District College Football Recap for Saturday, October 6th

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, October 7, 2012 | 1:01 AM

The weather turned cold on the opening weekend of October and wind conditions affected several games thruout the area. Several teams pulled out big wins as Cal and Mercyhurst stay on top of the PSAC West.

Unfortunately the focus was on Crestview, Kentucky as the W & J Presidents took the field after one of their team was killed on Thursday.

Here are recaps of all the games, with three heard here on the Network:

IUP 33 – Slippery Rock 16
On Homecoming Day at George P. Miller Stadium, the Crimson Hawks pounded out 388 yards rushing and led 27-9 at the half to cruise to the win and remain in the chase for a division title. IUP ground out 29 first downs and held the football for over 41 minutes in the win.

IUP took a 6-0 first quarter lead on a pair of Brett Ullman field goals. Kurt Brackman hit a 28 yard field goal of his own to cut the lead to 3 after one quarter. Slippery Rock actually held the lead early in the second, Pat Smith's punt attempt went bad, he was tackled for a 15 yard loss, giving the Rock the ball at the IUP 39. Brett Crenshaw scored from 3 out on the 6th play of the drive, Brackman missed his 2nd extra point of the season, he had a consecutive streak of 44 earlier in the season and it was a sign of things to come for the Rock.

IUP passed only twice on the next series, Harvie Tuck and De'Antwan Williams carried the load, Williams scored on a 12 yard touchdown to put the Crimson Hawks up 13-9. After the kickoff, Jared Buck was intercepted by Marvase Byrd, Tuck scored from a yard out and the Rock continued to roll downhill.

Nigel Barksdale, last week's hero, came in at quarterback, but he was sacked. James McCombie's punt into a heavy wind went only 14 yards and IUP got the ball at the Rock 34. Williams scored three plays later from 31 yards and the Crimson Hawks fans were celebrating.

Jaimire Dutrielle capped a 12 play drive to start the third quarter with a 2 yard run, the Rock trailed 27-16. Ullman kicked his 3rd field goal to put IUP up 14 after three. Barksdale was picked off as Johnny Franco gained his second interception of the day, the former Tyrone quarterback took the ball to the Rock 39, setting up Ullman for a 19 yard field goal. Slippery Rock got inside the red zone in the final 3 minutes, but turned the ball over on downs at the IUP 7.

For the #22 ranked Crimson Hawks, now 5-1 overall and 2-1 in West Division play, Tuck carried 36 times for 233 yards, Williams ran 16 times for 158 yards, an average of 9.9 yards per carry.

The defense held the Rock to just 238 yards, strangely, the Rock's leading rusher Akeem Satterfield carried the ball just 7 times for 38 yards. Slippery Rock is now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in divisional play, making it highly unlikely that the Rock will make a 2nd straight trip to the PSAC title game.

Bethany 42 – Geneva 36 in overtime
Another week, another overtime thriller for the Golden Tornadoes, but unlike last week at home, Geneva could not pull out the win in West Virginia. Zach Hayward hit Rocco Colavecchia for a 41 yard touchdown on the final play of regulation to force overtime. Colavecchia was intercepted on the GT's first possession, Matt Grimard hit Ed Holmes for a 24 yard touchdown and the Bison' first win of the season.

The teams combined for 152 plays and 897 yards of offense. Bethany had a chance to take an early lead, Hayward was intercepted by Eddie Chance on the opening play from scrimmage, but the GT's dodged a bullet as the defense held on 4th down to get the ball back. Bethany scored on the second possession, Grimard to Holmes for 34 yards and an early 7-0 lead. After Brandon Martin blocked a field goal, Geneva tied the game on a Colavecchia 3 yard touchdown run. Geneva used special teams again to take the lead, covering a bad punt snap, Hayward scored from a yard out to go up 14-7.

Early in the second, it would be Geneva's turn for a bad special teams play, a bad punt snap was covered in the end zone for a safety, after the free kick, Grimard hit Chris Collins for a 29 yard touchdown and a 16-14 advantage. It took Geneva 2 plays to get the lead back, Colavecchia broke a 65 yard run for a touchdown. Bethany drove down to the 1 yard line, but turned the ball over on downs, rather than take the field goal on the final play of the half.

