of 8,633 yards. Despite Sedlar’s record-breaking performance, the Tiger defense still stole the show.
On a day when the Tiger offense did not live up to its usual phenomenal status – only 323 total yards and 19 points as opposed to its over 500 yards and over 40 points per game averages – the Tiger defense dominated, especially in the red zone. The Tigers held Bridgewater quarterback Hagan Driskell to 13 of 32 passing while also sacking him 4 times. The most important statistic they held him to was 0 touchdowns. The Eagles got inside the Tigers’ 20 yard line on four separate occasions. On one of those occasions, Tyler Kelly missed a 35 yard field goal. On the other three occasions, Driskell was intercepted each time – twice by Bill Doody, once by Boaz Young-el. The Eagles were averaging 33 points per game going into their clash with the Tigers, but every time the Eagles threatened to score, the Tigers answered the challenge.
A week after the showcase put on by the defense, the Tigers ground out a tough road win against the previously undefeated Wasps of Emory & Henry. In a game where the Wasps outplayed the Tigers in almost every aspect of the game, the Tigers won the most important statistic of them all: the final score. The Wasps won the time of possession battle, had more yards, gave up fewer sacks, had fewer turnovers, and committed fewer penalties than the Tigers.
However, the Tigers stepped up their game when they needed to the most and took advantage of the Wasps’ mistakes.
The Tigers started off the game clicking on all cylinders. At the end of the 1st quarter, thanks to an interception by Mike Ware and two touchdown passes and catches by Sedlar and Anthony Mancini, the Tigers lead 14-0. However, the next five drives for the Tigers ended in two turnovers, two punts, and a missed field goal. In between those drives, the Wasps added a touchdown and a field goal of their own. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, senior leadership took over for the Tigers.
Whenever it seemed like the Wasps had an answer, the Tigers fired back with an even better one. The pivotal moment in the game was in the third quarter on a 4th and 2 from the Emory & Henry 38 yard line. If the Wasps stop the Tigers, they not only keep the momentum, but they have great field position as well. Needless to say, Head Coach Marty Favret had complete faith in his offense; therefore, he decided to go for it. Senior quarterback Corey Sedlar stood in the pocket and calmly completed a 4 yard pass to senior H-back Craig Warnement. Six plays later, the Tigers were able to feed off that momentum and capitalize on a 3 yard touchdown pass from Sedlar to Kirk Rohle, making the score 21-10 which proved to be too big of a gap for the Wasps to overcome.
Next week, the Tigers return home and continue ODAC play against the Generals of Washington & Lee. If the Tigers want to stay unbeaten, they will have to slow down the powerful rushing attack of the Generals. The Generals (2-4, 1-1) are coming off a 316 yard rushing performance against Catholic and are averaging about 30 points per game. It is safe to say that the Tigers’ game plan will be to make the Generals beat them through the air. General quarterback Charlie Westfall has thrown 8 interceptions on the year and has only thrown for 542 yards all season – Corey Sedlar threw for 522 yards in one game.
Sophomore running back Jonathan Clemo has rushed for 576 yards on the season, and although Westfall is not much of a passing threat, he can run the ball considering he has over 400 yards rushing on the season. The Generals also have two other players that have rushed for over 200 yards each this season.
Campus will certainly be buzzing next weekend. It is Homecoming Weekend, and all of the alumni will be watching Hampden-Sydney’s undefeated football team very closely. The Tigers have finished the toughest part of their schedule. They also control their own destiny in the ODAC considering they are the only remaining undefeated team in the conference. Now all the Tigers have left to do is take the second half of the season game by game and finish the season the way they all want to finish it: undefeated.
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