District College Football Recap – 10/16/2011

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, October 16, 2011 | 10:40 AM

A fall wind blew into Western Pennsylvania and also brought in a new leader in the PSAC West as Slippery Rock dumped ranked Cal in a battle for first place. Returns for touchdowns were also quite common throughout the district.

And what would a weekend of college football be without fantastic finishes, a pair took place, one on top of the Bluff and the other in Meadville.

Here are recaps of all the games, including two that were heard right here on the Network:

Slippery Rock 17 – California 3
Could the road to the PSAC title game run thru Slippery Rock, that is the case if the Rock defense has anything to say about it as they surrendered just a field goal in the opening quarter and five turnovers by the SRU offense in the win at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The Slippery Rock defense was number one in Division II in touchdowns allowed coming into the game and did nothing to hurt that ranking.

It was the first win for the Rock over the 14th ranked Vulcans since 2005, that victory also came at SRU. Slippery Rock now sits on top of the West Division at 4-0.

The game did not start like a battle for first place for either offense. SRU QB Cody Endres was picked off by Shawn Anderson on the third play from scrimmage. Mario Washington returned the favor with a fumble, recovered by Zach Sheridan. The offense was on the field for one play for Slippery Rock, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling fumbled back to give Cal the ball at the SRU 23. Cody Nuzzo kicked a 21 yard field goal to put Cal up 3-0. The teams exchanged punts, the Rock drove to the Cal 16, but Rontez Miles picked off Endres in the end zone.

Cal held on to the lead into the second quarter. The Rock started in the shadow of their own end zone on the three yard line with 7:10 left in the half. Slippery Rock drove to the Cal 50, Endres threw what would have been his fourth pick of the day to Erik Harris, but Cal was called for roughing the passer to keep the drive alive. The Rock faced a fourth down and one at the Cal 2, Coach George Mihalik had the offense try and draw Cal offsides, that didn’t work, the Rock called time. During the timeout, Mihalik sent kicker Kurt Brackman onto the field, then pulled him back off, electing to go for it. From a spread formation, Endres hit Jimmy Zubik for a two yard touchdown and a 7-3 Rock lead with 1:16 remaining in the half. Cal took over at their own 30, Peter Lalich completed four straight passes to get down to the Rock 10, SRU was called for defensive holding twice, the second negated a Jayson Nickson interception. With a first and goal from the one with one play remaining in the half, Cal coach John Luckhardt rolled the dice and went for the touchdown, Jeff Knox was stopped short of the goal line by Jack Charles to end the half.

Slippery Rock added to the lead on the first drive of the second half. Brackman kicked a 36 yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage. Endres would tack on a touchdown pass to Geron James for 19 yards with 2:40 remaining in the third.

The Rock had a chance to put the game away in the fourth, but Endres threw his fourth interception, picked by Erik Harris in the end zone with 5:12 left in regulation. Cal got to the Rock 42, but turned the ball over on downs, Cal was 5 of 18 on third downs and 0-3 on fourth downs in the game, the 0 for 3 was all in the second half.

Endres was 22 of 42 for 147 yards with the two scores and four picks. Devin Goda had five catches for the Rock. Jimmy Zubik, making his first start in place of Akeem Satterfield, ran 21 times for 63 yards. Slippery Rock is now 6-1 on the season.

Lalich was 22 of 53 for Cal for 204 yards. Chedrick Cherry had seven catches, Thomas Mayo grabbed six. The Rock D held Cal to just 69 yards rushing. Cal is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC.

Geneva 23 – Grove City 7
The Golden Tornadoes forced six turnovers to pick up the win under the lights on a breezy night at Reeves Field. Former Shenango star Rocco Colavecchia ran for two fourth quarter touchdowns to break open a 9-7 game in the final six minutes.

The turnovers started for the Wolverines on the first play of the game, Brian Pell was intercepted by Jon Bushmire, that pick turned into a Bryan Visengardi 23 yards field goal to give Geneva a 3-0 lead five minutes in. Grove City drove to the Geneva 12 but Jimmy Bailey fumbled, Scott Erb recovered for Geneva and the Wolverine drive ended. Grove City scored on the next possession, Blaine Miller scored on a 22 yard run and the Wolverines led 7-3 after one.

