Greensboro Snaps 12-Year Losing Streak Against Quakers in Defensive Battle

GREENSBORO – Greensboro College ended a dozen years of frustration against crosstown rival Guilford with a 21-7 victory Saturday night at Armfield Athletic Center, claiming their first Gate City Soup Bowl triumph since 2012. The win moves the Pride to 1-0 while dropping the Quakers to 0-1 in what proved to be a defensive slugfest that featured more punting yards than either team's offensive output.

The game exploded into action just 12 seconds after kickoff when freshman Sincere McIntyre fielded Asher Frisbee's opening kick at the Greensboro 5-yard line and raced 95 yards untouched for a touchdown. The electrifying return, which came after a brief weather delay, immediately silenced what had been a raucous Guilford crowd and set the tone for an evening that would see the Pride control the game's crucial moments.

Guilford responded with their most sustained drive of the night, marching 60 yards in eight plays to tie the game at 7-7. The drive featured quarterback Caleb Robles connecting with Shane Shapiro for 14 yards on third-and-10, then finding DeHart for seven yards before Sullivan picked up a first down with a five-yard rush. The Quakers capped the drive when Robles punched it in from eight yards out with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.

The offensive fireworks ended there, as both teams struggled to move the ball consistently throughout the remainder of the first half. Greensboro managed just 53 total rushing yards on 31 attempts, averaging a meager 1.7 yards per carry. Starting quarterback Chase Altis completed 9 of 18 passes for 47 yards but was sacked six times and threw an interception.

Guilford fared slightly better on the ground, accumulating 119 rushing yards on 35 carries for a 3.4-yard average, but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. The Quakers' best chance to take the lead came as the first half expired when they drove to the Greensboro 26-yard line, only to see Adriano De Castro's 43-yard field goal attempt sail wide left.

The second half belonged to Greensboro's defense and the timely insertion of senior quarterback Josh Sims. After Guilford was forced to punt from deep in their own territory, Greensboro took over at the Guilford 28-yard line with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. Sims, who had replaced the struggling Altis, immediately provided a spark by finding Kyjuan Westmoreland for 14 yards on the drive's first play.

The Pride methodically moved down the field, with Westmoreland contributing a one-yard rush and Mitrend Curry losing two yards on consecutive plays before Sims found his target. Facing third-and-8 from the Guilford 8-yard line, Sims rolled left and delivered a perfect strike to Karee Dykes in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Guilford's offense, which had managed just 225 total yards through three quarters, couldn't respond to the mounting pressure. The Quakers were particularly hampered by their inability to convert on third downs, finishing just 5-of-18 on the night compared to Greensboro's 5-of-14 mark.

The Pride put the game away with a methodical seven-play, 56-yard drive that consumed 4:27 of the fourth quarter. Sims, who finished 7-of-12 for 109 yards and two touchdowns, showed poise in the pocket despite heavy pressure from Guilford's pass rush. The drive culminated when Sims found sophomore tight end Matt Kidd for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:05 remaining, extending Greensboro's lead to 21-7.

Guilford made one final attempt to get back into the game, but junior safety Jay Law sealed the victory by intercepting Luke Hyatt's pass with 1:13 remaining. Law, who recorded two interceptions and four total tackles, returned the pick 20 yards to the Guilford 46-yard line, allowing Greensboro to run out the clock with a pair of kneel-downs.

The defensive statistics told the story of the evening's battle in the trenches. Guilford's Travis Burton terrorized Greensboro's offensive line, recording eight tackles and 3.5 sacks, while teammate Nick Iannone led all players with 10 tackles and added four quarterback hurries. Despite the pass rush, Burton and Iannone couldn't generate enough stops when it mattered most.

Greensboro's defense, anchored by senior linebacker Frank Walker's eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, bent but didn't break when it counted. The Pride forced two interceptions and limited Guilford to just 106 passing yards on 32 attempts. Kalil Marcus added six tackles while Caden Jeter contributed three tackles and a sack.

The offensive numbers reflected the defensive nature of the contest, with neither team reaching 250 total yards. Greensboro finished with 209 total yards while Guilford managed 225, though the Quakers' advantage was largely negated by their two turnovers compared to Greensboro's one.

Dykes led Greensboro's rushing attack with 26 yards on 11 carries while also catching three passes for 30 yards and the crucial third-quarter touchdown. For Guilford, Josh Campbell paced the ground game with 39 yards on nine carries, while Shapiro's five receptions for 44 yards represented the Quakers' most consistent offensive threat.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Greensboro, which had endured eight consecutive losses to Guilford dating back to their last win in the series in 2012. The triumph also represented the Pride's first 1-0 start to a season since that same 2012 campaign, providing early momentum for what the program hopes will be a breakthrough year.

Beyond the scoreboard, the 24th Annual Gate City Soup Bowl achieved its primary community mission, collecting over 11,000 canned goods and non-perishable food items for local food banks. The annual food drive has become a cornerstone of the rivalry, ensuring that regardless of the on-field outcome, the Greensboro community benefits from the crosstown showdown.

