District College Football Recap from Saturday, October 16th

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 12:00 AM

A couple of upsets highlight the week's slate of college football from around the region during Separation Week. A three-way tie for second place in the PSAC-West was broken with a thrilling finish in Erie County. A down to wire finish in the PAC as well between two old rivals and defense ruled the day in several other contests.

Here are recaps from all the games, thanks to all the sports information departments from the schools involved for assisting with the reports.

California 28 – Slippery Rock 3

The fourth ranked Vulcans won their 22nd consecutive PSAC West Division game, knocking the Rock out of playoff contention at Adamson Stadium on Saturday. Josh Portis threw for three touchdowns and ran for another while the top ranked Cal defense shut down the Slippery Rock running game.

California forced a turnover on the opening kickoff, Jermale Cromerdie was stripped of the football, Brandon Echols recovered at the Rock 25. Portis hit Terrance Moore with a 14 yard touchdown on the fourth play of the drive to put Cal up 7-0. On the next possession, Portis engineered a longer touchdown drive, going 78 yards in just four plays, Portis to Derrick Jones from 48 yards out, giving the Vulcans a 14-0 lead with 6:24 left in the first quarter.

The defenses took over for the remainder of the half, the only points off the foot of Rock kicker C. J. Bahr, his 33 yard field goal ended a 13 play 71 yard drive to cut the Cal lead to 14-3.

Cal took advantage of a short field to add to the lead in the third quarter, Portis threw to Chedrick Cherry for eight yards and a score. Portis scored on a five yard run in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

Portis ended the day 10 of 16 for 150 yards and the three touchdown passes, however he was sacked six times. Lamont Smith posted his sixth consecutive 100 yard game, rushing for 194 yards. Cal goes to 7-0 overall and has now won five straight against SRU.

Slippery Rock falls to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the West Division, the Rock posted just 150 yards of offense, led by Devin Goda's six catches for 43 yards. Akeem Satterfield was also shut down, gaining just 41 yards on 14 carries.

Washington & Jefferson 21 – Frostburg State 6

The Presidents go to 4-2 overall and won their sixth consecutive game against the Bobcats. Tim McNerney had another big day for W & J, running for a career high 173 yards and two touchdowns.

It was the Bobcats who got on the board first, Brandon Blachette picked off Gino Rometo and raced 79 yards to the W & J 18. Anthony King scored on a two yard run, putting Frostburg State up 6-0. But that would be it for the Bobcats on this day at Cameron Stadium. McNerney scored from a yard out at the 4:53 mark to give the Presidents a 7-6 advantage thru one quarter.

W & J scored six plays into the second quarter, Rometo to Ben Hoffer from thirty yards to go up 14-6. The Presidents failed twice in the red zone later in the quarter, with a block of a 21 yard field goal attempt and turning the ball over on downs at the fifteen.

McNerney added to his totals in the third, going in from six yards out early in the third quarter for the final points of the game. McNerney carried the ball forty times, the most carries by a W & J running back since 2001. Rometo was 21 of 31 for 224 yards passing, the Presidents held the ball for 38 of the 60 minutes of the contest. The W & J defense held Frostburg State to 96 total yards and five first downs. The Bobcats are now 1-5. W & J heads back to PAC play next week on the road to Reeves Field to take on Geneva, a 7 pm start.

Grove City 13 – Geneva 7

The Wolverines turned in a wonderful defensive performance, holding the Golden Tornadoes to 42 yards of offense in the second half to gain the win in the annual night game at Robert E. Thorn Field.

It was Geneva starting the scoring, Gerald Muschette from a yard out with 1:58 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 GT lead. Freshman quarterback Brian Pell led the Wolverines on a 74 yard drive, ending with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Pell to tailback Blaine Miller, knotting the game at seven.

Geneva had the best scoring attempt of the second quarter, but Nick DiPietro missed a 53 yard field goal on the final play of the half.

