DUE WEST, S.C. – Shorter Football held off a late comeback attempt from Erskine Saturday afternoon, earning a 31-24 victory at Henry C. Oates Stadium. The win moves the Hawks to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Shorter opened the game with a strong offensive drive, marching down the field before Carlos Lopez connected on a 32-yard field goal to give the Hawks an early 3-0 lead. The Shorter defense responded on the next possession, as Christian Benson recorded a sack to stop the Fleet's drive and preserve the advantage through the opening quarter.
After both teams traded three-and-outs, Erskine evened the score with a 38-yard field goal. Shorter responded in a major way as David Hill broke loose for a 74-yard run, being brought down just short of the goal line. Dreylan Martin finished the drive with a rushing touchdown to put the Hawks back in front. Another defensive stop set up the Shorter offense, and Devin Edmonds connected with Dennis Sims on a 60-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead. The score marked Edmonds' first touchdown as a Hawk. Shorter continued to control the game, putting together a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ended with Edmonds finding the end zone on the ground to give the Hawks a 24-3 lead heading into halftime.
After a quiet start to the second half, the Shorter defense created another opportunity when Mikey Matos recorded a sack and forced a fumble, giving the Hawks possession in the red zone. Shorter was unable to convert on fourth down, however, turning the ball back over to the Fleet. The Hawks' defense responded again, forcing Erskine to punt from its own five-yard line. Conrad Hussey immediately made an impact, blowing up the punt and allowing Armond Jones to recover the loose ball in the end zone to push the Shorter lead to 31-3.
Erskine responded with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to cut into the deficit. After another Shorter defensive stop, the Hawks turned the ball over on a punt return, giving the Fleet another opportunity. Erskine capitalized, converting a fourth-and-25 with a 31-yard touchdown pass to bring the hosts within two scores. Shorter remained composed offensively, continuing to lean on Hill as the Hawks moved the chains and worked to drain the clock. Erskine eventually got the ball back and mounted another scoring drive, converting a third-and-goal from the 17-yard line to further cut into the deficit. After recovering the ensuing onside kick, Shorter was able to close out the game as the Hawks took a knee to secure the 31-24 victory.
The Hawks dominated the statistical battle, outgaining Erskine 427-220 while rushing for a season-high 228 yards. Shorter's defense was particularly strong against the run, limiting the Fleet to just 24 rushing yards. Making his first start, Edmonds delivered a strong performance, completing 16-of-29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing touchdown. Hill turned in a breakout performance, carrying the ball 28 times for 197 yards and averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Sims led the Hawks through the air, hauling in three passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Hussey led Shorter with seven tackles and a forced fumble, while Benson and Matos each recorded two tackles for loss and a sack.
"I'm really proud of our guys and excited about the way this team continues to work and grow together", said Head Coach Zach Morrison. "Winning on the road in our conference is never easy, and our guys came ready to play. We ran the football well, played physical on defense, and controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides. More than anything, I'm proud of the work these guys continue to put in every single day. They've stayed together, continued to believe in one another, and kept working to get better. We're grateful for every opportunity God gives us to compete together and represent Shorter University. We want to honor Him in the way we prepare, the way we compete, and the way we love and serve one another. Football is our platform, but Christ is our purpose, and I'm excited to continue watching this team grow both on and off the field. We'll enjoy this one, give God the glory, and get back to work".
UP NEXT
Shorter will step away from conference play next weekend when the Hawks travel to Itta Bena, Miss., to face Delta State at 6 p.m.
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