Josh Kirby
joshkirby@talkwinchester.com
WINCHESTER – It was a great afternoon at Glo Fiber field on the campus of Shenandoah University as the Hornets defeated Juniata 48-7.
History was made this afternoon at Shentel Stadium as Haley Van Voorhis a Junior safety for the Hornets entered the game late in the first quarter and on a third down, Van Voorhis recorded a quarterback hurry to Juniata’s Calvin German to force a fourth down as she became the first female non-kicker to play in a college football game at any NCAA level.
Todd Bartley and Brock McCullough were on the call from Shentel Stadium on the Shenandoah Hornets Sports Network on 105.5 WINC-FM.
“I thought it was really cool, The games going on and then all the sudden there this energy burst in the stadium” Hornets head coach Scott Yoder said on the Hornets postgame show on 105.5 WINC-FM “she’s earned this and I’m just glad I could see it on the sidelines.”
Bartley and McCullough also chatted with Van Voorhis after the game as well. “It definitely means a lot to me I’ve definitely worked a lot to get to this point, this is just something I’m really hyped up about.”
When asked about the moments right after the quarterback hurry “I was so excited and happy to be out there because at the end I’m just doing what I love to do,” Van Voorhis added, “It’s fun to be able to play football and then also be able to prove something most people don’t think can happen.”
Haley Van Voorhis after becoming the first female non-kicker to play in a college football game at any NCAA level joined Todd Bartley and Brock McCullough during the postgame show on the Shenandoah Hornets Sports Network on 105.5 WINC-FM.
From SUhornets.com:
GAME RECAP
After the Eagles (1-3) failed a fourth down conversion under two minutes into the game, the Hornets (2-1) drove down the field and capitalized on an 8-yard touchdown run by AJ Maxwell. Maxwell’s run was the fourth play on the 67-yard drive.
Three minutes later it would be Maxwell again finding the endzone for his second touchdown of the game.
The next Eagles’ dive ended just six plays in as Jake Jack punched the rain-covered ball out of the quarterback’s arms and to an awaiting Matt Conroy who hopped on it for the recovery.
Plays later Steven Hugney connected with Jayron Thompson for a 40-yard reception to set up the next Hornets touchdown. For said touchdown SU went back to the ground, this time handing it off to Aidan Metzger for the score, making it 20-0 in the first.
It would be much of the same on the next two drives, as the Eagles fumbled on their first play and Paul Battle and the Hornets quickly recovered in the redzone. Metzger took his third trip to the endzone to cap off the four-play drive for SU.
After Van Voorhis’ history-making play, the Eagles would have a bad snap on the punt as the ball rolled out of the back of the endzone, resulting in a safety. That gave Shenandoah the 28-0 lead at the end of one.
In the second quarter, Hugney added a rushing and passing TD to put the Hornets up by 42. The rushing TD came on a 1-yard play with 7:27 to go in the half. He’d then connect with Braden Domenico on a 29-yard pass five minutes later.
Shenandoah’s special teams got into the action as well, as Dylan Tubbs’ squib kick was recovered by the Hornets to keep the Eagles offense off the field.
In the third quarter, Maxwell added his fourth and final touchdown of the day, rushing into the endzone on a 12-yard rush.
After a Juniata score in the final frame, the Hornets ran out the clock on eight rushes by Bryce Buchanan. Buchanan finished the game with 10 carries for 39 yards.
Hugney led all Hornets in rushing yards with 78. In the air, the quarterback completed 15 passes for 231 yards and a TD.
Domenico caught six of those passes, racking up 107 yards on the day.
The Hornets travel to Ferrum next Saturday at 2pm to opne ODAC play.
