District College Football Recap for Saturday, September 15th

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, September 16, 2012 | 10:39 AM

Divisional play began in the PSAC and conference play started in the PAC to highlight the matchups in Week 3.

Cal maintained their perfect record and high national ranking and Thiel ended a long losing streak.

Here are recaps of all the games:

Slippery Rock 38 – Gannon 18
The Rock trailed early at home against the Golden Knights to open PSAC West Division play, but took control in the first quarter and claimed the victory over the team that cost them the outright division title one year ago.

SRU scored five different ways in the game, a run and a pass play. The Rock also scored on a fake field goal, a kickoff return and a Pick 6.

QB Jared Buck returned to the lineup after missing most of last week's loss, he threw for 187 yards and led the team in rushing.

It didn't start well for the Rock at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, Buck was picked off by Wil Giles on the second play of the game. That led to a Matt Szczupakowski 32 yard field goal just 2:07 into the game. Szczupakowski added a 35 yarder on the next possession to put Gannon up 6-0.

That lead lasted 13 seconds as Jaimire Dutireuille returned the kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and the Rock led 7-6. Four plays later, Anthony Saunders stepped in front of a Liam Nadler pass and took it to the end zone, the Pick 6 put the Rock up 14-6.

Gannon was driving late in the quarter, after intercepting a second Buck pass. The drive stalled after a personal foul penalty on the Golden Knights pushed the football back to the Rock 27, Gannon turned the ball over on downs. Slippery Rock took advantage of the missed opportunity, Kurt Brackman kicked a 22 yard field goal to make it 17-6 Rock.

The Golden Knights turned it over again, as Nadler was picked off on a tipped ball at the Rock 27 by Isaiah Coleman. SRU went three and out and Gannon got the ball back with 5:34 left in the half. Nadler navigated the field this time, to the Rock 10, Szczupakowski kicked a 28 yard field goal for a 17-9 score at the half.

The Rock scored on their first possession of the third quarter, Buck took advantage of a short field to drive to the Gannon 9, with four completions on the drive. On fourth down it was time for a little trickery as the Rock used a fake field goal. Michael Bongivengo, a former quarterback at New Castle, serves as the holder for Brackman, he tossed a touchdown pass to Josh Gardner, the extra point made it 24-9 Rock. Szczupakowski kicked his fourth field goal of the day, this time from 31 yards to cut it back to a two possession game at 24-12.

As was the story of the day, that didn't last long, taking over at the Rock 40, Buck hit Ken Amos for 18 yards, then ran for 35 yards to the Gannon 7, Buck hit John Schademan for a 4 yard touchdown and a 19 point lead. Buck added a 1 yard run early in the fourth to close out the Rock scoring. Nadler led a touchdown drive with 6:56 left, hitting Abraham Ocasio for a 1 yard pass, but the Golden Knights got no closer than the Rock 39 for the remainder of the game, Coleman picked up his second interception of the day with 1:51 left.

Buck ended 21 of 30 with the two interceptions. He ran 10 times for 56 yards, Akeem Satterfield was held to just 25 yards rushing. The Rock is now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in divisional play.

Nadler was 35 of 63 for 325 yards, he was picked off four times and sacked 3 more. Justin Caliste had 12 catches for 100 yards, Ocasio made 9 grabs for 64 yards. Gannon is now 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the division.

Thiel 21 – Geneva 14 in overtime
The Victory Bell rang on the Thiel campus for the first time in 25 games on Saturday, the Tomcats ended a 24 game losing streak with the overtime win over the Golden Tornadoes, who fall to 0-3.

Kicker Cody McClelland took a botched field goal attempt in overtime and tossed a 5 yard touchdown pass to Berend Grube on the first possession of overtime to put the Tomcats up and the Thiel defense did not allow a score to claim their first win since October 21, 2009.

Neither team scored in the first quarter, McClelland missed a 29 yard field goal on the Tomcats first possession. Thiel took advantage of a poor decision by return man Jake Delmonico to get it's first score. Delmonico took a punt at the Geneva 10, retreated near his own goal line and fumbled, the loose ball was recovered by Jason Miller and set the Tomcats up at the 1. Josh Potter scored 3 plays later on a 2 yard run to put Thiel up 7-0.

