DANVILLE — Shenandoah University scored 41 points through three quarters while shutting Averett University out, and the Hornets went on to a 41-14 Old Dominion Athletic Conference football win on Saturday.
SU (6-2, 3-2 ODAC) — which surpassed last year’s win total — outgained Averett (2-6, 0-5) 379-240. The Cougars suffered their sixth straight loss.
The Hornets had five rushing touchdowns and Scott Martin kicked field goals of 21 and 35 yards. Jalen Redfearn had seven carries for 32 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and Bryce Buchanan had five carries for 64 yards and two TDs. Steven Hugney completed 18 of 28 passes for 239 yards. Nine players caught passes for SU, with Broden Domenico grabbing five passes for 106 yards.
SU had three sacks (Liban Farah, Jake Jack and Devin Keasey) and three interceptions (Sean Perry, Tayton Smaldone and Myles Miller). Hornets senior defensive back Haley Van Voorhis saw action for the second time this season and had one tackle and one pass breakup. She was also credited with a tackle on Sept. 28 against Juniata.
Redfearn opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD, and the first of five Martin extra points made it 7-0 at the 10:11 mark of the first quarter.
A Jack sack forced an Averett three-and-out. Sean Perry returned the punt 35 yards to the Cougar 35. Buchanan scored six plays later from 6 yards out to make it 14-0 at the 5:25 mark of the first quarter.
On the third play of Averett’s next possession, Redd intercepted a deep pass and returned it 27 yards to the Cougar 15. Two plays later, Redfearn rushed to the right for a 9-yard TD and a 21-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first quarter.
Martin nailed a 21-yard field goal to make it 24-0 at the 6:32 mark of the second quarter.
On Averett’s next drive, following a sack by Farah, quarterback Trevor Testerman overthrew a receiver and was picked off by Smaldone at the SU 40 for the sophomore’s first career interception.
On the Hornets’ ensuing drive, Hugney found Domenico for 29 yards to put SU at the Averett 15. Three plays later, Redfearn scored his third touchdown of the afternoon from 5 yards with 23 seconds left in the half to make it 31-0.
Buchanan ended SU’s first drive of the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-2 play for a 38-0 lead with 10:37 left. The run capped a six-play, 70-yard drive.
Perry had an interception in the end zone on the next possession for a touchback, his third pick in four games. That led to Martin’s 35-yard field goal with 3:01 left in the third quarter and a 41-0 lead
Averett held the ball for over 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and scored touchdowns on two of its three drives.
Matt Conroy led SU with nine tackles. Ahvyon Boothe recorded eight tackles and Ethan Brown had seven tackles (one for a loss).
SU will host Hampden-Sydney on Senior Day in the final home game of the season next Saturday. More than 25 seniors will be recognized.