The score stayed the same until 14:14 remained in regulation, Miller scored from a yard out on a fourth and goal, capping a 87 yard drive that took over seven minutes. Grove City had a chance to add to the lead, but Craig Bicehouse hit the left upright with a 25 yard field goal attempt with 6:37 to play. Geneva's deepest penetration in the second half was to the Grove City 38.

Pell, making his first collegiate start, went 15 of 25 for 218 yards. Grove City is now 3-3 on the season.

Muschette was held to 75 yards on 30 carries. Geneva entered the week averaging 31 points per game, and fall to 3-4 with the loss.

Robert Morris 38 – Albany 0
The Colonials stay perfect in the Northeast Conference with a dominant performance at Joe Walton Stadium. Myles Russ rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown, Jeff Sinclair threw for 143 yards and three touchdowns, he also ran for a score as RMU goes to 6-1 overall. The defense shut down the Great Danes, who ended with 132 yards of offense. Albany only entered Robert Morris territory four times in the game, the best possession ended on a Michael Landers interception at the two yard line. Robert Morris held the football for just shy of 39 minutes. Albany falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the NEC.

Duquesne 37 – Sacred Heart 17
Larry McCoy ran for 122 yards and a touchdown as Duquesne goes to 4-3 overall. Sean Patterson threw two touchdown passes and Alex Inda returned a fumbled punt snap for a 38 yard touchdown. Inda also recovered another fumble in the game for the Dukes, now 2-2 in the NEC. Sacred Heart quarterback Dale Fink threw for 258 yards, he moves into third place on the NEC all-time passing list. Sacred Heart is now 1-6 overall, 0-5 in the NEC.

Wagner 22 – Saint Francis 14.
Eric Foxworth scored his second touchdown of the game with 6:14 remaining to give Wagner the victory in Loretto. Foxworth ran 30 times for 140 yards in the win. The Seahawks are now 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference. Jude Yearwood led the Red Flash with 99 yards on 24 carries. John Kelly hit Omar Winston with a 35 yard touchdown pass to put Saint Francis up 14-13 in the third quarter. Kelly was intercepted three times in the loss, the Red Flash are now 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the NEC.

Western Illinois 40 – Youngstown State 38
Adaris Bellamy ran for three touchdowns and Jamaine Cook added 161 yards and a score but it was not enough for the Penguins, who lost their second consecutive game. Matt Barr hit Lito Senatus for a 17 yard touchdown with one minute remaining to give the Leathernecks the win. Barr threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more. YSU is now 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Western Illinois, ranked 23rd in the FCS entering the week, is now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the MVC.

Gannon 42 – Lock Haven 7
Tyler Batts ran for 137 yards as the Golden Knights handed the Bald Eagles their 28th consecutive loss. Zach Boedicker tossed a 43 yard touchdown pass to Geoff Hicks and Chris Cook returned a fumble 58 yards for a score. Gannon is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC-West. Quarterback Jarryd Burkett ran 15 yards for the only Lock Haven score.

Mercyhurst 22 – Edinboro 21 in Overtime
The Lakers win another battle of Erie County, knocking off the Fighting Scots at Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday. Gerald Anderson scored on a nine yard run to tie the game at 14 with one minute remaining. The Lakers had a chance to win it in regulation after Edinboro went three and out on their possession, but Steven Wakefield missed a 47 yard field goal. Cody Harris put Edinboro up 21-14 on a one yard run on the first series of overtime. Mercyhurst answered with a Travis Rearick to Terrance Coon 11 yard touchdown. Edinboro lined up in the neutral zone on the extra point, so Mercyhurst decided to go for the win. Rearick hit Trevor Kennedy for the two-pointer and the victory. Rearick threw for two touchdowns in the win, Anderson ran for 104 yards to lead the Lakers, now 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC-West. Mercyhurst is now alone in second place in the division and has a chance to knock off the top dog, as the California Vulcans come to Tullio Field next Saturday for a noon kickoff. For the Fighting Scots, Harris threw for a touchdown and ran for another. Drew Harrell ran for 96 yards and a score. Edinboro falls to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the West Division.

