Ohio Wesleyan 38, Hiram 6

Oct. 31, 2009

Freshman quarterback Mike Bashioum (Wyano, Pa./Yough) ran for 3 touchdowns to help Ohio Wesleyan build a 32-0 lead and the Bishops went on to defeat Hiram in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Hiram.

The Bishops received excellent field position late in the first quarter, taking over on the Hiram 32 after a Terrier punt. Bashioum moved the chains with a 2-yard pickup on second-and-1, and freshman halfback Bryan Hoover (Sciotoville/Portsmouth East) gave Ohio Wesleyan a first-and-goal with a 7-yard gain on second-and-6 from the Hiram 17. On the next play, junior fullback Chris Marshall (Georgetown/Mason County (Ky.)) scored on a 10-yard run for a 6-0 Bishop lead.

Senior safety Daniel DeLay (Pine, Colo./Conifer) picked off a Brendan Rehor pass on Hiram's next possession, giving the Bishops the ball on their own 27-yard line. Bashioum and Marshall again moved the Ohio Wesleyan offense, first connecting on a 5-yard pass play on third-and-5, then getting a 3-yard gain from Marshall on third-and-1 before Bashioum found freshman halfback Stephen Haynes (Crestview, Fla./Niceville) for 8 yards on third-and-3 from the Hiram 20. Facing another third-down call on the Terrier 6-yard line, Bashioum covered the last 6 yards himself to give Ohio Wesleyan a 12-0 lead with 4:44 left in the first half.

Senior defensive end Britan Tolliver (Croton/Johnstown Northridge) gave the Bishops another chance by recovering a Hiram fumble and returning it to the Terrier 15-yard line, but the Hiram defense held on downs.

On Hiram's second play from scrimmage, though, senior safety Rylan Mitter-Burke (Marlborough, Mass./Marlboro) intercepted a Rehor pass and returned it to the Hiram 27.

This time, the Bishops took advantage of the opportunity, with Bashioum gaining 23 yards on first down, then scoring from 4 yards out on the next play, and the conversion by junior Sean Patrick (Delaware/Hayes) gave the Bishops a 19-0 lead with :07 to play in the first half.

The Bishop defense protected the lead early in the third quarter, stopping a Hiram drive on the Ohio Wesleyan 13 when junior defensive tackle Taylor Smith (Marengo/Highland) dumped Rehor for a loss of 13 yards on fourth down, giving the ball back to Ohio Wesleyan.

DeLay added to the Bishop lead later in the quarter, picking off a Rehor pass at the Hiram 27-yard line and returning it for a touchdown and a 25-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.

Ohio Wesleyan opened the fourth quarter by stopping the Terriers on downs, with sophomore safety Kyle Karczynski (Caledonia, Ontario/McKinnon Park) taking down Jamie Adams for a 9-yard loss on fourth down, and after a 22-yard gain by freshman halfback Isaac Morris (Clarksville, Tenn./Northeast) gave Ohio Wesleyan a first-and-goal at the Hiram 3, it was Bashioum going over from 1 yard out for a 32-0 lead.

Hiram drove for a touchdown in the final minutes, with Rehor connecting with Glenn Campbell on a 68-yard pass play to give the Terriers a first-and-goal at the Bishop 9. After a rush for 3 yards by Chris Austin, an incomplete pass by Rehor, and a 2-yard run by Rehor, Austin scored from 4 yards out on fourth down.

Bashioum led the Bishops with 88 yards and 3 touchdowns on 16 rushes and completed 3 of 8 passes for 5 yards. Morris finished with 69 yards on 8 carries and Hoover gained 55 yards on 8 carries. Marshall led the Bishops with 2 receptions.

Austin led Hiram with 18 yards on 14 carries as the Bishop defense held Hiram to net -17 yards rushing. Rehor completed 18 of 31 passes for 163 yards, with Campbell and Mike Giuliano catching 4 passes apiece.

Smith led the Bishop defense with 8 tackles, including a sack and 4 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Chad Murawski (Chesterland/West Geauga) had 6 tackles, including a sack; senior linebacker Sam Bixler (Denver, Colo./South) and junior linebacker Pete Merkle (Loveland) had 5 stops apiece; and DeLay made 4 tackles in addition to his 2 interceptions.

Humphrey Caswell led Hiram with 6 tackles, including 1 1/2 for loss. Oliver Dickerhoof added 6 stops.

Box Score