District College Football Recap for Saturday, September 22

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 23, 2012 | 11:32 AM

On the first official day of fall, the weather turned fall-like with rain and strong winds, or as some would say, football weather for week 4 of the college football season.

A classic battle comes down to the wire in the Coal Bowl, Allegheny pulls off a shocker in the NCAC and Waynesburg dumps the reigning  PAC champions for the second straight year.

Here are recaps from ALL the games played yesterday:

Mercyhurst 38 – Slippery Rock 23
Once again the trip up Interstate 79 was not a pleasant one for the Rock, as they dropped their fifth straight game inside the city of Erie with the loss to the Lakers and their big play offense on Saturday.

Mercyhurst jumped out to a 21-0 lead which the Rock never recovered from. Brandon Brown-Dukes scored on a 1 yard run, set up by a 51 yard pass play from Anthony Vendemia to Paris Bruner. Todd Wingate forced a fumble by LaQuinn Stephens-Howling on the Rock's next possession, Vendemia took advantage, hitting Devyn Woods for a 9 yard touchdown and a 14-0 three plays after the turnover. The Lakers went to the trick play book as WR Vladmir Rock tossed a 41 yard pass to Bruner to set up a Allen Jones II 14 yard touchdown run and the Lakers were staked to the 21 point lead after one.

The Rock got on the scoreboard two minutes into the second, Brett Crenshaw ran 54 yards to the Lakers 6, Jared Buck scored on a 1 yard run, but the Rock defense did not hold, Brown-Dukes scampered 59 yards deep inside the Rock territory, he scored on a 5 yard run to put the Lakers up 28-7. Slippery Rock did not get anything going on offense in their next two drives, giving the ball back to Mercyhurst with 6:27 remaining in the half. And the Rock never got the ball back, the Lakers went 15 plays and 55 yards, taking up the remainder of the time, Steven Wakefield kicked a 32 yard field goal on the final play of the half to put the Lakers up 31-7 at the break.

The Lakers did not score on the opening drive of the third quarter but ate up almost 8 minutes of the clock. Mercyhurst added to the lead on their next possession, Jones II scoring on a 3 yard run for his second of the day.

Slippery Rock scored on an 81 yard drive to start the fourth, Buck with his second score on a 7 yard run. Jaimire Dutireuille added a 20 yard touchdown and Mercyhurst took an intentional safety to round out the scoring.

Brown-Dukes ran for 160 yards on 29 carries, Jones II was 102 yards on 16 totes, Bruner caught just 4 passes but for 114 yards. Aaron McGhee led Mercyhurst with 7 tackles, Ricky Matthews and Serge Augustin each had a pair of sacks. The Lakers are now 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC-West.

Akeem Satterfield was held to 90 yards on 16 carries. Buck was 13 of 27 for 117 yards, he was sacked 4 times. The Rock is now 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the West.

W & J 17 – Thiel 0
Defense was the key for the Presidents as they held the Tomcats to just 19 yards rushing to go to 3-1 on the season with the road win in Greenville. The Presidents allowed just 168 yards of offense and 23 minutes of possession time, the defense also forced two turnovers.

The Presidents entered the game shorthanded as running back Tim McNerney and defensive tackle Gavin Donathan sat out with injuries.

W & J had a chance for an early score, but Shane Smith fumbled at the Thiel 5, Tim Taylor recovered to end the threat. The Presidents got the lost points back as Alex Baroffio returned a punt 54 yards to the 7 yard line. Dom Weigand scored two plays later from a yard out to put W & J up 7-0 after one.

The Presidents lost their starting quarterback on the second series in the second, Matt Bliss left with an injury and did not return, forcing Baroffio to take over at quarterback from wide receiver. He marched the team down the field late in the half, using a mix of runs and passes, Baroffio found Hunter Creel for a 30 yard touchdown with 17 seconds left and a 14-0 lead at the break.

Eric Eberle tacked on a 44 yard field goal early in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead, the defense continued to do it's job, they did not allow the Tomcats to cross midfield in the first half. In fact the Tomcats never crossed into W J territory until the early stages of the fourth quarter, helped by two major penalties against the Presidents. Thiel got the ball to the W & J 3 for a first and goal, but the defense did not allow Josh Potter to score on three runs and sacked QB Andrew Smith on 4th down to keep the shutout alive.

After a short punt, Thiel started at the W & J 25 but Smith was intercepted by Nathan Melhorn on a short pass, B.J. Monacelli also intercepted a Smith pass in the final minute to again preserve the shutout.

Baroffio ran for 62 yards on 16 carries, he was 6 of 11 for 72 yards passing and had 3 catches for 34 yards. Wiegand led the Presidents with 84 yards on 20 carries. W & J is now 2-0 in the conference, tied with Waynesburg for the top spot. Thiel falls to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the PAC. 

