Read the ODAC Football Report: Week 11

Not only did it take until the final week of the regular season to determine the ODAC champion, but the result hung in the balance until the final minutes of the 119th edition of "The Game" before Hampden-Sydney College secured the win over Randolph-Macon College.  Guilford College capped its season with an improbable comeback win from 31 points down to Emory & Henry College, and it took overtime for Shenandoah University to seal its second ODAC season with a victory against Washington and Lee University.  Catholic University wrapped up a winning campaign with a triumph at Bridgewater College.

Hampden-Sydney got three rushing touchdowns and one passing from quarterback Nash Nance, but a 198-yard two-touchdown rushing day from Will McGhee helped Randolph-Macon force the title decision down to the final 95 seconds.  After McGhee notched his school-record 16th rushing touchdown with 1:35 to play, it took two stops by H-SC of a two-point try to preserve a 28-26 win for the ODAC title.  A face-mask penalty nullified the Tigers' first hold, but it was Tyler Ikwild, the ODAC Defensive Player of the Week, who stood up McGhee before the goal line on the second attempt to seal the win.  The tackle was Ikwild's career-high 17th on the day.  McGhee finished his season atop the ODAC's rushing charts with 1,676 yards, establishing a new R-MC single-season standard and ranking #2 in the ODAC all-time, just 54 yards short of tying Sandy Rogers (E&H, 1986) all-time record.

With the win, Hampden-Sydney punched a ticket to the NCAA Division III Football Tournament.  The Tigers kickoff first round play next week when they host Maryville College (Tenn.) at 12:00 p.m.  The winner faces either Pacific Lutheran University or Linfield College in round two (NCAA Bracket).

Guilford trailed Emory & Henry, 31-0, as late as midway thru the third quarter before mounting an improbable comeback on the way to a 35-31 home win.  Quarterback Matt Pawlowski, the ODAC Offensive Player of the Week, threw four second-half TD passes as part of a 358-yard passing day.  His efforts included a 42-yard strike to Adam Smith with 19.7-seconds to play for the game-winning score.  The Wasps built their lead via three touchdown passes by Kyle Boden, a 19-yard field goal by Austin Breed and a 39-yard fumble return by Joe Lewis.  But Pawlowski hit Smith twice, Nick Mearite and Chad Christopher with TD throws in addition to a 1-yard plunge by Josh Schow.  Pawlowski leads the ODAC with 24 touchdown passes against just three interceptions.  Defensive back Satiir Stevenson aided in the Quakers' efforts with his ODAC-leading fourth interception, which led to GC's second touchdown.

Shenandoah capped its second ODAC campaign with a 21-14 win over Washington and Lee, but it took extra time to get it.  Drew Ferguson hit David Bell with a 22-yard TD on the Hornets' overtime possession, leading to W&L's chance to match in the extra frame.  On the Generals' second play, SU's Tijun Findley chased down the ball-carrier and forced a fumble, which Michael Messick recovered to clinch the Hornets' third ODAC win.  Findley made 16 stops on the day, while Byron Mitchell took over the top spot on SU's all-time career tackles list with 17 stops to give him 276 total.  He also forced and recovered a fumble.  Running back Marshall Hollerith led the Generals with 123 yards and two touchdowns, helping him to 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing, both W&L single-season rookie records.  Quarterback Charlie Nelson churned out 134 yards on the ground.

Catholic running back Mike Pitsenberger ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Cardinals to a 42-19 triumph at Bridgewater.  Pitsenberger eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, moving into second in the ODAC with 1,052 yards on the ground.  E.J. Montgomery fired a pair of TD passes, while T.J. Tutone added one more.  Andrew Ouellette caught eight passes for 128 yards and touchdowns.  His 65 receptions are second in the conference.  The Cardinals defense came away with three interceptions, including two by Patrick Thomas.  Anthony Albanese recorded his ODAC-best eighth quarterback sack.  Both of BC's touchdowns came via the ground as Willie Logan and Nick Wimer found paydirt.  Logan led the squad with 73 rushing yards from his quarterback post.  Sonny Romine led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles, while Andrew Palmer added 10 stops.  Palmer leads the ODAC with 103 tackles, making him the only player in the ODAC with 100 or more stops this season.

For more information on ODAC football, view the ODAC Football Report: Week 11.  You can also go to any of the participating school's websites.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.