Clarion 21 – IUP 14
Alfonso Hoggard ran for 179 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns to knock IUP out of a three-way tie for second place in the West Division. Hoggard scored from 49 yards out on a fourth down play with 7:51 remaining to give the Golden Eagles a 13-7 lead. The Clarion defense held late, stopping Harvie Tuck on a fourth and one from the Clarion 31 with 1:28 remaining. Hoggard scored two plays later on a 69 yard run, he added the two-point conversion. IUP did not go away, Bo Napoleon hit Ben Simmen from four yards out with thirteen seconds left to cut the deficit to seven. Clarion was flagged for a personal foul on the touchdown, allowing IUP to attempt an on-sides kick from the IUP 45. But Hoggard recovered the kick and sealed the win for Clarion. The Golden Eagles are 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC West. IUP was led by Napoleon, who was 16 of 26 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Tuck gained 70 yards on 21 carries. IUP is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the West.

Charleston 24 – Seton Hill 20
Julian Johnson scored two touchdowns and Charleston held off a late Seton Hill drive to pick up the win. Seton Hill drove from their own five to the UC eight but could not score in the final three minutes. R.J. Butler scored two touchdowns for the Griffins. Charleston is now 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the WVIAC, Seton Hill falls to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Bethany 41 – Thiel 7
The Bison got three special teams touchdowns as they go to 3-1 in the Presidents Athletic Conference and win their third straight game, the longest winning streak for Bethany since 2001. Chris Collins recovered a bad punt snap in the end zone, Jeff Joyce returned the second half kickoff 87 yards to the house and Collins blocked a punt that Jarrell Smalls returned for a touchdown. Quarterback Matt Grimard ran for two touchdowns and threw for another. Bethany is now 4-3 overall and will host conference leading Thomas More next week. Andrew Smith tossed a nine yard touchdown pass to Tyler Brophy-Davis with 1:35 remaining to break the shutout. Thiel is now 0-6 on the season.

Thomas More 24 – Saint Vincent 6
The ninth ranked Saints won their 17th consecutive regular season game. Robert Kues threw a touchdown pass to Dominque Hayden and ran for a score. Hayden added a two yard run as the Saints go to 13-1 at Bank of Kentucky Field. Kendall Owens ran for 117 yards, Hayden rushed for 115 and Kues ran for 73 and threw for 137. Thomas More remains unbeaten at 6-0, they are 4-0 in the PAC and one win away from clinching a third straight conference title. Aaron Smetanka threw a touchdown pass to Cody Strelick, Smetanka threw for 252 yards. Christian Sutton had five catches for 101 yards. Saint Vincent is now 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the PAC.

Waynesburg 24 – Westminster 23
Westminster rallied for nine points in the fourth quarter but could not get the extra point needed to force overtime. Trevor Young kicked a 35 yard field goal and Shawn Lehocky hit Gino Pasquinelli for a 14 yard touchdown with 38 seconds left,, their second touchdown connection of the day. But Bryan Gary blocked the conversion attempt to save the day and Kyle Kyper recovered an on-sides kick sealing the Homecoming win for the Yellow Jackets. Dominic Moore and Betrand Ngampa each scored on two yard runs for Waynesburg, Brad Dawson threw for 178 yards and a score for the Yellow Jackets, now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the PAC. Tyler Banks ran for 95 yards and a touchdown for Westminster, who falls to 1-5 overall and is winless in four PAC games.

Allegheny 17 – Dennison 16
Ryan Zipf's 28 yard field goal with eight minutes to play was the difference as the Gators fought back from a 10-0 deficit. T.J. Salopek threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns for Allegheny. Brian Tamburlin ran for 71 yards. Robert Carlisle had eight catches for 85 yards. Allegheny is now 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Dennison fell to Allegheny for the 21st time in 22 games scored on an Eric Conrad 55 yard Pick Six and three Kevin Schneider field goals. Max Palus was 22 of 28 for 178 yards passing. Dennison is now 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the NCAC.

Tags: Slippery Rock, Thiel, Washington