Ohio Wesleyan 13, Allegheny 8

Oct. 8, 2005

Sophomore quarterback Steve Hymes (Barberton/Massillon Washington) broke loose on an 89-yard touchdown run and the Ohio Wesleyan defense preserved the lead with a last-minute defensive stand as the Bishops defeated Allegheny in North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday in Meadville, Pa.

The win was the first for Ohio Wesleyan in Meadville in the series, which dates back to 1984, when the teams helped form the NCAC.

With the Bishops holding on to the 13-8 lead, Allegheny got the ball on its own 24-yard line with 3:09 to play. Quarterback Jimmy Savage found Kyle Geiser for 5 yards to convert a fourth-and-3 situation from the Gator 31, then running back Mario Tarquinio gained 7 yards on third-and-4 from the Allegheny 42. Savage converted another third-down situation, this time hitting Michael Sober for 9 yards on third-and-5 from the Ohio Wesleyan 29, and a Bishop penalty gave the Gators a first-and-goal from the Ohio Wesleyan 7-yard line. Savage picked up 4 yards on first down and the Gators called time out with :31 left.

The Bishop defense held from there, with junior safety Kyle Sherman (Plain City/Dublin Scioto) stopping Tarquinio for no gain on second down and junior linebacker Dominic Schwed (Aurora) and sophomore linebacker Bo Mayer (Hilliard/Davidson) dumping Tarquinio for a loss of one on third down. On fourth-and-goal from the 4, senior tackle Steve Greene (Mansfield/Senior) and Schwed stopped Savage at the Bishop 2-yard line after a 2-yard gain on the game's final play.

Ohio Wesleyan took the opening kick and marched downfield, eventually taking a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard field goal by senior Jason Whitcomb (Wauseon). Key plays in the march included a 24-yard gain by junior halfback Nick Rice (Dublin/Scioto) on third-and-5 from the Allegheny 43 and a 3-yard run by freshman halfback Kyle Adams (North Canton/Hoover) to convert another third down and give the Bishops a first-and-goal at the Gator 8.

The Bishop defense held Allegheny on the Gators' first possession, and on fourth down, freshman defensive end Quentin Jolly (Cincinnati/Roger Bacon) broke through and blocked Jason Black's punt, and Ohio Wesleyan took over on the Allegheny 21.

Senior quarterback Ryan Sir Louis (Hinckley/Highland) picked up 12 yards to convert a third-down situation and give the Bishops a first-and-goal, but a penalty moved the Ohio Wesleyan offense back and on fourth down, freshman Chris Kras (Aurora) came on to boot a 38-yard field goal for a 6-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.

Ohio Wesleyan moved into Allegheny territory during 4 of its next 5 possessions during the second quarter, but could not add to the lead.

The Bishop defense, meanwhile, bottled up the Gator offense, recording 3-and-outs on the first 2 Allegheny possessions and holding the Gators to a single first down on their next 3 possessions of the half. Sherman ended the last Gator possession by picking off a James Jones pass at the Bishop 31 in the closing seconds of the first half.

Allegheny got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. The Gators received the ball to open the second half but were forced to punt, and Black's punt was downed at the Ohio Wesleyan 2-yard line. On first down, Dan Monarko brought Hymes down in the end zone for a safety, making the score 6-2.

The Gators took the ensuing free kick and drove to a first down at the Bishop 12, but the Ohio Wesleyan defense stiffened again, and Bryan Davis' 26-yard field goal try was wide right, preserving the 6-2 margin.

Five minutes into the fourth period, the Bishops took over on their own 11 after forcing a Gator punt, and on first down, Hymes broke loose on an 89-yard scoring jaunt. Whitcomb converted the point after to give Ohio Wesleyan a 13-2 lead with 9:10 remaining.

The Ohio Wesleyan defense got the ball back in good field position when sophomore cornerback Josh Wheeler (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) picked off a James Jones pass at the Bishop 27 and returned it to midfield, then pitched to junior cornerback Tom Thome (Macedonia/Nordonia), who continued the play to the Gator 25.

The tide turned just at quickly, though, when Hymes fumbled on first down and Gator defensive back Keith Keenan picked up the ball and raced 75 yards for a score to make it 13-8 with 7:14 left in regulation time. Allegheny tried for a 2-point conversion that would have brought the Gators within a field goal, but Jones' pass attempt failed.

Junior defensive end Owen Case (Marion/River Valley) picked off a Jones pass to thwart one Gator threat, and Allegheny's last-chance drive ended with the fourth-down stop at the Ohio Wesleyan 2. For Allegheny, it was the fourth loss this season decided on the game's final play.

Hymes led the Bishops with 87 yards on 8 carries, while Rice finished with 59 yards on 12 rushes. Sir Louis completed 5 of 12 passes for 48 yards and Hymes completed 4 of 6 passes for 14 yards. Rice caught 4 passes for 29 yards and sophomore split end Zach Dennis (Jefferson) had 3 catches for 34 yards.

Mayer and sophomore linebacker Chad Ellis (Dublin/Scioto) shared the Bishop lead with 11 tackles apiece. Mayer added 2 tackles for loss and Ellis had 1 tackle for loss. Other defensive standouts included Case, who made 10 stops, including 1½ for loss and an interception; Schwed, who had 9 stops, including ½ for loss; Wheeler, who made 8 stops, picked off one Gator pass and broke up another; and Greene, whose 7 tackles included 2 sacks.

Tarquinio led all rushers with 110 yards on 28 carries. Savage completed 11 of 21 passes for 52 yards and Jones completed 6 of 16 passes for 74 yards. Kyle Geiser made 5 catches for 61 yards.

Justen Aletemus led Allegheny with 8 tackles, including 2 sacks and 2½ for loss; and Tom Glamuzina also had 8 stops, including a sack.

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