Forest, Va. – The Catholic University of American football team opened Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on the road Saturday, falling to Hampden-Sydney, 38-21. The game was actually moved to a local high school, Jefferson Forest, as heavy rains and wind forced the switch to a turf field.

CUA led early in the contest, answering an early Hampden-Sydney touchdown with two of its own, but 24 unanswered points by the Tigers built an advantage that the Cardinals could not overcome.

Catholic trailed by just seven at the half, 21-14, after Hampden-Sydney scored with just 41 seconds remaining in the half, but Tigers went on to score two touchdowns and a field goal in the second, holding CUA to a touchdown with just 2:16 to play.

On day impacted by weather Hampden-Sydney utilized the run game, rolling to 283 yards on the ground, 203 by Kyree Koonce, who totaled 30 attempts and two touchdowns.

Junior Matt Perno totaled 65 yards and a touchdown of his own on the ground and added eight catches for 18 yards and a touchdown in the air as Catholic played from behind after its 14-7 lead ended in the second quarter.

Senior quarterback T.J. Tutone threw nearly 50 passes, going 33-of-49 for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off twice by the Tiger defense.

Junior wideout Lucas Morley continued his impressive season with nine catches, but was held to 68 yards.

CUA's defense forced two turnovers, picking off the Hampden-Sydney QB twice as senior safety Richard Roach and sophomore corner Matt Christensen each came up with an interception. Roach also led the team with seven solo tackles while Christensen took the lead with nine total stops.

The Cardinals will look to even its conference record and move back above .500 next Saturday when they return to home to host Randolph-Macon at 1 p.m.