District College Football Recap – 11/19/2011

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 19, 2011 | 9:46 PM

In this weekend’s college football action, California advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, Duquesne won the crosstown rivalry with Robert Morris and both PAC teams came up short in ECAC bowl games.

Here are recaps of all the games:

NCAA Division II Playoffs/Super Region 1
California 44  –  Elizabeth City State 0
Lamont Smith and Thomas Mayo each scored three touchdowns as the Vulcans move on to the second round of the NCAA playoffs with the win at Adamson Stadium.

California will travel next weekend to Winston-Salem State, the number one seed in the region and number 3 team in the AFCA Division II poll.

Cal took advantage of a turnover for their first score, Greg Cochrane with the pick, setting up Smith for a 36 yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Elizabeth City State had a chance to get on the board but PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year Rontez Miles blocked a field goal attempt.

Smith scored his second touchdown early in the second quarter on a five yard run, capping an eleven play drive. The Vulcans added to the lead, as Mayo caught a three yard touchdown pass from Peter Lalich. The Cal defense forced a three and out, on fourth down the snap went over the punter’s head for a safety and a 23-0 Cal lead. After the free kick, Cal was able to score before the end of the half, Lalich to Mayo for a twelve yard touchdown and a 30-0 halftime lead.

Lalich connected with Mayo for a 15 yard touchdown late in the third quarter, Smith scored on a one yard run with 11:53 remaining to end the scoring.

Smith carried eleven times for 83 yards, Lalich was 26 of 34 for 334 yards and the three scores to Mayo. Mario Washington had a big day with eight catches for 165 yards. Cal is now 10-2 overall, Elizabeth City State ends the season at 8-4.

ECAC Southwest Bowl
Lebanon Valley 23  –  Saint Vincent 15
The Bearcats were driving late, but could not find the end zone, turning the ball over on downs in the final minute.

Lebanon Valley took an early 3-0 lead on a Sean Fakete 28 yard field goal. The big play came in the second quarter when Aaron Smetanka was intercepted by Macke Hall, he took the football 52 yards for a Pick 6 and a 10-0 Dutchmen lead. Saint Vincent scored late in the half, Smetanka hit Jarius Marlow for a six yard touchdown, the extra point was blocked and the Bearcats trailed 10-6 at the half.

Morgan Porter cut the lead to one with a 21 yard field goal early in the third quarter. Linebacker Mike Ribero intercepted Colt Zarilla late in the quarter, setting up Smetanka for a eight yard touchdown run and Saint Vincent took a 15-10 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Ben Guiles took care of that lead, however, he carried six times on the following drive and scored on a five yard run with 10:51 left in the game.

The Dutchmen defense did not allow a first down on the next series, Lebanon Valley ran over five minutes off the clock, but did not score, turning the ball over on downs at the Saint Vincent 14. Smetanka was sacked twice on the next series, the last on fourth down at his own six, Guiles scored on the next play for a 23-15 advantage. The Bearcats got the ball back and drove to the Lebanon Valley 33, but an illegal block forced the ball back into Saint Vincent territory, the Bearcats could not gain another first down and the Dutchman ran out the clock.

Guiles carried 28 times for 112 yards, Lebanon Valley finishes at 8-3. Smetanka threw for 221 yards on 17 of 26. Ricky Douglas had eight catches for 141 yards. The Bearcats end at 6-5.

ECAC South Atlantic Bowl
Widener 48  –  Waynesburg 27
Quarterback Chris Haupt threw for a school record 470 yards and three touchdowns as Widener rallied in the second half for the win.

The Yellow Jackets started strong, jumping out to a 14-0 second quarter lead on two Jeff Graham touchdown passes., two yards to all PAC tight end Jeff Young and 98 yards to Christian Jackson. Haupt hit Anthony Davis with an eleven yard touchdown to cut the lead to seven at the half.

Haupt and Davis hooked up again on the opening drive of the third quarter for a 38 yard touchdown and a tie game. Waynesburg took the lead back, Graham to Young for a five yard touchdown and the lead, but that would be the last lead of the day for the Yellow Jackets.

Haupt connected with Cedrick Clayton for a 11 yard touchdown, Brendan Curren added a one yard run to give Widener a 28-21 lead after three. Jamelle Bowers scored with 13:03 remaining on an 18 yard run to have a chance to tie the game, Chris Marini could not kick the extra point and Widener maintained the one point lead.