Geneva answered early in the second on a nine play drive, Zack Hayward hitting Vince Larson for a 13 yard score and a 9-7 Geneva lead. Grove City had a chance to take back the lead on the ensuing possession, but Ethan Witmer was wide right with a 21 yard field goal attempt with 5:42 remaining in the half. After Hayward was intercepted by Tim Irwin, Grove City drove again to the Geneva 4, this time Witmer’s 21 yard attempt was blocked by Sean Wallace, the ball went into the end zone for a touchback. Geneva drove to the Grove City 22, but Colavecchia was intercepted at the goal line by Mike Brown with three seconds left in the half.

Grove City had a huge opportunity to take the lead back in the third quarter, with the football at the Geneva 38, but Pell fumbled again, Seth Montgomery recovered. On the next possession, Pell was intercepted again by Bushmire. Geneva tried to add to the lead, but Visengardi missed a 28 yard field goal. The Wolverines once again turned over the football, Sam Ivan fumbled, Bushmire forced the turnover and Geneva took over at the Grove City 39.

After the teams traded punts to start the fourth quarter, it was time for Colavecchia to take over. Geneva went 12 plays and ate up almost seven minutes, Colavecchia scored from 13 yards out to put the GT’s up 16-7. Pell was intercepted on the next drive by Jon Baldwin at the goal line with 3:33 remaining. Colavecchia ran for a 75 yard touchdown to seal the win.

Colavecchia ran 21 times for 178 yards and the two scores, he also was 2-7 with an interception for 28 yards. Geneva is now 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the PAC.

Miller ran for 123 yards on 21 carries. Pell was 12 of 24 for 123 yards with three picks, Grove City falls to 0-6 and 0-4 in the PAC.

Albany 28 – Robert Morris 17
The chances of a Robert Morris repeat as NEC champions took a huge hit in the Capital District as the Great Danes won their fourth straight game. Albany jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead on three touchdown passes from Dan DiLella.

Robert Morris came back in the third quarter, Jeff Sinclair threw an eight yard touchdown pass to Donte Jeter, Greg Langer added a 36 yard field goal. Dillion Romain took care of any Colonials rally thoughts, scoring on a yard run with 12:53 remaining in the fourth. Sinclair scored on a 17 yard run in the final minute.

Sinclair struggled again, going just 12 of 33 for 158 yards, he was sacked four times. The former Highlands star also led RMU in rushing with 78 yards. Robert Morris is now 2-4 overall and 2-1 in the NEC. Shadrae King caught three passes, his string of games with at least one catch is now at 25.

Di Lella was 20 of 30 for 279 yards and the three scores. Albany is now 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the NEC, one half game ahead of Duquesne, the Great Danes beat the Dukes last week.

Duquesne 28 – Central Connecticut 21
Another day, another wild finish for the Dukes as Sean Patterson scored with 42 seconds remaining on a four yard run to give Duquesne the win at Rooney Field. All of the scoring came on the ground in this game with winds of 32 mph at the start of the contest.

Larry McCoy put the Dukes on the board on the opening drive with a ten yard run. Gunnar Jespersen answered with a yard run capping an 18 play drive for the Blue Devils late in the first.

Patterson scored on a 34 yard run early in the second, CCSU tied the game with 34 seconds left in the half on a Xaiver Gaddy eight yard run. Duquesne took advantage of a short field, punter Steven Calitri touched his knee down on a low snap at the Dukes 22, McCoy scored two plays later on a five yard run to put Duquesne back up early in the third quarter. Jespersen added another yard scoring run to tie the game.

The Blue Devils were driving to take the lead, but Jared Williams forced a fumble, Chris Oliver recovered it and set the Dukes up with five minutes to play for the scoring drive. Patterson allowed that drive to continue, on a third and seven at the Duquesne 26, he ran for 42 yards, which set up his scoring run.

Patterson led the Dukes with 111 yards on twelve carries, McCoy ran for 97 yards. Connor Dixon caught two passes, his consecutive games streak with a catch is now at 22. Duquesne is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the NEC.

The Blue Devils fall to 2-5 and 1-3 in the conference. Jespersen threw for 168 yards and ran for 79.

Sacred Heart 60 – Saint Francis 45
Defense was not the story of the day in Fairfield as the teams combined for 105 points, 47 in the final quarter and 1,115 yards of offense. Keshaudas Spence ran for 124 yards and four touchdowns as the Pioneers set school records for points and yards gained since moving into Division I. Greg Moore added 152 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Tim Little threw for 315 yards and a score.

The Red Flash trailed 24-0, John Kelly scored on a two yard run on the final play of the first half. Kyle Harbridge went 80 yards on the first play from scrimmage out of the half, Dan Conley recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Keion Wade scored four plays later to make the score 24-21. That would be the closest Saint Francis got the rest of the way. Moore sealed the game with 45 and 34 yard touchdown runs early in the fourth and JD Roussel took an interception back 52 yards for a score.

