Fast start helps Huntingdon take control at Methodist

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon football team scored three touchdowns in the first nine minutes on Saturday and rolled to a 47-14 win over Methodist University.

The Hawks (6-1, 3-1 USA South) built a 41-7 lead by halftime and led 47-7 in the third quarter. The win was the second straight for the Hawks against the Monarchs (1-4, 0-2 USA South) and evened the series record at 2-2.

"We played pretty well. We got after them early and were able to pull ahead," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "We got a little sloppy in the second half, and had too many turnovers. Fortunately the game was in hand, but we have to protect the ball better and make better decisions.

"Defensively, we played decent. We gave up some plays, but we stopped them at critical times. We rose up and stopped them two times inside our 10-yard line. We're going to have to continue to play well on defense and clean up some things on both sides of the ball if we're going to finish the season the right way."

Senior receiver Zach Camp accounted for the Hawks' first two touchdowns and caught a third touchdown pass late in the second quarter. This is the seventh time in program history a Huntingdon receiver has hauled in three scoring passes in a game and the first time since Brantley Carr caught three touchdown passes against Methodist in 2013.

"Zach had three really good opportunities and he made the most of them," Turk said. "It's good when a guy like that gets those chances. He's a pretty unselfish player and does a lot for us that doesn't always show up in the stats. You enjoy seeing a guy like that be able to get three touchdowns."

Camp's first touchdown, a 27-yard pass from senior quarterback Luke Bailey, gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead two minutes into the game. Bailey and Camp connected again less than three minutes later on a 37-yard touchdown play.

Camp's final touchdown reception, with 1:17 left in the second quarter gave Huntingdon a 41-7 lead.

Camp finished with a game-high five receptions for 98 yards and three scores. His first reception of the game, a 10-yard play, helped Bailey become the Hawks' career leader in passing yards.

Bailey entered the game with 6,494 career passing yards, one short of the Huntingdon record held by Zach Golson. Bailey finished with 244 passing yards and four touchdowns (three to Camp and one to Nick Haas) on a 13-of-19 day and now has 6,738 career passing yards and 74 career passing touchdowns.

Bailey now holds the Hawks' career records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offense and touchdowns responsible for.

"Luke has continued to play well and do a lot of good things for us," Turk said. "We coach our quarterbacks to go with what the defense gives us. But he still has to make the throws and he has consistently been able to do that for us."

Bailey also rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. Senior John Iwaniec led the ground game with a season-high 141 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Freshman Dontavion Cunningham added 55 yards on six carries.

Kicker Chase Young was 2-for-2 on field goals, converting from 32 yards and 20 yards. Young was 5-for-6 on extra points. Defensive back Gentry Allen blocked a punt and recovered it to set up Young's second field goal.

Demetrius Brown led the defense with nine tackles, Austin Washington added seven tackles and Trey Hayes and Anthony Wood each finished with six tackles. Hayes led the Hawks with 2 ½ tackles for loss. Heath McCray and Hunter Booth each had one sack and Cedrick Lowe and DeAnte' Griffith combined for a sack.

Huntingdon returns to action at home against Greensboro on Oct. 29. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.