California 26 – IUP 24
The 6th ranked Vulcans scored nine points in the final minute to knock off the 14th ranked Crimson Hawks and win their 4th straight Coal Bowl trophy and also take a major step towards winning another PSAC West crown with the win at Adamson Stadium.

IUP led 24-17 with just over a minute to play, kicker Brett Ullman missed a 30 yard field goal wide to the left that would have iced the game for the Crimson Hawks. That set the stage for a dramatic comeback for the Vulcans. Taking over at the 20, Peter Lalich connected with Nadir Brown, he went 80 yards for a touchdown and it looked like the game would be tied and headed to overtime, but Cody Nuzzo missed the point after, forcing Cal to try an onsides kick.

IUP had been flagged for a personal foul following the touchdown, allowing the Vulcans to kick from midfield. On the attempt, IUP touched the football before it went 10 yards, allowing Rontez Miles to recover for Cal. From the 44 and with 51 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Lalich would go to work. He connected with Lamont Smith twice to move the chains at the 33, following a spike to stop the clock. Lalich hit Trey Johnson for a 20 yard gain to the 13. Lalich killed the clock once again, setting up Nuzzo for a 30 yard game winner. Nuzzo hit the kick and gave Cal the lead with 3 seconds left. IUP was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the kick, allowing Cal to kick off from the 50.

Dom Maggio fair caught the kickoff at the 24, with no time off the clock, Mike Box hit T. Barnes for a 26 yard gain, the Crimson Hawks tried the hook and ladder but Pat Brewer was tackled by Greg Cochrane to end the game.

Cal led 7-0, scoring on the opening drive of the game, Lalich to Mike Williams for a 5 yard touchdown. Harvie Tuck tied the game in the second with a 14 yard td run, the Vulcans took back the lead on a Lalich to R.J. Thomas 20 yard touchdown. Ullman and Nuzzo traded field goals and Cal led 17-10 at the half.

IUP was driving late in the third quarter but Pat Smith was intercepted by Kenny Lewis at the goal line and things were looking good for Cal, leading 17-10 after three.

IUP drove to start the fourth, looking for the tying score, Tuck went 58 yard to the 12, but was stuffed at the Cal 3 forcing a field goal attempt that was blocked by Jeff Knox. But Lamont Smith fumbled two plays later, giving IUP the ball at the Cal 35. Mike Box came in at quarterback for the Crimson Hawks and hit two big completions, setting up a Tuck 3 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 17 with 10:14 left.

IUP held Cal to a three and out, Box hit Brewer for a 26 yard gain, then connected with Brewer for the 8 yard touchdown and the lead with just under 7 minutes to play. Lalich hit a big gainer to Mike Williams, but Williams fumbled the football, IUP recovered setting up the game's final minute.

Cal was held to just 28 yards rushing, but Lalich was 27 of 40 for 438 yards, Williams had 9 catches for 143 yards, Brown 6 catches for 128 and Trey Johnson 6 for 120. The Vulcans are 4-0 overall and now 2-0 in the West.

IUP got 43 carries and 256 yards from Tuck. Brewer had 5 catches for 80 yards. IUP falls to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the West.

Waynesburg 14 – Thomas More 10
Once again the Yellow Jackets knocked off the ranked Saints, this time at Waynesburg, sending #23 Thomas More to their second defeat of the season.

Sophomore Willie Leavell stole the ball off of the foot of Thomas More punter Mitch McDowell, going 18 yards for a touchdown and the go-ahead points in the fourth quarter for the Yellow Jackets, now 4-0 on the season and looking to move into the top 25.

Waynesburg led 7-0 on a Bertrand Ngampa 2 yard run in the first, Landon Savoy tied the game in the second with a 10 yard run. Tim Gormley kicked a 21 yard field goal to put the Saints up 10-7 in the third.

The Yellow Jackets were driving to start the fourth but Tyler Fatigante was intercepted by Zach Autenrieb at the goal line to end the threat, that however set up the Leavell punt block for the score. The Waynesburg defense did not allow a first down in the Saints final two possessions and Fatigante was able to pick up a first down and run out the clock for the win.

Dominic Moore carried 21 times for 106 yards for the Yellow Jackets, who go to 2-0 in the PAC. Thomas More was held to just 62 yards passing, the Saints fall to 1-1 in the conference and 1-2 overall. 

Allegheny 20 – Wabash 17 in overtime
Ryan Moog kicked a 28 yard field goal in the first overtime to give the Gators the upset win at the 7th ranked Little Giants on Saturday. Tyler Smith tied the game at 17 with 8:26 remaining with a 9 yard run.

