SHERMAN WOOD EARNS 100TH CAREER WIN; SEA GULLS TAKE DOWN HUNTINGDON, 45-21

Published Oct. 17, 2010 10:06 p.m. ET

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SALISBURY, Md., Oct. 16 -- Salisbury University issued the following news release:

Salisbury University football Head Coach Sherman Wood collected his 100th career collegiate coaching win on Saturday afternoon as the Salisbury football team took down Huntingdon College, 45-21, on Homecoming in front of 2,265 at Sea Gull Stadium.

The Sea Gulls (5-1), coming off their first bye week of the season, were in sync from the start, scoring on two of their first three offensive possessions. Both of the scoring drives went for at least 67 yards and Salisbury led 14-0 after the first quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Dan Griffin began a big day during the opening drive of the game. Griffin had five carries on the opening drive and capped it with a 9-yard touchdown run. The Jarrettsville, Md., native carried the ball 30 times for the Sea Gulls, the first time a Salisbury player has done so since Ronnie Curley had 30 carries against Delaware Valley on Nov. 18, 2006. The high number of carries led to 238 rushing yards for the sophomore.

Griffin engineered Salisbury's second scoring drive of the day that went 74 yards over nine plays, taking up four minutes, 36 seconds. Junior superback Randal Smedley scored from 1 yard out to make it 14-0.

Huntingdon (3-4) was able to score two quick touchdowns early in the second quarter to tie the game, getting a break from the elements as strong winds turned a routine kickoff into a loose ball situation, which the Hawks recovered.

But the Sea Gulls had seen enough and would put the game away scoring 25 straight points to push the lead to 39-14 early into the fourth quarter. Sophomore Brandon Norwood scored from 13 yards out midway through the second quarter, for the tally that put the Gulls up for good. After that, the scoring fell to Griffin and the defense.

Griffin scored on runs of 2, 79 and 22 yards for Salisbury's second four-touchdown performance of the year. Smedley had accomplished the feat at Apprentice two weeks earlier.

The Salisbury defense forced the Hawks' offense to earn everything it got Saturday. Two of Huntingdon's three scoring drives were forced to go more than 10 plays. The Sea Gull defense also added to the scoring, posting a safety after a fumbled punt snap.

Sophomore Chris Everett led the way for the Salisbury defense with 11 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack. Seniors Justin Chura and Dion Bowen each finished with nine tackles. Sophomore T.J. McPhaul had a key interception in the end zone, halting a potential Huntingdon scoring drive. It was his first pick of the year.

The Sea Gulls will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to Union (N.Y.) College for a noon kick off. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com