Terrant Morrison scored on a three yard run, Curran added his second touchdown on a yard run, Dante Pergolese ran in from 14 yards to close the scoring. Haupt finished 35 of 57, Clayton had 11 catches for 149 yards. The Pride end the season at 9-2.

Graham was 29 of 48 for 340 yards, Adam Moses had ten catches for 97 yards, Jackson eight for 153 and Young made six catches for 76 yards. The Yellow Jackets end the season at 5-5.

Duquesne 45  –  Robert Morris 10
Sean Patterson threw for four touchdowns and ran for 123 yards as the Dukes claimed a share of the NEC title with the win at Rooney Field over the cross-town rival Colonials.

Robert Morris actually led 7-0 in the first quarter as Tyler Forbes, making his first college start, hit Jaime Cobb for a 35 yard touchdown. The former Laurel star was 10 of 27 for 143 yards, he became the third RMU QB to start this season after Jeff Sinclair was lost for the season and Matt Layton went out in last week’s game.

It would be all Duquesne in the second quarter, Patterson hit Issac Spragg for a five yard touchdown, Brooks Roorback scored on a six yard run and Patterson hit Connor Dixon with 15 seconds left in the half for a twelve yard touchdown. 

After the teams traded field goals to start the third quarter, Patterson and Dixon connected again for a 45 yard touchdown. Larry McCoy scored on a nine yard run and the Patterson Dixon pair had the hat trick, this time a 43 yard touchdown to close the scoring.

Dixon, a grad student from South Park, transferred from Michigan State as a quarterback, he moved to wide reciever in 2009 and was granted a sixth year of eligibility just before the season. Dixon had 40 catches this season, 16 for touchdowns, he set the single season record for Duquense. He has also caught a pass in 26 straight games.

The Dukes finish 9-2 in the regular season, they share the conference with Albany, who defeated Sacred Heart 31-21, the Great Danes get the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. The Dukes have a slim chance at an at-large bid.

Robert Morris was led by Grayling Sanders 92 yards on 18 carries. The Colonials end 2-9 and dropped six straight to end the season.

Missouri State 38  –  Youngstown State 34
Trevor Woodson connected with Caderrius Dotson for a pair of touchdowns, the second coming with ten seconds remaining to end any chance of a playoff bid for the Penguins.

YSU led 27-10 at the half at the Ice Castle. Kurt Hess threw four touchdown passes in the half, two to Will Shaw and one each to Christian Bryan and Jelani Berrasa.

Wooden scored on touchdown runs of 45 and 3 yards to cut into the YSU lead in the third. Hess hit Kevin Watts for a five yard touchdown with just under nine minutes remaining in the game. Chris Douglas scored on a yard run for Missouri State, the Bears were able to have the ball last and claim the win.

Hess was 21 of 31 for 298 yards and the five touchdowns, Jamaine Cook ran for 104 yards. The Penguins end the season at 6-5.

Woodson was 17 of 29 for 188 yards passing, he also carried 18 times. The Bears end the season at 2-9.

Bethany 48  –  King’s College 0
In a game that was postponed from September, the Bison evened their overall record with the home win. Eric Walker became the all-time leading rusher in Bethany history, the senior ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

Walker broke the record on the opening drive, carrying eight straight times to start the game, his ninth carry was a five yard touchdown run for an early lead. Nico Irizarry scored on a three yard run early in the second for a 14-0 advantage. Mike Lloyd missed a 54 yard field goal attempt with 1:42 remaining, Matt Grimard turned that miss into Bison points, hitting Ed Holmes for a 47 yard touchdown and a 21-0 halftime advantage. 

Or so everyone thought, except Jeff Joyce, who stepped in front of a Bryant Klein pass and went 55 yards for a touchdown, the interception return made it 28-0 at the half.

Grimard found Johnathan Foster for an 18 yard touchdown and Walker scored on a 35 yard run in the third quarter, Grimard ran for a 23 yard touchdown in the fourth to close the scoring. Grimard threw for 216 yards, he ran for 74. The Bison outgained the Monarchs 478 to 74. Bethany ends the season at 5-5, Kings ends at 1-9.