Geneva was able to get into Thiel territory, but turned the ball over on downs when Rocco Colavecchia was stopped on a 4th and 3 at the Thiel 35. Tomcat QB Andrew Smith led his team down the field, hitting 3 straight passes then running for a 25 yard touchdown with 1:39 remaining in the half to put the Tomcats up 14-0 at the break.

The Golden Tornadoes took just three plays to score off the second half kickoff. Colavecchia ran for 35 yards, then hit Corey O'Patchen for a 38 yard touchdown to get on the board. Geneva tied the game two possessions later, Zach Hayward completed 6 passes on the drive, he found Colavecchia for a 10 yard touchdown and a tie game. The defense was able to snuff out a Thiel drive, Smith was sacked at his own 41, in the scramble to recover the ball, it bounced to the Geneva 19 where Ryan Fronius pounced on it, the linebacker from Neshannock added the fumble recovery to an earlier interception.

Geneva did not take advantage, the offensive line gave up 2 sacks, the GT's turned the ball over on downs at the Thiel 33. The Golden Tornadoes had a chance to win the game in regulation, taking over at their own 37 with 5:15 remaining. Colavecchia came in at quarterback and carried three times to the Thiel 39, a personal foul against the Tomcats put the ball at the 24. The Lawrence County connection of Colavecchia and Dylan Jones got the ball down to the Thiel 10, a false start pushed the ball back 5 yards. Bryan Visingardi came on to try a 32 yard field goal with 23 seconds left, he missed wide left, sending the game to overtime.

After the Tomcat touchdown in ot, Geneva started at the 25 and moved the football on two Jones runs to the 14 and a first down. Colavecchia was stopped for no gain and then threw an incomplete pass. Hayward came on at quarterback and threw two incompletions to end the game.

For Thiel, Smith was 14 of 26 for 164 yards, he ran for a score. The Tomcats are now 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the PAC.

Geneva was led by Colavecchia, he ran 18 times for 73 yards, was 1-2 passing for 38 yards and caught 7 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Jones, making his first college start as a true freshman, ran 10 times for 65 yards. Hayward was 20 of 40 for 175 yards, O'Patchen made 5 catches for 102 yards. Geneva is 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the PAC.

W & J 24 – Grove City 17
The Presidents trailed 10-7 at the half but turned it on in the third quarter for the win under the lights at Cameron Stadium on Saturday night.

W & J scored first, taking advantage of great field position. Tim McNerney ran twice for 33 yards, Dom Wiegand scored from the 8 to give the Presidents the lead with 2:09 remaining in the first. Grove City got on the board early in the second on an 11 play drive, capped by a Kurt Devlin 27 yard field goal. Shane Kaclik put the Wolverines on top with a 2 yard touchdown run with 36 seconds left in the first half.

W & J used a short field again on their second possession of the third quarter, going 8 plays and 56 yards, McNerney scored from 2 yards out to put the Presidents up for good. Grove City did not go away quietly, they marched used a 12 play drive to the W & J 22, but it stalled when Brian Pell could not pick up the first down on a 4th and 13 play.

Matt Bliss took over on the next drive, the Presidents' QB threw 4 straight completions and was helped by two personal foul penalties against the Wolverines. Bliss went to Alex Baroffio for a 17 yard touchdown and a 21-10 lead after three.

Tony Britt fumbled a punt return deep in Grove City territory early in the fourth, Nathan Melhorn recovered at the 6, neither McNerney or Bliss could punch it in, the Presidents settled for a Eric Eberle 21 yard field goal with 9:32 left to go up by 14. Eberle could not handle a punt snap on the next W & J possession, giving the Wolverines the ball at the W & J 18. Brian Pell hit Anthony Ritchie for a 5 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 7 with 3:39 left in regulation.

The Wolverines elected not to go for the onsides kick, putting the game on the defense. W & J ran for two first downs and the clock to claim the win. The Presidents are now 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the PAC. Grove City falls to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in PAC play.

McNerney carried 22 times for 115 yards. Bliss was 15 of 23 for 126 yards. Baroffio had 9 catches for 83 yards.

Kaclik carried 23 times for 161 yards to lead the Wolverines.

