District College Football Recap for Saturday, October 23rd

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, October 24, 2010 | 12:00 AM

A great weekend of college football around the area. This week saw a long division winning streak come to an end as well as the third ranked team in Divsion II go down to defeat. Another national power was taken to overtime in Division III and history was made in New Wilmington with the first ever game under the lights.

Here are recaps from all this weekend's action:

Slippery Rock 56 – Lock Haven 14

The Rock racked up 401 yards of offense for the Homecoming win at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium on Saturday. Akeem Satterfield ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling ran for 115 yards and two scores as SRU goes to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the PSAC-West. The Rock also picked up it's 22nd consecutive win against the Bald Eagles.

Lock Haven led early 7-0 on Jared Kratzer's one yard run, Slippery Rock went three and out in their first possession but Zach Sheridan recovered a fumble two plays later, setting up Satterfield's first touchdown on a three yard run. Stephens-Howling scored from nine yards out in the final minute of the first and the Rock never looked back from that point.

Ryan Sabo threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Josh Gardner to make it 21-7, that was one of ten passes thrown by the Rock on the afternoon. A one yard run by Satterfield made it 28-7 and Robert Doiley electrified the crowd with a 76 yard punt return with 52 seconds remaining in the half to make it 28-7 at the break.

The Rock scoring attack continued in the third, Satterfield scored on a 31 yard run, making it 35-7. Kratzer hit Jesse Hoover for a 27 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21, but SRU tacked on fourth quarter touchdowns by Chris Darby on a yard plunge and Stephens-Howling on a 34 yard scamper to close the scoring.

Slippery Rock is now a game back of first place in the PSAC-West, the Rock heads up I-79 to Mercyhurst next week for a noon battle with the Lakers. Lock Haven falls to 0-8 on the season, the Bald Eagles have dropped 29 consecutive games.

Washington & Jefferson 22 – Geneva 16

Tim McNerney rushed for over one hundred yards for the third consecutive game as the Presidents keep their playoff hopes alive with the win at Reeves Field on Saturday night, handing Geneva their fourth home loss on the season.

The Golden Tornadoes got on the board first, taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field on an eleven play 77 yard drive with David Girardi hitting Corey O'Patchen for an eight yard touchdown. W & J answered four minutes later on a McNerney four yard run.

Geneva cashed in another long drive, going 66 yards on thirteen plays with a Nick DiPietro forty yard field goal with 13:02 remaining in the half. Ben Hoffer returned the ensuing kickoff back forty four yards, setting the Presidents up with a short field. McNerney scored from 19 out to give the Presidents a 14-10 lead. DiPietro kicked a 27 yard field goal to cut the W & J lead to one at halftime.

Geneva had a golden opportunity to start the second half. W & J punter Joe Kelly was brought down for a thirty yard loss, setting the GT's at the Presidents 12 yard line. But Geneva could not convert a first down, Girardi threw an incomplete pass on fourth and two from the four to turn the ball over on downs. The Geneva defense forced another turnover late in the third, Fred Maxwell picked off a Gino Rometo pass, giving Geneva the ball at the W & J 27. The Golden Tornadoes settled for three points, DiPietro with a 36 yarder with two minutes left, giving Geneva a 16-14 lead.

W & J took the lead on their first drive of the fourth, Rometo hitting Hoffer for a 16 yard touchdown, the pair connected on the two pointer to put the Presidents up eight. The Presidents defense stopped the GT's again on a fourth and two, this time from the W & J 37.

Geneva got the ball at their own 34 with 2:58 remaining and drove to the W & J 14, but Girardi was intercepted by Craig Sedunov with six second left in the end zone to end the game.

McNerney ran for 107 yards on 24 carries to lead the Presidents, now 5-2 overall. Gerald Muschette had another big day for Geneva, rushing for 212 yards on 39 carries, but was held out of the end zone, he also had six catches out of the backfield. Geneva falls to 3-5 overall.

