Ohio Wesleyan 28, Wittenberg 24

Oct. 30, 2004

Junior quarterback Ryan Sir Louis (Hinckley/Highland) scored from 1 yard out to give the Bishops the lead with 1:54 to play, and freshman linebacker Bo Mayer (Hilliard/Davidson) picked off a last-gasp Wittenberg pass to seal the win as Ohio Wesleyan handed 22nd-ranked Wittenberg its first North Coast Athletic Conference loss of the season on Saturday at Selby Field.

The win was Ohio Wesleyan's first over Wittenberg since 1991, snapping a 12-game losing streak to the Tigers.

Wittenberg had taken a 24-21 lead on Tristan Murray's fourth-down run with 9:48 left in regulation time. The Tigers had a first-and-goal at the Ohio Wesleyan 6, but quarterback Ryan Holmes threw an incompletion on first down, Murray carried to the 2 on second down and was stopped just short of the goal line on third down. On fourth down, Murray vaulted over the right side to give the Tigers the lead.

Ohio Wesleyan went three-and-out on its next possession, but the Bishops got the ball back when Holmes dropped a snap at the Ohio Wesleyan 43-yard line and junior defensive tackle Stephen Greene (Mansfield/Senior) was there to cover the ball with 5:50 to play.

Sir Louis converted a pair of fourth-down situations during the Bishop drive, picking up 35 yards on a fourth-and-3 call from the 50-yard line. Sir Louis then found sophomore halfback Nick Rice (Dublin/Scioto) for 11 yards on third-and-10 from the Tiger 15, setting up a first-and-goal from the Wittenberg 4. Sir Louis lost a yard on first down and was stopped just short of the goal line on second down. The Tiger defense stopped junior fullback Tony Anderson (Westerville/Thomas Worthington) for no gain on third down from the 1, but Sir Louis got over the goal line on fourth down to give Ohio Wesleyan the lead. Junior Jason Whitcomb (Wauseon) tacked on the point after to make the score 28-24, Bishops.

Ohio Wesleyan carried the momentum over on to the ensuing kickoff, tripping up Will Block after a 6-yard return, but the Tigers moved past midfield when Holmes connected with Dymond McDonald for 26 yards on the first play of the Wittenberg drive. After 2 incompletions, Holmes found Eric Kubilus for 15 yards and a first down at the Ohio Wesleyan 34 with 1:19 remaining.

The Bishop defense forced 3 straight incompletions, and it appeared that the gave might be over when Holmes' sideline pass to Joe Rumschlag was knocked away, but Ohio Wesleyan was flagged for pass interference on the play, giving Wittenberg a first down at the Bishop 19. Again, Ohio Wesleyan held for 3 plays and on fourth down, Holmes' pass over the middle was broken up and Mayer grabbed the ball on the carom to seal the win.

Wittenberg put together the first long drive of the game, marching to a first down at the Ohio Wesleyan 21 on their second possession. On third-and-6 from the Ohio Wesleyan 17, Holmes eluded pressure in the backfield and found his way to the Bishop end zone, but the Tigers were called for a personal foul on the play, wiping out the score. Holmes connected with Murray for 15 yards to get the penalty yardage back, but on fourth-and-6 from the 17, the Tigers elected to go for the first down rather than try a field goal into a 20-mph wind, and Holmes' fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Sir Louis and Rice reeled off long gains for Ohio Wesleyan on the Bishops' ensuing possession, with Sir Louis picking up 18 on first down and Rice scampering for 24 on first-and-15 from the Wittenberg 38. Senior halfback Eric Indiciani (Delaware/Olentangy) followed with an 11-yard run, setting up a first-and-goal from the Tiger 3, and 2 plays later, Sir Louis went over from 1 yard out to put Ohio Wesleyan on the scoreboard.

Wittenberg answered with a drive on its next possession, eventually setting for a 33-yard Mark Porter field goal to make it 7-3 with 12:07 left in the first half. Key plays included a 12-yard pass from Holmes to Murray on third-and-3 from the Wittenberg 34, and a halfback option pass from Chris Clark to Braden Freeman for 24 yards that put the ball on the Bishop 17-yard line.

Late in the first half, Sir Louis fumbled on the Bishop 29 and Wittenberg's Joe Brumfield recovered the ball. Holmes found Freeman for 17 yards to set up a first-and-goal from the Ohio Wesleyan 7, and 2 plays later, Holmes scrambled over the goal line to give Wittenberg a 10-7 lead with 1:12 left in the first half.

Ohio Wesleyan got the ball to open the second half and picked up a first down, but the Bishops then were forced to punt. Junior Neil Smiley (Cincinnati/Wyoming) had his punt bounce at the Wittenberg 1-yard line and the ball was downed at the 2. The Bishop defense then forced a punt, and senior defensive back Brian Gamble returned the ball to the Tiger 36, giving the Bishops excellent field position.

Two plays later, Ohio Wesleyan was in the end zone. Anderson picked up 6 yards on first down before Sir Louis broke free for a 30-yard scoring run to give the Bishops a 14-10 lead with 9:21 left in the third quarter.

Wittenberg answered quickly, with Murray ripping off gains of 13 and 22 yards on the first 2 plays from scrimmage. Holmes then connected with Nate Cherry for 16 yards and a first down on the Ohio Wesleyan 13. Holmes carried twice for 9 yards before Murray was stopped for no gain, setting up a fourth-and-1 at the Ohio Wesleyan 4. Again facing into the wind, and trailing by 4 points, the Tigers went for it on fourth down and Murray delivered a 4-yard run that put Wittenberg back on top by a score of 17-14.

Ohio Wesleyan came back early in the fourth quarter when Indiciani broke through the right side and was off to the races for a 63-yard touchdown run that put the Bishops on top, 21-17, with 13:01 remaining in regulation time, setting up Murray's fourth-down scoring run, the Ohio Wesleyan response, and the Tigers' last gasp.

Sir Louis led the Bishops with 137 yards on 20 carries, while Indiciani finished with 85 yards on 6 attempts. Sir Louis also completed 5 of 8 passes for 33 yards.

Murray led Wittenberg with 123 yards on 28 carries and shared the team lead with 4 receptions for 38 yards. Holmes completed 12 of 33 passes for 165 yards and ran for 46 yards on 10 carries. Freeman also caught 4 passes for the Tigers, picking up 69 yards.

Back to the top Battling Bishop Athletics page
   
Season Overviews | Fall Schedules | Winter Schedules | Spring Schedules
Team Rosters | Team Statistics | Coaching Staff | Facilities & Maps
Sports Releases | History | Questionnaires | Photo Galleries | "W" Association
 
OWU Home | Search | Info & Tickets | Fall Scores | Winter Scores | Spring Scores
 
Sports Information | Tel: 740-368-3698 | E-Mail: owusport@owu.edu
Mowry Alumni Center, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH 43015
 
What do you think about this site? Fill out a quick feedback form.
 
Copyright © 2004 Ohio Wesleyan University. All rights reserved.
Send Web site questions and comments to websrvcs@owu.edu.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Issues | Affirmative Action