Football | 11/15/2008 5:01:13 PM

WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah took the early lead and went on to win 30-22 over the Methodist Monarchs on Saturday.

Shenandoah's B.J. Smoot started the game with a 73-yard kickoff return to give the Hornets the ball on the Methodist 8-yard line for their opening drive.  Kevin Roberts moved Shenandoah to the 3-yard line and Vern Lunsford found Kevin Spoth for the 3-yard touchdown.  The Hornets led 7-0 after the extra point.

Methodist could not get a first down on their first possession and punted back to Shenandoah with 10:30 to go in the first quarter.  The Methodist defense stopped the Hornets on their own 44-yard line and the Monarchs took over on their own eight after a downed punt.  Freshman Reggie Scales picked up a few yards before junior quarterback Erik Teague picked up the first down on a 12-yard run.  Scales combined with sophomore Corey McGuire to run to the 43-yard line and another first down.  The Monarchs kept chipping away and finished the first quarter on the Shenandoah 14-yard line.  McGuire picked up two yards to start the second quarter and Teague threw a 7-yard pass to freshman Cheston Pulliam to reach the five-yard line.  Teague finished the 92-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run and sophomore Mario Miralles' extra point tied the game at seven.

Both teams exchanged possessions unable to advance before the Hornets took over with 1:33 to go in the half.  Roberts gave Shenandoah a first down with 13-yards on two carries before Lunsford found Mark Sanford for a 78-yard reception to reach the Methodist 1-yard line before Monarch senior Chris Oden made the tackle.  The Methodist defense kept the Hornets out of the endzone on two attempts before Roberts finished with the touchdown on third down.  Travis Bishop's extra point gave the Hornets a 14-7 lead at half.

An early second half fumble gave Shenandoah the ball on the Methodist 46-yard line and Bishop kicked a 28-yard field goal for the 17-7 lead.  Methodist punted on their next possession and Lunsford threw an 82-yard touchdown reception on the second play of the drive.  Down 17-7, the Monarchs moved the ball down to the Shenandoah 8-yard line but on fourth and three, Teague's pass was broken up giving the ball back to the Hornets.  The Methodist defense locked in and unable to get a first down, the Hornets punted to their own 38-yard line.  Teague found Chris Peoples on the next play for a 38-yard touchdown.  Miralles' extra point cut into the Hornets lead at 24-14.

The Hornets started the fourth quarter on the Methodist 35-yard line but a penalty moved them to the 20.  Bishop kicked a 37-yard field goal to lead 27-14.  The Monarchs moved the ball down to the Shenandoah 15-yard line, but Teague was intercepted giving the ball back to the Hornets.  They moved back into field goal territory for the 38-yard conversion and the 30-14 lead.

Methodist kept fighting and Teague took over getting first downs on passes to Peoples and Anthony Autry.  Teague finished the drive with a 13-yard pass to Peoples and picked up two points on another pass to Peoples but the Hornets held on to the 30-22 lead. 

Teague finished with 206 yards passing on 17-for-27 with one interception and two touchdowns.  McGuire ran for 54 yards to lead the running game.  Miralles finished the season a perfect 13-for-13 on extra points.

Roberts had 99 rushing yards for Shenandoah and Lunsford was 10-for-18 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns. 

Freshman Mike McMillan led the Monarchs' defense with nine tackles while freshman Jody Balaam and sophomore Troy Glover had eight a piece.

Box Score