WINCHESTER, Va.  Away from home to begin the 2023 season, the Monarchs suffered a stinging loss to the Shenandoah Hornets on Saturday, dropping the contest in 44-29 fashion. During the 15-point defeat, quarterback Brandon Bullins tossed the pigskin for 254 yards, giving him enough yardage through the air to surpass Max Reber's 8,868 career passing yards record.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Shenandoah def. Methodist, 44-29
Records: Methodist 0-1, Shenandoah 1-0
Location: Shentel Stadium; Winchester, Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• With the Monarchs winning the coin toss and electing to defer, the Hornets' offense sprang into action quick, piecing together a four-play, 65-yard drive for the first touchdown of the game.
• Not to be outdone, the Methodist offense marched down the field in response. Starting at Methodist's 34-yard line, Bullins completed his first pass attempt of the season down the middle to Mikail Baldwin for eight yards before a seven-yard run by Keyshaun Pete notched a first down. The Monarchs made their way down to Shenandoah's 18-yard line, and from there, Bullins connected with Pete for Methodist's first score of the season.
• From their own 43-yard line, the Hornets shuffled down field to within 14 yards of the endzone on their third drive, where they set up for a 31-yard field goal attempt that was no good.
• Struggling to move the ball forward, the Monarchs were forced to punt from their own 9-yard line. The punt was blocked by Shenandoah's Matt Conroy, resulting in a safety as Methodist recovered the ball in the endzone and giving the Hornets a 9-7 lead as the first quarter expired.
• As Methodist's Samuel Andrae kicked off to start the second quarter, Shenandoah's return man muffed the ball, allowing Methodist to recover on Shenandoah's 40-yard line. Little by little, the Monarchs inched toward the endzone, but the Hornets' defense stood strong at the goal line.
• When Methodist attempted a 22-yard field goal, Shenandoah earned a second block on the day, stopping a score from occurring. In turn, the Hornets went 91 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown and a 16-7 advantage.
• Methodist's next drive resulted in a punt, but on the ensuing Shenandoah possession, Josh Hill forced a fumbled and recovered the football. The Monarchs went 73 yards over the final 5:34 of the first half, but despite using all three timeouts on the drive, ran out of time at the 2-yard line.
• After trading possessions to start the third quarter, Methodist found a rhythm on offense that led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bullins to KJ Hicklin, pulling the Monarchs to within two points. As Methodist kicked off to Shenandoah following the score, the Hornets' return man found a hole and broke free for a 91-yard house call.
• The Monarchs mustered together another drive in return, capping it off with a 3-yard touchdown run by Pete to sneak back with two again.
• Methodist's two-point deficit grew to 16 as the Hornets scored twice to start the fourth quarter. The Monarchs were able to get one score back along with a successful two-point conversion, making the score 37-29, but hopes of another touchdown and two-point try (which would have tied the game) were smashed as Shenandoah sealed the deal with a pick-six for the final score of the game.

MORE TO IT

• Methodist's Keyshaun Pete eclipsed 2,000 career rushing yards as he bulldozed his way to a game-high 100 rushing yards on 24 attempts. He was also Methodist's leading pass catcher with 56 receiving yards on seven catches, and finished with three touchdowns on the outing.
• The Monarchs forced the Hornets to cough up three fumbles, as Braxton Brown, Josh Hill and DaQuinton Grady each recovered a loose ball for Methodist.
• With 406 yards of total offense, Methodist's longest offensive play of the day was a 42-yard pass from Bullins to junior Harrison Muldrow, who ended the day with three catches for 49 yards.

UP NEXT
Methodist hosts its home opener against Guilford College next Saturday (Sept. 9). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in Monarch Stadium.