The Bison took the lead back midway thru the 3rd quarter, Grimard to Eric Blinn for 60 yards and the touchdown, the extra point was no good, Bethany led 22-21.

The scored stayed the same until early in the 4th, Phil Acrie scored on a 36 yard run, the Bison led 29-21. Geneva answered, Lemuel Fuller on a 3 yard run for his 1st touchdown of the season, Hayward ran for the deuce to tie the game at 29 with 7:14 left. After an exchange of punts, Geneva took over with 1:36 left in regulation, but Colavecchia fumbled on the first play, Dion Williams recovered setting up Bethany at the Geneva 34. Grimard scored on a 5 yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left to give the Bison the lead.

Geneva got the football back at it's own 35 with 12 seconds and a timeout left. Hayward hit Jon Bushmire on the sideline for a 9 yard gain, he hit Corey O'Patchen for a 15 yard gain to stop the clock following the GT timeout with 4 seconds to set up the final play and the overtime.

Grimard was 23-36 for 343 yards, Blinn caught 7 passes for 121 yards, Collins had 7 catches for 81 yards. Acrie ran 28 times for 146 yards. Bethany is now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the PAC.

Colavecchia ran 19 times for 136 yards, he caught 6 passes for 79 yards. Hayward threw for 132, he ran for 51 yards. Geneva is also 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the PAC.

Thomas More 54 – W & J 18
Just 3 days after one of their teammates was killed in a robbery attempt, the Presidents took the field in Crestview, Kentucky on Saturday. Tim McNerney died early Thursday morning on the W & J campus.

The Presidents honored their fallen teammate by carrying a drawing of McNerney out for the coin toss, senior captain DeAndre Simmons wore his number 5 jersey and the Presidents lined up with just 10 players on the field for their first play from scrimmage, with no one in the backfield.

Zach DeCicco, who was able to escape the robbery attempt and returned to find McNerney's body was able to play today and in a big way. DeCicco made 5 tackles, including a sack, he picked off a pass, forced a fumble and recovered another loose ball.

W & J turned the ball over 7 times and trailed 27-0 at the half. Head coach Mike Siranni said after the game that it was a victory for his team to take the field today, that in the end it was just a football game.

Adam Rauch ran 9 times for 181 yards for Thomas More, including td runs of 1, 95 and 81 yards. Landon Savoy added 92 yards on 11 carries. Jensen Gebhardt threw for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Saints are now 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the PAC.

W & J was led by QB Matt Bliss, who threw for 225 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Creel had 6 catches for 111 yards. Dion Wiegand caught the td pass, Jeff Davis ran for a late score for the Presidents, now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the PAC.

Saint Francis 10 – Robert Morris 3
All of the scoring came in the first half in Loretto as the Red Flash ended a 6 game losing streak to the Colonials.

John Kelly connected with Anthony Abeid for a 50 yard touchdown in the second quarter for the game's only touchdown. Greg Langer kicked a 44 yard field goal for the Colonials, Josh Thiel kicked a 33 yarder on the final play of the half.

Robert Morris was driving in the 3rd quarter but Evan Taylor lost the football at the Red Flash 22 on a Jake DeMedal hit. Saint Francis thought they had the game put away on the opening drive of the 4th, when Kelly hit Abeid for 60 yards to the 1 yard line, but Ben Ridgeley forced a fumble, recovered by RMU in the end zone for a touchback.

The Colonials had a chance at the end of the game, after a bad punt snap, taking over at the SFU 39. They marched the ball to the 12, but three straight Jeff Sinclair incompletions turned the ball over on down.

Kelly ended 9 of 19 for 190 yards, he ran for 51 yards. Keion Wade carried 21 times for 95 yards. Saint Francis is now 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the NEC.,

Sinclair struggled for the Colonials, throwing for just 113 yards on 10-28. Taylor ran for 133 yards on 25 carries. RMU is 1-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Edinboro 44 – Gannon 24
Homecoming at Sox Harrison Stadium saw the Fighting Scots defeat the Golden Knights for the 7th consecutive time in the Erie County battle. Cody Harris threw for 312 yards and 2 touchdowns, he ran for 2 more in the win, it's the 2nd straight game Harris has thrown for over 300 yards.

