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Ohio Wesleyan 45, Earlham 10 (10/6/2001)

Junior halfback Bernie Vendlinski (Brunswick/Highland) scored 3 touchdowns and the Bishop defense clamped down on Earlham early as Ohio Wesleyan topped the Quakers in a battle of unbeatens in the North Coast Athletic Conference on Saturday in Richmond, Ind.

Ohio Wesleyan held Earlham to minus 23 yards total offense on its first 4 possessions, forcing turnovers in Quaker territory 3 times and scoring off all 3 turnovers.

Vendlinski went over from 12 yards out with 10:26 left in the first quarter to cap a 32-yard drive set up by an interception by junior linebacker Chad Marlatt (Coshocton/Ridgewood).

Senior kicker Brian Leach (Xenia) made it 10-0 with a 22-yard field goal set up by an interception by senior linebacker Shaun Ramos (Cumberland, R.I./St. Raphael Academy) and Vendlinski capped the first-quarter uprising with a 1-yard TD run set up by a fumble recovery by senior tackle Steve Schoenberger (West Carrollton).

The Bishops added another score just before the gun at halftime when senior quarterback Mike Jonesco (Oberlin/Elyria Catholic) found sophomore split end Bryan Beigie (Shaker Heights/Stow Walsh Jesuit) on a 2-yard TD pass with :03 to play.

Earlham got on the scoreboard with a 45-yard field goal by Mike Elorreaga midway through the third quarter, but the Bishops answered with touchdowns by Vendlinski, who scored on a 3-yard run; senior tailback Matt Capone (Cleveland/Padua), who went over from 18 yards out; and freshman halfback Eric Indiciani (Delaware/Olentangy), who scored on a 4-yard run.

The Quakers wrapped up the scoring on a 21-yard pass from Quincy Adams to Ronnie Hibbler in the final minute of play.

Capone led the Bishops with 121 yards in 19 rushes and 5 receptions for 35 yards. He also returned 2 kicks for 70 yards to total 226 all-purpose yards. Vendlinski finished with 73 yards in 8 rushes. Jonesco completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards.

The Bishop defense tied a school record with 10 sacks on the afternoon, with sophomore end Travis Little (Wheelersburg) and sophomore end Cory Krieger (Oak Harbor) getting 2 apiece. Senior safety Matt Lavish (Bay Village/Bay) led the Bishops with 10 tackles, while junior cornerback Steve Siefert (Sylvania/Northview) made 7 stops, Marlatt finished with 6 tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks; and Schoenberger had 4 tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks and caused and recovered a fumble.