The statistical oddity of the evening was the total punting yardage of 370 yards between both teams, which exceeded either the combined passing yards (262) or rushing yards (172) for the game. Greensboro's Guy Galardi III averaged 34.5 yards on six punts, while Guilford's McKinley Reavis punted seven times for a 23.3-yard average.

Key Performers:

• Sincere McIntyre, Greensboro: 95-yard kickoff return touchdown
• Josh Sims, Greensboro: 7-of-12, 109 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Jay Law, Greensboro: 2 interceptions, 4 tackles
• Frank Walker, Greensboro: 8 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
• Travis Burton, Guilford: 8 tackles, 3.5 sacks
• Nick Iannone, Guilford: 10 tackles, 4 QB hurries

GREENSBORO – In the 23rd annual Soup Bowl, Guilford College's defense put on a masterclass performance, forcing five turnovers and shutting out crosstown rival Greensboro College in a 14-0 victory at Pride Field on Saturday. This win marks Guilford's eighth consecutive triumph in the rivalry series, improving their all-time record against Greensboro to 16-8.

The Quakers' defense set the tone early and maintained their dominance throughout the game. They held Greensboro to a mere 3.8 yards per play and prevented the Pride from running a single play in Guilford territory during the entire second half. This shutout is the third in the history of the Soup Bowl rivalry, with the previous two occurring in 2016 and 2014.

Eli Davis led Guilford's defensive effort with a career-high eight total tackles. Malik Hargrove, a transfer who previously played for Greensboro in 2021 and 2022, contributed six total tackles, including five solo stops, one tackle for a loss, and one sack. Avery Garner was a force in the backfield with 1.5 sacks among his 2.5 tackles for a loss.

The turnover battle heavily favored Guilford, with Tristan Bailey and Jaylan Richardson each intercepting Greensboro passes. Richardson, in particular, had a standout game with two interceptions. The Quakers' defense also forced and recovered a fumble, although the player responsible for this turnover was not specified in the game report.

Offensively, Guilford relied heavily on their ground attack, accumulating 198 net rushing yards. The Quakers employed a committee approach in their backfield, with Josh Campbell, Evan Sullivan, and Malik Woodard all recording double-digit carries. Campbell led the group with 73 yards on just ten carries, including a crucial late touchdown. Woodard served as the primary back, gaining 72 yards on 20 attempts and adding one reception for 17 yards, which resulted in the game's only receiving touchdown.

Photo Credit: Bryce Johnson (Guilford Athletics)

The scoring opened early in the game when Guilford capitalized on their first turnover. Tristan Bailey's interception on Greensboro's third play from scrimmage set up the Quakers in Pride territory. Despite two false start penalties, Guilford's offense persevered. The drive culminated in a short swing pass from Brown to Woodard, who tip-toed down the sideline for an untouched touchdown, putting Guilford up 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Surprisingly, the scoreboard remained unchanged for over 53 minutes of game time. Guilford had several opportunities to extend their lead, including two drives that reached inside Greensboro's five-yard line, but they couldn't convert these chances into points.

The Quakers finally broke through again late in the fourth quarter. After back-to-back carries of 12 and 25 yards by Campbell, the junior back punched it in from two yards out with just 1:50 remaining in the game, sealing the 14-0 victory for Guilford.

This win not only keeps the Soup Bowl trophy firmly in Quaker hands but also gives Guilford a 1-0 start to their season. The Quakers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their home opener against Methodist on Saturday, September 14th, under the lights at Appenzeller Field.

GREENSBORO - In the latest edition of the annual Gate City Soup Bowl, the Guilford College Quakers took on the Greensboro College Pride on Saturday night at the Armfield Athletic Center. The Quakers managed to hold the Pride to just eight points in the second half, while scoring 27 points themselves, thanks to a strong rushing attack. With a final score of 36-21, this marks the seventh consecutive victory for Guilford in this series.

The game started off with Greensboro taking an early lead with a 31-yard pass from Alec Williams-Carr to Deaven Hawkins, followed by an Alex Mora kick, putting them ahead 7-0. Guilford responded with a 2-yard run by Joseph Brown Jr., but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 7-6. Guilford then took the lead with a 41-yard field goal by Burke Nettles, ending the first quarter with a score of 7-9.

In the second quarter, Greensboro regained the lead with a 9-yard pass from Alec Williams-Carr to Anthony Hreiz, but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 13-9. The third quarter saw Guilford take control of the game with a 64-yard pass from Bailey Baker to Parker DeHart and a 2-yard run by Bailey Baker, both followed by successful kicks by Burke Nettles, bringing the score to 13-22.

In the fourth quarter, Guilford continued to dominate with a 1-yard run by Cory Casilac and an 11-yard pass from Bailey Baker to Jay Daniels, both followed by successful kicks by Burke Nettles. Greensboro managed to score one more touchdown with a 4-yard run by Leonard Greer and a successful two-point conversion pass from Leonard Greer, but it was not enough to catch up. The game ended with a final score of 21-36 in favor of Guilford.

Both teams are on the road next week as Guilford travels to take on Methodist and Greensboro faces Averett.