WASHINGTON, D.C. – Shenandoah University suffered through five first half turnovers as Catholic University took a 34-7 ODAC football victory over the Hornets Friday night at Cardinals Stadium.
The Hornets (1-5, 0-3 ODAC) lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions, including a pick-six in the opening 28:39, to see CUA (3-3, 2-1) jump out to a 27-0 halftime advantage.
The lead ballooned to 34-0 before Shenandoah got on the board at the 14:13 mark of the fourth on a 6-yard pass from Shawn Lloyd to Qiydaar Murphy. The TD pass was set up two plays earlier as Lloyd hit Murphy on a 54-yard strike to give the Hornets a first-and-goal from the Catholic 8.
CUA needed just 2:17 to score its initial touchdown of the contest. After taking over on the SU 45 following a failed on-side kick to start the game, the Cardinals ran eight plays, capped by a Nick Cortese 4-yard TD run, to take the early lead.
Forty-nine seconds into the second, Alonzo Cooke hauled in a 40-yard TD pass from Greg Cordivari and the hosts had enough points to clinch the contest.
The completion was one of 20 that Cordivari had on the night – he threw for 277 yards in 31 attempts and had the one touchdown against one interception.
Catholic scored again at 11:11 of the second before Kevin Ross returned a Lloyd pass in the flat 58 yards for the Cards fourth touchdown of the initial 30 minutes.
CUA scored two touchdowns off of Hornets turnovers.
The game was played very close in the second half, with each team scoring once, but SU was unable to climb out of its first half hole.
Senior Carl Joseph led the visitors with 88 yards rushing on 21 carries.
Josh Rogers had 12 tackles and Jajuan Johnson 10 to lead the defense.
Shenandoah hosts Hampden-Sydney next Saturday in a 1:00 ODAC contest.