GUILFORD SPECTATOR POLICY
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford football team makes its 2021 home debut on Friday, March 19th when it welcomes ODAC foe Hampden-Sydney to Armfield Athletic Center for a 5 p.m. contest.
The Quakers (0-2, 0-2 ODAC) have suffered a pair of setbacks earlier this season to Randolph-Macon (44-0) and Emory & Henry (47-6), stretching their winless streak to seven games dating back to the 2019 season. The last win for Guilford, 37-27, came over Hampden-Sydney on October 26, 2019.
The top offensive contributors for Guilford this season include Teddy Gassert, who has 99 yards passing after connecting on 9-of-26 passes. Joey Strong Jr. leads the way on the ground with 46 yards rushing, while teammate Jermaine Russell has hauled in four passes for a combined 57 yards.
Bryce Smith is the leading tackler for Guilford with 15, making five solo stops along the way. Clint Bost and Ty Walker have 13 tackles apiece after making five solo tackles each.
The Tigers enter this weekend with a 2-0 mark after blanking Southern Virginia (21-0) and Shenandoah (26-0) on February 27th and March 6th, respectively. Hampden-Sydney is led offensively by the backfield duo of Melik Frost, who has 127 yards on 35 carries, and Cole Becker, who has amassed 104 yards on 23 attempts.
Teammate Tanner Bernard is 35-of-53 with 351 yards passing, hitting 66 percent of his targets. His primary targets have been Kaleb Smith (12 receptions) and Ed Newman (10), who have picked up 98 and 109 yards, respectively. Riggs Jordan is anchoring the Tigers' defense with 10 tackles (four solo), while Will Pickren and Phil Pullen have nine stops each.
LAST TIME OUT WITH HAMPDEN-SYDNEY (Oct. 26, 2019): In the last meeting, Jermaine Russell scored three touchdowns and compiled 210 all-purpose yards in Guilford College's 37-27 win over visiting Hampden-Sydney College.
Russell caught two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score as Guilford topped the Tigers for the first time since 2015 and just the second time since 1999. His play helped stave off Hampden-Sydney's second-half comeback. After Major Morgan's 10-yard touchdown catch from Austin Murphy got the Tigers to within 24-13 in the third quarter, Russell took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a score. The junior's first career kickoff return was the Quakers' first since 2017 and the fourth-longest kickoff return in school history.
Russell made six catches for 82 yards and matched his career high with two touchdown catches. He also ran twice for 11 yards, returned a kickoff for 98 yards, and had two punt returns for 19 yards. He entered the game ranked third among NCAA Division III all-purpose yards per game leaders.
Guilford's defense made a season-high five sacks, including 1.5 by Cam Rozier. Khayree Lundy recorded a game-high 12 tackles, two behind the line, and one sack. Teammate Ty Walker (King, N.C./West Stokes) added eight stops, including a sack. Josh Hayward had six tackles and had an interception for Guilford.
Led by Cole Becker's 172 rushing yards, Hampden-Sydney outgained the Quakers, 361-303, and held an 11-and-a-half minute edge in possession time. Becker carried 28 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. The Tigers converted only 7-of-20 third-down chances, however, and were 2-of-5 on fourth-down conversions. Murphy completed 24-of-45 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Dillon Costello was his favorite target with nine grabs for 58 yards. Anderson was 2-for-3 on field goals, including a 49-yarder in the second quarter.
Brandon Weinberg's 10 tackles led Hampden-Sydney's defense. Teammate Griffin Davis made nine stops and had an interception.
For more information on Guilford football check out www.guilfordquakers.com.