Harbridge ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly threw for 288 yards and a score, he was sacked seven times.

Sacred Heart is now 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the NEC, Saint Francis falls to 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the conference.

Youngstown State 35 – Southern Illinois 23
The Penguins rallied in the third quarter for the win in Carbondale. Jamaine Cook ran for 179 yards and a score, Kurt Hess threw for 264 yards and two scores.

YSU trailed 17-7 at the half.  Hess threw a 18 yard touchdown pass to Christian Bryan, then Cook added a two yard run to put the Penguins up 21-17. Jewell Hampton scored a minute later on a 20 yard run to push the Salukis back into the lead, but Hess went to Jelani Berassa for a fifteen yard touchdown and the lead for good. Josh Lee recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone to end the scoring.

Bryan caught five passes for 131 yards, YSU is now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the Missouri Valley. It was the first win for YSU since 2001 at Southern Illinois. The Salukis fall to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Edinboro 30 – Mercyhurst 20
The Fighting Scots took a 20-7 lead into the locker room on three Brian Davis touchdown runs as Edinboro goes to 5-2 overall.

Allen Jones staked Mercyhurst to a 7-0 lead on a 1 yard run on the opening drive. Edinboro put together drives of eleven and fifteen plays, Davis finishing with a pair of two yard runs, he added another two yard scoring run with 2:38 remaining in the half.

Former Perry standout Devin Ghafoor returned a fumble 49 yards in the third quarter to add to the Edinboro lead. Trevor Kennedy caught two touchdowns from Anthony Vendemia, the second brought Mercyhurst to within ten, but the Lakers could not get the onside kick.

Cody Harris returned at quarterback for the Fighting Scots, now 2-2 in the PSAC West. Harris threw for just 99 yards on 10 of 15. He also ran for 64 yards on 22 carries. Davis also carried 22 times for 96 yards, Drew Harrell added 62 yards on the ground.

Vendemia was 17 of 32 for 244 yards, he threw two picks and was sacked three times. Kennedy caught eight balls for 147 yards, the two touchdowns break the single season record for receiving touchdowns, he now has thirteen on the year. Mercyhurst falls to 3-4 overall, any chance of repeating as PSAC champions is over, the Lakers are now 1-3 in the West. 

Gannon 37 – Lock Haven 13
In heavy rain in Erie, the Golden Knights handed the Bald Eagles their 388th straight loss, in a game that saw three returns for touchdowns.

Gannon jumped out to 9-0 first quarter lead on an Alex Papson four yard run and a Mark Szczupakowski field goal. Lock Haven got on the board on a Ben Snyder 11 yard Pick Six for the only score in the second.

The Golden Knights put the game out of reach with a blocked punt return by Bryan Kelly of 35 yards and a Ta’Von Bailey 24 yard Pick Six. Ty Watson connected with Evan Trombly for a 21 yard touchdown to go up 30-7. Lock Haven answered with a Shawn Faulk 24 yard touchdown pass to Devin Sims to cut the lead to 30-13 with six minutes left, but Jansen Jones scored on a 29 yard run less than two minutes later.

Papson had a big day for the Golden Knights, the freshman from North Allegheny ran for 108 yards on 28 carries. Watson started at quarterback, he threw for only 57 yards. Daniel Tapscott returned to the lineup late in the first quarter, he was two of three, he threw the interception that was returned. Gannon is now 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC West. Lock Haven falls to 0-6.

IUP 38 – Clarion 7
This game only had two returns for touchdowns, both by IUP. Andre Henderson returned a blocked field goal 83 yards and Johnny Franco took an interception back 42 yards, spoiling the homecoming festivities at Memorial Stadium. Pat Smith threw a touchdown pass to Javon Rowan, Harvie Tuck and Teddy Blakeman ran for scores for IUP. The Golden Eagles got their lone score with fifty seconds to play, Tarik Leftenant scored on a yard run.

Tuck was held under 100 yards for the second consecutive week, finishing with 76. Smith started at quarterback and went 7 of 8 for 158 yards. IUP is now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC West.

Ben Fiscus ran 25 times for 112 yards for Clarion, now 1-6 overall and 1-3 in divisional play. Fiscus also threw for 72 yards.

Concord 18 – Seton Hill 9
The Griffins remain winless on the season. Ryan Morris threw for 248 yards and a touchdown, but three turnovers killed Seton Hill, now 0-7.