Edinboro led 17-3 at the half, Harris hit Seth Humbree for a 12 yard touchdown and ran for a 6 yard score. The lead grew to 21 early in the 3rd as Harris ran for a 6 yard touchdown. Jansen Jones put Gannon into the end zone with a 6 yard touchdown of his own, the Fighting Scots led 24-10 entering the 4th.

Harris hit Ben Eisel with a 10 yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth, Devin Ghafoor picked up a blocked punt and took it 18 yards for a score, the former Perry star has been playing offense and defense for Edinboro.

Liam Nadler scored on a 3 yard run, D'Andrea Vaughn scored for Edinboro from 2 out, Jones added his 2nd touchdown on a 2 yard plunge to end the scoring.

Harris was 28-34, Marcus Johnson made 8 catches for 98 yards. Edinboro is now 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC West.

Nadler threw for 263 yards on 24-47 with 3 picks. Abraham Ocasio caught 7 passes for 95 yards. Gannon is now 1-5 overall and winless in divisional play. 

California 41 – Clarion 22
California scored on 5 first half drives to take command of the game as the #16 Vulcans remain tied for the top spot in the PSAC West with Mercyhurst at 3-0. Peter Lalich threw for his 5th straight 300 yard game, with 368 yards and 3 touchdowns. With the victory, Cal U has now won 8 straight from the Golden Eagles.

Cal led 28-0 early in the 2nd quarter. Lamont Smith opened the scoring with a 5 yard run, Lalich connected with Mike Williams for a 37 yard score and a 14 point lead after one. Lalich wasn't done in the second, he hit Blake Williamson for a 24 yard td and followed up with a 67 yard strike to Trey Johnson.

Ben Fiscus put Clarion on the board with a 2 yard run, capping a 75 yard drive, but Jeff Knox scored with 96 seconds in the half, also from 2 yards, Cal led 35-7 at the break.

Fiscus hit Nick Perry for a 12 yard touchdown late in the 3rd, Smith notched his second touchdown on a 12 yard run, Fiscus connected with Anthony Becoate from a yard out in the final 2 minutes.

Lalich was 21-29 on the day, Williams had 9 catches for 149, Johnson 7-147. Smith carried 15 times for 76 yards and the 2 scores. Cal is now 5-1 overall.

Fiscus set Clarion records for both completions and attempts, going 36-64 for 410 yards. Jon Reid had 10 catches for 154 yards, Aaron Barlow made 8 catches for 104 yards. Clarion falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in divisional play.

Mercyhurst 19 – Lock Haven 10
The Lakers dodged a major bullet in winning their 5th straight game in Erie and handing Lock Haven their 48th consecutive loss. Anthony Vendemia tossed a 3 yard pass to Jeff Groene with 1:47 to play to seal the win for Mercyhurst, now 5-1 overall and tied with Cal at 3-0 for the top spot in the PSAC West.

Noah Heimer gave Lock Haven the lead in the first with a 36 yard field goal. That held up into the 2nd quarter when Steven Wakefield tied the score with a 32 yarder. Mercyhurst took the lead on an 11 play drive, ending with a Allen Jones II 4 yard run with 36 seconds left in the half.

The Lakers took 13 plays to start the 3rd quarter, Wakefield hit from 38 out to go up 13-3. Neither team could score in the remainder of the quarter and Mercyhurst took the 10 point lead into the 4th. Jarrett Kratzer hit Ian Smith for a 5 yard touchdown with 10 minutes left to cut the lead to 3 and rallied the hopes of ending the streak.

But Lock Haven did not get that opportunity, the Lakers took 15 plays and ate up 8 minutes for the Groene score. Kratzer got the Bald Eagles to the Laker 34 but time ran out and the streak continues.

Jones II was the workhorse this week, carrying 24 times for 111 yards. The Lakers put their winning streak on the line next week as they will travel just a few blocks to meet Gannon in an all Erie match up.

Waynesburg 21 – Grove City 14
Homecoming at John F. Wiley Stadium saw the Yellow Jackets go to 6-0 overall and take sole possession of the top spot in the PAC with the win. The Waynesburg defense shut down the Grove City running attack, holding the Wolverines to 84 yards rushing.