Allegheny struck first, Derrick Emigh gave the Gators great field position with a 40 yard punt return, Taylor O'Brien scored from 6 yards out. The Gators added a Mong 23 yard field goal after the Little Giants failed to connect from 33 yards out to lead 10-0 after one.

Ian MacDougall hit his second attempt, a 44 yarder to put Wabash on the board, but he missed a 39 yard attempt later in the quarter. After an Allegheny punt. QB Chase Belton put the Little Giants on his shoulders, completing four passes and running 3 times, the final a 3 yard score and tying the game at 10 at the break.

Allegheny deferred the coin toss to the second half, the Gators elected to go with a 20 plus mph wind for the final quarter, so the Little Giants got the ball to start both halves. Wabash went 3 and out on their first possession, but so did Allegheny. It looked like the Gators decision would haunt them, with only an 18 yard punt into the win that Wabash used to score the tying touchdown on a Tyler Holmes 27 yard run.

The decision turned out well, as the Gators got a short punt from the Little Giants and turned it into the tying touchdown with Smith scoring. Neither team could make a drive in the final 8 minutes and headed to overtime.

The Gators picked up a first down on their series, but stalled out and elected to take the Moog field goal to take the lead. Belton did not pick up a first down on a scramble and MacDougall missed his 3rd field goal of the day wide to the right to give the Gators the upset.

Smith carried 13 times for 78 yards for the Gators, now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC. Holmes carried 18 times for 104 yards for the Little Giants, now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Duquesne 35 – Bryant 21
Larry McCoy ran for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as the Dukes rallied for the win in Rhode Island. McCoy added to his NEC leading rushing total, he racked up 154 yards on 26 carries, it's also the 22nd game that McCoy went over 100 yards, setting a school record.

Jordan Brown gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead in the first on a 8 yard run, the Dukes tied the game in the second on a Sean Patterson 23 yard pass to Sean Brady, Patterson connected with Noel Oduho for a 7 yard td and a 14-7 lead. But Mike Westerhaus threw his 3rd td pass of the season, this one to Jordan Harris for 20 yards and a tie game at the half.

Charlie Leventry put Duquesne back on top with a 27 yard field goal, Westerhaus connected with Harris again for a 9 yard touchdown and Bryant led 21-17 after three.

Leventry got the Dukes within one with a 39 yard field goal, then McCoy took over with td runs of 54 and 7 yards to put Duquesne up for good. Patterson was 22 of 36 for 247 yards. Gianni Carter had 8 catches, Oduho had 6. Duquesne is 3-1 overall and wins the NEC opener.

Brown ran 105 yards on 28 carries for the Bulldogs, now 0-4 and 0-2 in the NEC.

Towson 46 – Saint Francis 17
Terrance West ran for 3 touchdowns to set a school record as the Tigers jumped out early and defeated the Red Flash Saturday night. West, a sophomore, has ran for 34 touchdowns in just 14 NCAA games. Grant Enders was strong again, going 14 of 18 for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Saint Francis opened the scoring with a Keion Wade 2 yard run, but Derrick Joseph returned the kickoff 99 yards for a score. West added scored his first two td runs in the first, the Tigers led 21-7 after one.

Enders hit Tom Ryan for a 8 yard touchdown to go 29-7 with the two pointer, Dan Conley scored on a 6 yard run for the Red Flash. But West added his third td with a 3 yard run, Enders hit Gerrrald Sheppard for a 23 yard td before the break to put the Tigers up 43-7.

Towson is 2-1 overall, but the Tigers will have to tame another Tiger, they travel to LSU next week. Saint Francis falls to 2-2 overall.

Clarion 13 – Gannon 7
The Golden Eagles head to Erie and pick up the road win on Saturday with all of the scoring coming in the first half with heavy rain and wind hampering the offenses.

Gannon struck first in the opening minute as Tashawn Sneed jumped in front of a Ben Fiscus pass and went 62 yards for a touchdown. Fiscus answered that with a td pass to Mike Deitrick for 11 yards and a 17 yard score to Nick Perry right before the half to go up 13-7 at the break.

Gannon took the second half kickoff and drove to the Clarion 16 but turned the ball over on downs, they would enter Clarion territory only once the rest of the way.

Bobby Thomas led the Golden Eagles with 106 yards on 32 carries, Fiscus ran for 94 yards and threw for 62. Clarion is now 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC West.

Gannon was held to 113 yards of offense, the Golden Knights are 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the West.

Edinboro 35 – Lock Haven 19
The Fighting Scots pick up their first win of the season and hand the Bald Eagles their 46th consecutive loss.