California 24 – Edinboro 14
Peter Lalich threw for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the 6th ranked Vulcans handed the Fighting Scots their second straight loss.

Cal led 3-0 in the first on a Cody Nuzzo 22 yard field goal, Edinboro took the lead in the second on a John Washington 1 yard run. The Vulcans scored late in the half, Lalich hit Mike Williams for a 32 yard td with just 39 seconds left.

The teams played a scoreless third quarter, Lalich capped a 7 play 60 yard drive in the fourth with a 27 yard touchdown pass to Nadir Brown. Cody Harris brought the Fighting Scots back with a 12 yard pass to Duane McKelvin to cut the lead to 17-14, but Lamont Smith answered just over a minute later with a 6 yard run for the final score. Edinboro was driving in the final minute but C.J. Townes stepped in front of a Harris pass and ended the threat.

Smith ran for 103 yards on 17 carries. Williams had 6 catches for 123 yards. Cal is now 3-0 and 1-0 in divisional play. Harris was 26 of 37 for Edinboro for 270 yards, he was sacked 6 times.

IUP 42 – Lock Haven 0
Harvie Tuck ran for 202 yards and a pair of scores as the 17th ranked Crimson Hawks handed the Bald Eagles their 45th consecutive loss.

IUP led only 7-0 at the half on a Tuck 2 yard run in the first quarter. Pat Brewer took the second half kickoff 82 yards for a score. Tuck added a 69 yard td run to put IUP up 21-0. De'Antwan Williams ran for two scores and Alex Holland added a 5 yard run. Lock Haven managed only 6 first downs and 152 yards of offense for the game. IUP is now 3-0 and 1-0 in divisional play, Lock Haven is 0-3.

Mercyhurst 22 – Clarion 14
The Lakers got a second straight 100 yard plus performance from Brandon Brown-Dukes and won their second straight game, defeated the Golden Eagles in the PSAC West opener for both teams.

The Lakers led 13-0 at the half on two Anthony Vendemia touchdown passes, one to Paris Bruner for 38 yards in the first and a 20 yard to Devyn Woods in the second.

Clarion got on the board in the third on a Ben Fiscus 19 yard pass to Jon Reid, but Brown-Dukes scored on a 29 yard run on the final play to put the Lakers up 19-7. Steven Wakefield added a 27 yard field goal in the fourth, Fiscus scored on a yard run with 3:25 left. Mercyhurst recovered the onside kick attempt and ran out the clock for the win.

Mercyhurst is 2-1, Clarion falls to 1-2.

Shepherd 42 – Seton Hill 6
The Rams jumped out to a 28-0 lead and never looked back in Greensburg for the win in the WVIAC opener for both teams. Bobby Cooper threw for 286 yards on 24 of 28 and four touchdowns in the win. Domenic Tolson returned a fumble 42 yards for a score.

Ryan Morris hit Lance Williams for a 29 yard touchdown for the only Griffins' points. Morris was 29 of 46 for 227 yards. Shepherd is 2-1 overall, Seton Hill is 0-3.

Carnegie Mellon 35 – Catholic 17
White Out Night at Gesling Stadium saw the Tartans go to 3-0 with the win. Rob Kalkstein threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Jared Delello opened the scoring with a yard run in the first, Kalkstein hit Timothy Swanson for a 65 yard touchdown and a 14-3 advantage. Nick Cortese scored on a 1 yard run for the Cardinals to make it 14-10 after one.

The Tartans came out throwing again in the second, Kalkstein tossing scoring strikes to Tim Kitka of 28 yards and Patrick Blanks for 19 yards and a 28-10 halftime lead. Delello added a 1 yard run n the third, for the final CMU score.

Kalkstein was 10 of 12 passing, Swanson had 3 catches for 128 yards. Catholic falls to 1-2 with the loss.

Waynesburg 35 – Saint Vincent 14
Tyler Fatigante was almost perfect on the day, going 14 of 15 for 138 yards and three touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets go to 3-0 on the season and win the PAC opener at Chuck Noll Field.

Fatigante hit Adam Moses for a 3 yard td in the second, Saint Vincent tied the game as Darius Brown returned the kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Fatigante added a 1 yard run and a touchdown pass to Bernie Thompson of 21 yards before the half to go up 21-7.