Abu Kamara scored on a four yard run in the final minute of the first quarter to give the Mountain Lions a 6-0 lead. Josh Cavalier kicked a 27 yard field goal for the Griffins to cut the lead to 6-3 at the half.

Cavalier was tackled in the end zone on a punt for a safety in the third quarter. Concord scored twice in the fourth on a Zack Grossi 64 yard pass to Ryan Stewart and a Brad Cox 18 yard field goal. Morris threw a touchdown pass to Tyler McIntosh of 6 yards with 6:16 remaining in regulation. The Griffins got the ball back but Morris was intercepted at the Concord 40 to end the game.

Kamara ran for 147 yards for Concord, now 4-3 but 4-1 in the WVIAC. Grossi threw for 267 yards.

Thomas More 20 – Saint Vincent 17
The sixth ranked Saints are now all alone on top of the PAC standings at 5-0 with the win in Latrobe. Adam Rauch put Thomas More up for good with a 68 yard touchdown run in the third quarter to move the Saints to 6-0.

Domonique Hayden gave Thomas More a 7-0 lead midway thru the first quarter on a four yard run. Morgan Porter kicked a 30 yard field goal and Aaron Smetanka scored on a yard run as the Bearcats grabbed a 10-7 advantage with 3:10 remaining in the half.

The score stayed the same until Rauch went the distance with 5:33 left in the third. Rauch caught a touchdown pass from Robert Kues in the opening minute of the fourth. Mike Kale scored for Saint Vincent on a three yard run midway thru the fourth, the Bearcats were able to drive to the Saints 32 with under a minute to play, but could not find the end zone.

Saint Vincent outgained Thomas More 371-268 and had twenty first downs compared to ten. Rauch led the Saints with 79 yards on five carries. Smetanka was 23 of 36 for 267 yards for Saint Vincent, he was picked twice. The Bearcats are now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the PAC.

Westminster 22 – Waynesburg 20
The Titans scored 22 unanswered points to get the victory before a homecoming crowd at Harold Burry Stadium. Waynesburg jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two Josh Graham to Mike Ferraro touchdown passes.

Shawn Lehocky got Westminster on the board with a 43 yard touchdown pass to Gino Pasquinelli in the second quarter. Zac Henry kicked a 20 yard field goal and Lehocky scored on a yard run to give the Titans a 15-14 advantage. Tyler Banks scored on a yard run to put Westminster up eight with 11:37 remaining in regulation.

Christian Jackson cut into the Titan lead in a big way, taking a punt 95 yards to the house. The two-pointer failed with 3:34 to play. Westminster was able to kill all but 29 seconds remaining, giving the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at the Waynesburg 21, but Graham was picked off by Jordan Rooney to end any chance of a comeback. Lehocky ran 13 times for 59 yards, he threw for 123 yards on 10 of 17. Westminster is now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the PAC, a game and a half out of first place.

Waynesburg was led by Graham, who was 20 of 41 for 205 yards, he was picked off once. The Yellow Jackets are also 4-2 overall, they are 4-1 in the PAC, one game out of first place.

Bethany 20 – Thiel 0
The Bison scored all twenty points in the second quarter on the way to the win. Matt Grimard threw two touchdown passes and Nico Irizarry scored on a yard run for Bethany. Grimard was 21 of 29 for 171 yards, he was sacked five times, the Bison are now 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the PAC.

Devon Drish carried thirty times for 131 yards for the Tomcats, now 0-6 and 0-4.

Allegheny 31 – Denison 28
Jordan Fowler threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, the final coming with eleven seconds to play to give the Gators the win at home after rallying from a 14-0 deficit and blowing a ten point lead. 

It was a game of scoring runs, Max Paulus staked Denison to the early lead with a 30 yard pass to Lucas Graham and a yard run. After a Ryan Zipf field goal, Fowler hit Matt Griffith for a 26 yard touchdown with 13 seconds left in the half. 

Brian Tamburlin scored on a 21 yard run and Fowler and Griffith hooked up again for a two yard score and a 24-14 lead. Paulus led his team back, with touchdown passes to Braden Layer and John Wilson to put Denison up 28-24. Fowler was able to drive the Gators to the two yard line, but the brakes locked on the Gators offense until the final td pass on fourth and goal to Sean Griffin.

Allegheny is now 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the NCAC. Griffith had ten catches for 113 yards. Griffin had six catches.

Paulus led Dennison with 211 yards passing. Sam Fioroni ran for 129 yards and had seven catches for 66 yards but was held off the scoreboard. Dennison is 3-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

Tags: Geneva, Slippery Rock