MURFREESBORO – Despite putting up their best offensive numbers to date, the Braves suffered a 31-24 loss to Shenandoah here Saturday afternoon.

The Braves totaled 392 yards of offense on 72 plays, 315 of it came in the air as QB Taylor Furlough connected on 21 of 38 passes. He also threw for 2 touchdowns and accounted for one on the ground.

The Braves got on the board first on their second possession of the game when they capped a 66-yard drive off with a score by wide receiver Corey Williams from 32 yards out. Zach Paulk punched the extra point through the uprights to give the Braves a 7-0 lead.

Just like what could be expected for the remainder of the game, Shenandoah matched the Braves score on their next possession when Anthony Frates scampered to the end zone from 2 yards out. Bryce Harrington kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

Frates finished a 75-yard Hornets’ drive with a 1 yard run a the 7:30 mark of the second quarter to get his team on top. Harrington nailed the extra point, giving them a 14-7 lead. Furlough hooked up with Henry Ford in the back of the end zone just before the second half on a 27-yard completion. Paulk split the uprights on the extra point to tie the game at 14-14.

Harrington scored a 22-yard field goal early in the third quarter to give the Hornets a three-point lead 17-13. Continuing the exchange of scores, Chowan’s kicker Paulk the game on a 24-yard field goal with just over one minute left in the third quarter.

Frates rushed for his third touchdown of the day just into the fourth quarter to give the Hornets a 23-17 lead. Harrington

made the extra point to make the score 24-17. On the Braves’ ensuing possession Furlough marched the Braves down field 57 yards and punched in a two-yard run. Paulk tied the game with an extra point 24-24.

Shenandoah QB Jon Hoffman shrugged off two Chowan defenders and barely got off a touchdown pass to Junior Greene from 45 yards out. Harrington scored the extra point to give the Hornets a 31-24 lead.

The Braves weren’t done yet. Torey Williams returned a kick off 24 yards to put the Braves on their own 32-yard line. Tail back Cary Steward used two snaps to get the first down, setting up a Furlough to Ford 20 yard completion and into Hornet territory. Marvin Tousant made a brilliant catch to put the Braves on the Hornets 33 yard line. Donta Myrick caught a 9-yard pass two plays later to get the Braves on the 18-yard line. On 4th and 7 to go and just under two minutes to play, Shenandoah blitzed linebacker Jesse Levenson who sacked Furlough, forcing a fumble that ended the Braves drive.

Shenandoah ran out the clock and got the 31-24 win.

Shenandoah had 456 yards of offense, 286 of those were on the ground.

For Chowan Marvin Tousant caught 5 passes for 75 yards while Frank Sessions had 4 catches for 83 yards. Cary Steward led the Braves ground attack with 86 yards on 27 carries.

On the other side of the ball Sebastian Harrison has a team-leading 12 tackles while Torey Williams had 9 on the day.

The Braves host Methodist College October 30th at 1:00pm.