Christian Jackson caught a 13 yard scoring strike from Fatigante for the only score of the third, capping a 10 play drive. Dominic Moore added a 1 yard run early in the fourth for Waynesburg. Matt Deakins hit Lazaro Garcia with an 80 yard td in the final minute of the game to round out the scoring.

Fatigante added 60 yards rushing, Moore ran for 101 yards on 17 carries. Moses had 7 catches for 72 yards. The Bearcats were held to just 35 yards rushing, they fall to 0-3.

Randolph-Macon 49 – Bethany 33
QB Matt Grimard ran for 3 scores and threw for another but it was not enough as Randolph-Macon QB Zac Naccarato threw for 4 touchdowns and ran for a fifth to lead his team to a 2-1 overall record.

Grimard was 14 of 28 for 239 yards, he ran 18 times for 124 yards. Johnathan Foster had 8 catches for 96 yards for the Bison, now 0-2. Naccarato was 15 of 18 for 228 yards, Will McGhee carried 20 times for 148 yards and a score, Drake Sanders ran 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Thomas More 27 – Westminster 23
Luke Magness hit Ryan Winkler with a 16 yard td pass with 18 seconds remaining to give the 21st ranked Saints the home win at Bank of Kentucky Stadium.

Westminster opened the scoring with a 46 yard run by QB Dak Britt in the first, the Titans took a 13-3 lead in the second on a Britt 71 yard pass to David Wright. Adam Rauch scored on a 38 yard run near the two minute mark to cut the Titan lead to 3 at the half.

Rauch gave the Saints the lead with a 6 yard run midway thru the third, Tim Gormley kicked a 32 yard field goal to put the Saints up 7. Britt hit Colin Wallace for a 26 yard touchdown to tie the game, Zack Baker gave Westminster the lead with 6 minutes left on a 37 yard field goal.

Britt threw for 211 yards on 12 of 18, he ran for 124 yards on 18 carries. Westminster falls to 1-1 and 0-1 in the PAC. Rauch carried 16 times for 80 yards for the Saints, Magness was 22 of 27 for 205 yards. The Saints are also 1-1 overall and 1-0 in PAC play.

Duquense 45 – Valparasio 17
Larry McCoy ran for 100 or more yards for the 21st time, tying a school record, and scored three times as the Dukes rallied from a 17-7 deficit in the first quarter for the win in Indiana.

McCoy staked the Dukes to a 7-3 lead with a 28 yard run, but Valpo came back with an Eric Hoffman 1 yard run and a Hoffman td pass to Mike Gerton of 8 yards to take that lead into the second quarter.

Sean Patterson led the Dukes back with a 3 yard td pass to Gianni Carter, McCoy scored on a 19 yard run to put Duquesne up 21-17 at the half.

It was all Dukes after the break, McCoy scored his third on a 6 yard run, Patterson hit Noel Oduho for a 11 yard touchdown and Marcus Hughes closed out the scoring with a 37 yard run.

McCoy carried 29 times for 171 yards, Patterson threw for 260 yards on 20 of 25. The Dukes are now 2-1 overall, Valparasio is 0-3.

Saint Francis 57 – Morehead State 23
The Red Flash trailed by 17 after one quarter but exploded the rest of the way for the win to go to 2-1.

Keion Wade carried 27 times for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. William Ingram ran for two scores and Khairi Dickson scored another for the Red Flash. John Kelly was only 7 of 9, but hit A.J. Alexander for 2 touchdowns. The Red Flash ran for 457 yards in the win.

QB Zack Lewis threw for 354 yards and a pair of scores, he was picked off 3 times. Morehead State is now 1-2.

Dayton 20 – Robert Morris 14
Taylor Harris ran for 107 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns to give the Flyers the win. Harris and Will Barto staked Dayton to a 14-0 halftime lead with td score. RMU struck back in the third as Jeff Sinclair threw a td pass to Paul Evans of 18 yards.

Harris added 13 yard run in the third, the Colonials scored late on a Sinclair 77 yard bomb to Dontae Jeter. Jeter had 4 catches for 113 yards. Dayton picks up their first win of the season, RMU is 0-3.