Fast start leads OWU over Oberlin

0

Junior quarterback Dominick Orsini (Massillon/Archbishop Hoban) fired a pair of 37-yard touchdown passes as Ohio Wesleyan raced to a 27-0 first-quarter lead, and the Bishops went on to outscore Oberlin 55-42 in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday night at Selby Stadium.

The Bishops scored less than a minute into the game, with freshman running back Jesse Beachy (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) breaking loose on a 40-yard scoring run on the fourth play from scrimmage.

After the Ohio Wesleyan defense held Oberlin on a fourth-down conversion attempt from just inside the midfield stripe, the Bishops struck quickly for another score, with Orsini connecting with junior wide receiver Tim Shadoan (Dublin/Scioto) on a 37-yard pass play to cap a 5-play scoring drive that increased the Bishop lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

Oberlin’s Jabari Clemons fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and senior kicker Nolan Kovach (Avon Lake) recovered for Ohio Wesleyan on the Oberlin 37-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Orsini went deep and found junior wide receiver Eugene Coleman (Northfield/Nordonia) for a 37-yard scoring play. Shadoan’s conversion attempt hit the left upright, leaving the Bishop lead at 20-0 with 7:49 left in the first quarter.

Ohio Wesleyan struck for one more score in the quarter when sophomore linebacker Jacob Kleinhenz (Columbia Station/Columbia) blocked an Oberlin punt and junior linebacker Mason Tomblin (Wooster) scooped up the ball and raced 25 yards for a score that gave the Bishops a 27-0 lead with 2:10 to play in the quarter.

The Yeomen threatened early in the second quarter, with Lucas Poggiali connecting with Robby Reinheimer for a 48-yard gain that put the ball at the Bishop 16-yard line, but on second-and-goal from the OWU 5, Poggiali’s pass was tipped and senior safety Zane Kieffer (Findlay/Van Buren) intercepted in the end zone.

Oberlin got the ball back after Anthony Allen sacked Orsini and forced a fumble at the Bishop 10-yard line, with Michael Pruchnicki recovering at the Bishop 7. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Poggiali found Clemons on a slant for the touchdown to make it 27-6 with 9:23 left in the half. The Yeomen added a score on their next possession, with Poggiali running a quarterback sneak to convert a fourth-and-1 call from the 2-yard line to keep the drive going, then calling his own number again to score and make it a 27-12 game.

The Bishops answered with an efficient march down the field, getting an 11-yard run by Orsini for one first down and an Orsini-to-junior wide receiver Adrian Bishop (San Diego, Calif./Madison) connection for another. Beachy picked up another first down, then burst free for 13 yards and a first down at the Oberlin 2, from where Orsini scored on a quarterback draw to give Ohio Wesleyan a 34-12 lead.

After Oberlin’s Fletcher Quigley fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, with freshman cornerback Layne Coffey (Franklin) recovering for Ohio Wesleyan at the Oberlin 23, Orsini hit Beachy for 21 yards and a first down at the Oberlin 2 before Beachy covered the final 2 yards for a score that gave the Bishops a 41-12 lead at the half.

Freshman running back Rob Harnais (Braintree, Mass./Boston College) scored on a 21-yard run late in the third quarter to increase the Bishop lead to 48-12.

After Khalil Rivers scored on a 2-yard run, Poggiali tossed a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Yeomen, hitting Reinheimer on a 22-yard play and connecting with Clemons on a 10-yard strike to bring the visitors within 48-34 with 1:10 left in regulation time.

Looking to make it a one-score game, Yeomen went for an onside kick, but Shadoan fielded the kick and raced 39 yards up the left sideline for a score that made it 55-34 with 1:03 to play.

Orsini completed 11 of 17 passes for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for 45 yards on 12 carries. Beachy led Bishop rushers with 61 yards and 2 scores on 14 carries, and Bishop had a team-high 4 catches for 28 yards.

Defensive leaders for the Bishops included junior linebacker Keaton Leppla (Millersburg/West Holmes), who finished with 9 stops; senior linebacker Brad Dotson (Piqua), who had 8 tackles, including 1 1/2 for loss; senior cornerback Roemello Cook (Akron/Buchtel), who made 6 tackles; and junior end Gary Brodek (Parma/Valley Forge), who recorded 6 tackles.

Poggiali completed 27 of 44 throws for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns. Clemons caught 7 passes for 73 yards and 2 scores. Justin Williams led the Yeomen with 48 yards on 12 carries. Gabe Edwards recorded 8 tackles, including 1 for loss, and broke up a pass.

VOLLEYBALL

Ohio Wesleyan 3, Marietta 0; Ohio Wesleyan 3, Wilmington 0.

MEN’S SOCCER

Ohio Wesleyan 1, Denison 1.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Denison 5, Ohio Wesleyan 0.

OWU freshman running back Jesse Beachy sprints toward the end zone during the first quarter of Saturday’s NCAC showdown against visiting Oberlin.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/09/web1_owuoberlin.jpgOWU freshman running back Jesse Beachy sprints toward the end zone during the first quarter of Saturday’s NCAC showdown against visiting Oberlin.

Staff Report

OWU Sports Information contributed to this report.

No posts to display