Earlham 14, Ohio Wesleyan 7

Nov. 8, 2008

Junior running back Steven Brown (Redford Township, Mich./Redford) scored on a 3-yard run to give Ohio Wesleyan a 7-0 first-quarter lead, but Earlham rallied for a pair of second-half touchdowns to edge the Bishops in North Coast Athletic Conference on Saturday in Richmond, Ind.

The win was Earlham's first over Ohio Wesleyan since 1997 and the Quakers' second in the all-time series, which Ohio Wesleyan leads, 13-2.

After a missed field goal by the Quakers gave the Ohio Wesleyan the ball on their own 32-yard line, the Bishops methodically marched down the field. Sophomore running back Mickey Gies (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge) picked up 2 yards on a third-and-one call, then senior running back Kyle Adams (North Canton/Hoover) gained 14 yards to move the ball into Earlham territory. Brown picked up another first down with a 4-yard gain on second-and-4 from the Quaker 37, then took a pass from freshman quarterback Keegan Varner (Westerville/Central) and broke loose for 27 yards and a first down at the Earlham 3. On the next play, Brown covered the final 3 yards, giving the Bishops a 7-0 lead with :23 left in the first quarter.

The Bishops had a chance to add on to the lead in the second quarter, with Varner finding senior split end Nathan Osborn (Edgerton) for 33 yards and a first down at midfield before freshman running back Raymon Beach (Landover, Md./Crossland) ran for 19 yards and a first down at the Quaker 25, but on the next play, Beach fumbled and Earlham's Adam LaFollette recovered at the Earlham 31-yard line.

The Quakers drove to a first down at the Ohio Wesleyan 25, but on second down, Randy Kerns's pass was intercepted by junior safety Rylan Mitter-Burke (Marlborough, Mass./Marlboro) at the Bishop 5-yard line, ending the threat and preserving the lead.

Ohio Wesleyan's defense came up with another big stop early in the third quarter. Earlham had taken the opening kickoff and moved to a first down at the Bishop 5-yard line, and stops by senior defensive end Britan Tolliver (Croton/Johnstown Northridge) and senior defensive tackle Julian Strother (Warren/Kennedy) and an incomplete pass set up a fourth-and-goal at the Ohio Wesleyan 1-yard line. Kerns tried to take the ball in himself, but was denied by the heart of the Bishop defense, turning the ball over to Ohio Wesleyan on downs.

The Bishops picked up a first down on a 16-yard run by senior Chris Kras (Aurora) on a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the Quaker 9, but 2 plays later, Geis fumbled and LaFollette recovered at the Ohio Wesleyan 18-yard line, and a personal foul on the play moved the Quakers to the Bishop 9.

Kerns connected with Chris Owens for 6 yards, and on third down, found Ben Marshand for 3 yards and the game-tying score with 5:07 left in the third period.

Ohio Wesleyan's defense made another stop early in the fourth quarter, blocking a 35-yard field goal try by Earlham's Max Crumley-Effinger, but the Bishops were unable to pick up a first down, and a 15-yard punt gave Earlham the ball on the Ohio Wesleyan 34.

Kerns connected with Jaysn Murphy for 5 yards on third-and-2, then hit Bryant Foreman for 20 yards on third-and-10, moving the Quakers to a first down at the Bishop 1. Dorian Jenkins went over on the next play, giving Earlham a 14-7 lead with 5:36 left in regulation time.

The Bishops had 2 more possessions in which to drive for the possible tying score, but were not able to move into Earlham territory.

Brown led the Bishops with 45 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Varner completed 10 of 19 passes for 114 yards, with Osborn making 3 catches for 47 yards and Brown catching 3 passes for 29 yards.

Defensive standouts for Ohio Wesleyan included Tolliver, who led the Bishops with 12 tackles, including 1 for loss; senior linebacker Tommy Saunders (Gallipolis/Gallia Academy), who had 9 stops; freshman defensive back Eli Cowan (Galena/Columbus DeSales), who made 7 tackles and broke up 3 passes; and Mitter-Burke, who had 3 stops, picked off a pass, and broke up 3 passes.

For Earlham, Marschand ran for 66 yards on 18 carries. Kerns completed 22 of 36 passes for 174 yards, with 7 of those completions going to Owens for 61 yards.

Jake Carr led the Quaker defense with 10 tackles, while Cale Gulliford finished with 7 stops, and LaFollette had 5 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.

Box Score