Mercyhurst 31 – California 21
In the game of the day in the PSAC-West, the Lakers ended the Vulcans 24 game winning streak in divisional play and are in the driver's seat for a trip to the PSAC state championship game on November 13th. Mercyhurst and Cal are now tied at 4-1 in the West Division, with Slippery Rock and Gannon sitting a game back at 4-2. The Lakers will play both of their remaining divisional games at home, hosting Slippery Rock next week and Clarion in two weeks. The third ranked Vulcans, who moved up one spot this week when North Alabama was knocked off by Valdosta State, committed four turnovers. California will likely fall out of the top ten and would have to win both divisional games and hope for the Lakers to lose to get back in the PSAC title game picture. Cal would also have to win it's crossover game in the final week of the season to assure a playoff berth. Cal jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead on a Josh Portis touchdown pass to Terrance Moore of 34 yards. Mercyhurst tied the game in the second on a Travis Rearick 80 yard strike to Terrance Coon, who made a move at the midfield stripe and turned on the jets to the end zone. On the ensuing drive, Portis found Moore again, but he was stripped of the ball, giving Mercyhurst possession. Mercyhurst went for the jackpot and cashed in as Rearick hit Trevor Kennedy for the touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. Cal tied the game in the final minute of the half, Portis to R. J. Thomas from twelve out to even the score at the half. The Lakers scored on the opening drive of the second half, Rearick to Jeff Groene from four yards to take the lead. Steven Wakefield added a 19 yard field goal to put Mercyhurst up ten after three. Rearick threw his fourth touchdown of the day in the first minute of the final quarter, hitting Kennedy for the second time for six, this one a twenty yarder. Portis cashed in a bomb to Moore of 56 yards to end the scoring. Rearick was 21 of 37 for 299 yards. Kennedy had six catches for 114 yards, Coon four grabs for 100 yards. Mercyhurst is now 6-2 overall. Trey Johnson ran for 122 yards on 19 carries for Cal. Lamont Smith, who entered the game fourth in Division II in rushing, did not play. Moore ended with six catches for 152 yards and the three touchdowns. Cal falls to 7-1 with the loss.

Edinboro 31 – Clarion 14
The Fighting Scots ended a three-game losing streak and also stopped the Golden Eagles two game win streak. Drew Herrell ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, Cody Harris was 19 of 23 for 232 yards and a touchdown pass to Gary Nolen. Mike Hanhauser recovered a blocked punt for another Edinboro touchdown. Edinboro is now 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the West Division. For Clarion, both touchdowns came in the final minute of each half. Ben Fiscus hit Craig Bunney with a 41 yard touchdown on the final play of the first half. Fiscus connected with Matt Ward for a 13 yarder with fifteen seconds remaining in the game. Fiscus struggled in his third collegiate start, going 14 of 38 for 175 yards, he was intercepted twice and was the leading rusher for Clarion with 70 yards on 19 carries. The Golden Eagles are now 2-6 overall and 2-3 in divisional play.

Gannon 45 – IUP 17
IUP jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, paced by a Mychal Skinner touchdown catch, but it was all Gannon from that point as the Golden Knights rolled up 35 unanswered to keep their title game hopes alive. Tyler Batts and Levar Goff each scored two touchdowns for Gannon, now 5-3 overall and 4-2 in divisional play. IUP quarterback Bo Napoleon was intercepted four times, IUP had five turnovers in the game, they fall to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the West Division.

Wittenberg 27 – Carnegie Mellon 21 in Overtime
The Tartans battled the seventh ranked Tigers thru sixty minutes before falling in a heartbreaker at Gesling Stadium. Carnegie Mellon posted 307 rushing yards against the second ranked defense in the nation in Division III. CMU scored on their opening possession, Jake Nardone going in from six yards out, ending a 71 yard six play drive. Ben Zoeller tied the game at seven with a one yard run, Wittenberg capped an 83 yard drive. Zoeller gave the Tigers the lead in the second quarter on a twelve yard touchdown pass to Josh McKee. CMU fought back, tying the game on a Justin Pratt one yard run with 2:35 left in the first half. Wittenberg drove to the CMU one, but could not get in on three straight plays as the half ended. CMU would be denied in the third quarter, taking the ball to the three yard line, but turned it over on downs. On the next Tartan possession, Nardone scored his second of the game on a seven yard run with 36 seconds left. Zoeller answered again, this time to Anthony Kralich from 29 out to again tie the game. CMU had a chance to win in regulation, but kicker Elliot Carnevale missed a 32 yard attempt on the final play, sending the game to overtime.
Carnevale missed a 37 yard attempt in overtime, that allowed Zoeller to hit McKee for a three yard touchdown to end the game. Pratt ran for 133 yards on 33 carries, he becomes the first back to run for over one hundred yards vs. Wittenberg this season. CMU falls to 4-3. For the Tigers, Zoeller was 16 of 24 for 276 yards, McKee caught six passes for 113 yards, he is the nation's leading receiver in D-III. The Tigers are now 8-0.