After a scoreless first quarter, Grove City took advantage of a turnover. Carter Hill made his first start at quarterback, he took over last week for Tyler Fatigante, who played wide receiver this week after being injured last week. Hill was picked by Joe Diani and the interception returned 36 yards for a touchdown and a Wolverine lead. Waynesburg answered with Hill going to tight end Adam Moses for a 2 yard touchdown and a tie game at the half.

Waynesburg pulled away in the third, Hill to Doogie Sanner for an 11 yard td, they went to the trickery, Domenic Moore tossed a halfback pass to Moses for a 7 yard touchdown. Grove City scored with 3:33 remaining in regulation as Brian Pell hit Sam Ivan for a 19 yard score. But Waynesburg was able to run out the clock, helped by a third down completion from Hill to Fatigante.

Waynesburg is now 4-0 and on top of the PAC after the W & J loss at Thomas More. Shane Kaclik, the PAC's leading rusher was held to just 64 yards, the Wolverines are now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Thiel 14 – Saint Vincent 7
All the scoring came in the first half as the Tomcats picked up their 2nd win of the season, the Bearcats remain winless.

Saint Vincent scored on the opening drive as Matt Deakins hit Ryan Crawford for a 37 yard touchdown. Ethan Ludwig picked off a pass and returned it 31 yards for a Tomcat touchdown in the second, Andrew Smith found Zane Garza for a 3 yard touchdown with 3 seconds left in the half.

Thiel is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the PAC, Saint Vincent falls to 0-5 and 0-3.

Charleston 30 – Seton Hill 13
Charleston led 12-0 in the second and cruised to the home win in WVIAC action. Jordan Roberts ran for a 61 yard touchdown, sandwiched by a field goal and safety for the early margin. Andrew Jackson, taking over at QB for Ryan Morris for the Griffins threw to Lance Williams for a 6 yard touchdown. Roberts scored his 2nd touchdown from 1 yard out to complete an 86 yard drive and a 19-6 UC lead at the half.

Trae Cook scored early in the third , a 2 yard run made it 19-13, but Charleston drove 98 yards and took off the remaining time in the period, Roberts scored on the first play of the fourth for his 3rd touchdown of the game.

Roberts ran for 205 yards and the 3 scores. UC is now 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference, trailing Shepherd by one game.

Jackson threw for 240 yards, completing 26 passes and a td, Niko Hall-Brown had 7 catches for 100 yards. Seton Hill falls to 0-6 and 0-4 in the conference.

University of Chicago 10 – Allegheny 0
The Gators were shut out for the first time since a 3-0 overtime loss to Westminster in 2003. Allegheny managed only 182 yards of offense.

Vincent Cortina hit Sam Coleman for a 29 yard touchdown in the first quarter, that score remained until the fourth quarter when Jeff Sauer kicked a 36 yard field goal. Allegheny drove in the second quarter but stalled out when Tyler Smith was held to a 1 yard game on a 4th and 2 at the UC 24. Allegheny also turned the ball over on downs at the 15 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Both teams are 3-2 on the season.

Carnegie Mellon 41 – Denison 21
The Tartans get back on the winning track with the win at Gesling Stadium, moving to 5-1 on the season.

CMU jumped out to a 13-0 lead on a Patrick Blanks 40 yard run and a Michael Trentalange 6 yard run. Max Paulus got Denison on the board with a 53 yard pass to Braden Layer. CMU answered 70 seconds later with a Rob Kalkstein 10 yard pass to Bryce Pardoe. Denison scored on a Sam Fioroni 11 yard run to cut the score to 20-14. Blanks scored hit second touchdown on a 3 yard run with 1:44 left in the half.

Paulus hit Fioroni for a 8 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third. Blanks added his third touchdown with a 40 yard run, Kyle Irish threw a td pass to Fred Bolio for 13 yards to close the scoring in the fourth.

Blanks carried 14 times for 155 yards, Kalkstein was 10-14 for 186 yards, Tim Kitka had 2 catches for 96 yards.

Fioroni ran 21 times for 154 yards, Paulus was 15-28 for 209 yards, he was picked twice. Denison is now 2-3.  
 

Tags: Geneva, Slippery Rock, Washington