Cody Harris gave Edinboro the lead on the opening drive with a 2 yard run, but Brandon Brader scored twice on 3 and 6 yard runs to put Lock Haven up 13-7 in the second. The Fighting Scots scored twice in the final 3:23 of the half, Harris on a 9 yard run and a td pass from Harris to Ben Eisel put Edinboro up 21-13 at the break.

Harris hit Marcus Johnson with touchdown passes of 17 and 28 yards to pull away in the third, Jarrett Kratzer scored on a 4 yard run with 2:59 remaining in regulation for Lock Haven.

Harris was 27 of 38 for 280 yards and the 3 scores, Edinboro is 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the West. 

West Virginia Wesleyan 41 – Seton Hill 17
The Griffins led 8-0 in the first quarter on a td pass from Ryan Morris to Niko Hall-Brown for 23 yards and a 2 point conversion from Josh Cavalier but it would be all Bobcats in the second.

Jonas Celian returned a fumble for a score, Nate Montana connected with Nyme Manns for 2 touchdowns to go up 21-8, but Seton Hill broke a big play and Cavalier kicked a 35 yard field goal on the final play to cut the lead to 21-11 at the break.

Morris hit Hall-Brown again for a 19 yard td to make it 21-17, that would be it for the Griffins. Montana hit Chase Blackwell for 2 touchdowns to seal the win.

Montana threw for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lavaughn Hughes had 8 catches for 115 yards, the Bobcats are 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the WVIAC. Morris threw for 215 yards, Hall-Brown had 10 catches for 98 yards, Seton Hill is 0-4 overall, having lost 6 straight and 13 of the last 14 games.

Carnegie Mellon 51 – DePauw 28
Rob Kalkstein connected with Tim Swanson for a 83 yard touchdown on the opening play from scrimmage and Zachery Erra-Hernandez ran for 116 yards and 3 scores as the Tartans go to 4-0 on the season.

CMU led 30-0 in the second, after the Kalkstein to Swanson bomb, Erra-Hernandez scored on runs of 9 and 6 yards, Kalkstein connected with another bomb to Tim Kitka for 65 yards and Connor Young kicked a 41 yard field goal for the lead.

Justin Murray threw a 9 yard pass to Bobby Murray, but Kalkstein hooked up with Swanson again for 40 yards and a 37-7 lead at the break.

Erra-Hernandez scored from 16 yards and Alex Basinski recovered a blocked punt for a score for CMU in the third. Murray finished with 3 td passes to round out the scoring.

Kalkstein was 13 of 15 for 314 yards and 3 scores. Swanson had 4 catches for 153 yards. CMU is now 4-0 for the first time since 2006, the Tartans travel to Indiana next week to meet Wabash, who was upset by Allegheny.

Grove City 44 – Bethany 40
The Wolverines scored 20 points in the fourth quarter for the comeback win at Robert E. Thorn Field. Shane Kaclik scored his fifth touchdown on the day, a 1 yard run with 5:14 remaining to complete the comeback.

Bethany jumped out to a 21-0 lead on two Matt Grimard touchdown passes and a Grimard run. The Wolverines came back as Brian Pell connected with Tony Britt for a 45 yard touchdown, Kaclik added td runs of 3 and 41 yards but the Wolverines missed a pat and two 2-point attempts, Justin Evans kicked a 33 yard field goal on the final play of the half to put the Bison up 24-18 at the break.

Grove City tied the game at 24 in the third on Kaclik's one yard run, Bethany took the lead right back as Dane Mossgrove's kick was blocked, Eddie Chance returned the block for a defensive 2-pointer and a 26-24 lead. Grimard connected with Eric Blinn for a 41 yards and Ed Holmes for 19 to put the Bison up 40-24 after three.

Kaclik scored on a 1 yard run, Pell added a yard run and Kaclik with the go-ahead score to give the Wolverines the lead. Kaclik carries 31 times for 121 yards, the Wolverines are now 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the PAC.

Grimard was 25 of 33 for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, he was picked 3 times and sacked 2 more. Holmes had 9 catches for 98 yards and 2 scores. The Bison are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the PAC.

Westminster 17 – Saint Vincent 6
Neither team could score in the first half, which was played in a heavy rain in New Wilmington, the Titans turned on the offense in the second half for the win.

Set up by a Derrick Orlowski interception, Connor Kobis caught a 5 yard td pass from Dak Britt for the first score of the game in the third. Saint Vincent blocked a Westminster punt, Rayford Wyder scored from 3 yards out, but the point after was blocked so the Titans held the lead. Tyler Banks scored on a 12 yard run to extend the lead to 14-6. Zach Baker kicked a 22 yard field goal late for insurance.

Banks carried 26 times for 144 yards, the Titans are now 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the PAC. Saint Vincent was held to just 157 offensive yards, the Bearcats fall to 0-4 and 0-2 in conference play.