Duquesne 21 – Wagner 20
The Dukes pulled one out in the final two minutes as Dave Williams caught a 16 yard touchdown with 1:41 remaining, as Duquesne capped a 98 yard drive to win it. Williams had nine catches for 128 yards, Sean Patterson threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Larry McCoy posted his second consecutive 100 yard game, going for 131 yards on 29 carries. Duquesne is now 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the NEC.
Quarterback Nick Doscher ran for a score and threw for a second for the Seahawks, now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Monmouth 19 – Saint Francis 7
Bobby Giles ran for 116 yards on 23 carries, Kyle Fraizer went 18 of 27 for 178 yards and a touchdown as the Hawks defeated the Red Flash in New Jersey. Monmouth is 3-4 overall, 3-1 in the NEC, trailing only Robert Morris at 5-0 and Central Connecticut State at 3-1. John Kelly hit Omar Winston with a 10 yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play in the game. The Red Flash are now 1-6 overall and 1-4 in the NEC.

South Dakota State 30 – Youngstown State 20
Thomas O'Brien threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns as the Jackrabbits go to 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the win. South Dakota State is now 3-4 overall. YSU is now 3-5 overall and in the basement of the MVC at 1-4, having dropped four consecutive games, Kurt Hess threw two touchdowns passes for the Penguins in the loss.

Concord 28 – Seton Hill 17
Zach Grossi threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns as Concord wins at Offut Field. Thomas Mayo had six catches for 141 yards as the Mountain Lions go to 6-2 overall and 4-2 in the WVIAC. D.J Lenehan threw for 243 yards for the Griffins, who fall to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference.

Thomas More 48 – Bethany 14
The ninth ranked Saints used defense for the road win as senior defensive back Marcus Lancaster returned two interceptions for touchdowns of twelve and sixty yards. Quarterback Robert Kues threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, he ran for another sixty yards and a score. Domonique Hayden added 118 yards and a touchdown for the Saints, who can clinch their third straight PAC title with a win over Westminster next week at Bank of Kentucky Field or a Waynesburg loss at Saint Vincent. For the Bison, Eric Walker and Matt Grimard each scored on three yard runs. Grimard was 21 of 38 throwing for 227 yards, in addition to the two picks, he was sacked five times. Bethany is now 4-4 overall, and falls to 3-2 in the PAC.

Saint Vincent 42 – Grove City 17
Aaron Smetanka was 22 of 30 for 336 yards and four touchdowns as Saint Vincent goes to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the PAC. Tom Quirin caught eight passes for 102 yards. Sheldon Loughner had six catches for 130 yards, three of those catches for touchdowns. Mike Kale ran for 71 yards and a score for the Bearcats. Terry Curnan added a Pick Six from 24 yards out for Saint Vincent. For Grove City, now 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the PAC, Blaine Miller scored on a yard run and Mike McDonald tossed a 16 yard touchdown pass to A.J. Tapper with fifteen seconds remaining.

Westminster 35 – Thiel 0
In the first night game in Westminster College history, the Titans ended a five game losing streak, posting their first shutout since 2003. Shawn Lehocky threw for 160 yards and two touchdowns for the Titans, now 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the PAC. Tyler Banks scored two touchdowns on runs of two and eleven yards. Shane Peterson and Jordan Rooney each had an interception for Westminster, Rooney blocked a Berend Grube field goal attempt, his third block of the season. The Tomcats were held to 42 yards on the ground. Jared Soell and Andrew Smith combined to throw for 149 yards. Thiel is now 0-7 on the season and has lost nine consecutive games.

Waynesburg 41 – Frostburg State 7
The Yellow Jackets scored 35 unanswered to defeat the Bobcats at John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday. Brad Dawson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Troy Garove returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and Bryan Gary, one week after blocked a Westminster extra point try that would have sent the game to overtime, returned an interception 50 yards to the house. Waynesburg is now 5-2 overall, the Yellow Jackets are 3-1 in the PAC, they still have a chance at the conference title, as they travel to Saint Vincent next week, then host both Thomas More and W & J to close out the season. Frostburg State falls to 1-6. Josh Volpe threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Derek Sheely for the Bobcats only score.

Allegheny 41 – Ohio Wesleyan 21
The Gators scored 24 consecutive points in the second quarter in an offensive battle in Meadville. T. J. Salopek connected with Terry Hartford for three touchdowns, Brian Tamburlin and Sean Acosta added touchdown runs. Salopek was 31 of 35 for 342 yards with two interceptions. Tamburlin ran for 72 yards as the Gators go to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. For the Battling Bishops, quarterback Mason Espinoza was 38 of 59 for 406 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jermar Rayford caught sixteen passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Ohio Wesleyan is now 0-7 on the season and has dropped eight consecutive games.

Tags: Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, Thiel, Washington