FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Shane Shapiro (Jacksonville, N.C.) was simply unstoppable with a historic, 14-catch, 210-yard performance for the Guilford College football team (1-1, 0-0 ODAC), and they needed all of it to hold off Methodist University (0-2, 0-0 USA South), 42-40 at Monarch Stadium on Saturday night.

His 14 receptions in a game rank tied for seventh in program history as he is the first Quaker with that many catches since Tyriek Russell had 15 against Averett University on September 17, 2016. His yardage total, meanwhile, slots sixth in Guilford football history and is the most since Adam Smith '16 had a program-best 253 on October 10, 2015 against Shenandoah University. That mark is also the highest the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) has seen since Emory & Henry University's Derrick Yates has 265 in 2019.

Both sides found much more success throwing the football on this evening than with their rushing attacks as both sides finished in the double-digits for rushing yards while averaging under 3.0 yards per carry. Guilford finished with 357 passing yards between Nick Danciu (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Luke Hyatt (Wadesboro, N.C.) while MU had 246 passing yards on the night. The Quakers finished with 432 yards of total offense on their way to 26 first downs on the night, matching the ODAC's highest total from week one. They also held the advantage in time of possession, staying on offense for 37:26.

The Quakers led from wire-to-wire thanks to their passing attack that finished with four touchdowns through the air for the first time since 2022. Danciu got it started completing all six of his passes for 95 yards and a score. Hyatt took over from there and threw three TDs, albeit against three interceptions, and 262 yards. Ty Little threw for 246 yards and four TD for the Monarchs. Shapiro hauled in a pair of touchdowns on the night and was the lone receiver with multiple scores out of the seven players who found paydirt in the game. MU's CJ Ferguson led all players with 55 rushing yards while Evan Sullivan (McBee, S.C.) paced Guilford with 52 yards and a TD on the ground.

Anthony Smith had 11 total tackles to lead all players while Nick Iannone (Wellington, Fla.) finished with a Guilford-high nine takedowns including seven solo efforts, a sack, and 2.0 tackles for a loss. Travis Burton (Pikeville, N.C.) racked up another 3.0 TFLs out of his seven total while Tristan Bailey (Statesville, N.C.) came down with an interception for the second-straight week, giving him 14 in his career, just one shy of matching Guilford's Division-III era program record.

The Quaker offense delivered a swift punch in this one. A big third down pickup by Sullivan preceded a quick slant by Shapiro that saw him slip a tackle and break away for a 56-yard gain, the longest play by a Quaker on the young season. A few snaps later, Danciu found Parker DeHart (Catawba, N.C.) from 13 yards away, finishing an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive to claim the early edge.

Guilford created distance in the second period of play, beginning with their first drive of the frame, straddling the quarter break. On an eight-play drive that did not require them to experience a third down, they ventured 89 yards thanks to double-digit chunks from Alex Wilson (Four Oaks, N.C.), Sullivan, and Shapiro before the capper, a pristine 28-yard touch pass from Hyatt to the front pylon and a wide-open Chris Simmons (Goose Creek, S.C.) for his first collegiate reception and score.

On the ensuing Monarch possession, they did not get traction on first and second downs then Little underthrew his man on third, floating it straight into the waiting arms of Bailey who brought it back for a touchdown although it was ultimately called back by a flag. All that did was delay the inevitable. Just five plays later, Hyatt located a lunging Shapiro in the back of the endzone on a flag route for the junior's first touchdown grab of the season from a dozen yards away.

After a couple uneventful drives plus a deflected Methodist field goal try, Shapiro got loose again. This time he did so on a deep crosser, finding the gap between the linebackers and safeties, and one-upped himself, taking a Hyatt pass 65 yards and finishing the job this time, leaping and extending over the pylon for his second TD of the half.

Up 28-0, Guilford gave the hosts some life ahead of the break. Executing their four minute offense, MU took a drive 83 yards over 10 plays finished by a pass from Little to Collin Fay. Then just two plays into the ensuing Quaker drive, an interception gifted the Monarchs another possession and they took advantage with Ty Benton taking a Little pass 40 yards to the house, slicing their deficit in half to 28-14 entering the locker room.

With some help from GC jumping pre-snap on a fourth down try, Methodist narrowed the margin further opening the second half. Operating in plus territory after a bad punt, the home team went 45 yards on seven plays with Little finishing with a pass to Kyan McCollum to make it a one-score game.

In need of positive momentum, Guilford got some maneuvering 63 yards on 11 plays over just above five minutes of play on their next drive. Sullivan put it home with a two-yard plunge for the team's first rushing score by an RB to make it a two-score edge.

On the kickoff that followed, things got weird with the ball jettisoning out of the hands of returner Bryson Ausby and high into the air, unfortunately finding the arms of Ferguson who was able to break free in the chaos. The end result was GC's second kick return score allowed in as many weeks as the game was back to one-possession again.

With the evening's lengthiest drive, the Quakers milked 9:10 off the clock by chipping their way down the field with an 18-play, 75-yard drive that Malik Woodard (Wilson, N.C.) put home on the ground from two yards away, in what could have been final push necessary, especially after forcing a three-and-out on defense. However, Hyatt's third interception of the night was a pick-six to Zack Griffin, although the PAT attempt was blocked keeping the Monarchs alive.

A GC three-and-out left the door open and Little hit Ferguson who broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown catch-and-run and setting up a crucial two-point conversion try. Guilford made a stand, though, staying disciplined and defending the Monarch's attempted double-reverse pass play to perfection. The offense ran out the clock from there to finish off the 42-40 victory.

It will be another road trip next for Guilford, this time up to Lexington, Va. for their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener at Washington & Lee University on Saturday, September 20^th. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM.

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