BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jackets defeated Ohio Athletic Conference rival Marietta College, 45-16, tonight (Saturday, September 27, 2008) at Don Drumm Stadium in Marietta on Community Day. The win was B-W's second straight and set up a showdown next Saturday in Berea against No.1-ranked Mount Union College.
With its win, B-W is now 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the OAC and leads the all-time series between the two rivals, 26-5. With its loss, Marietta is now 1-2 overall, 0-2 in the OAC and has lost two straight.
B-W led 10-6 after one quarter, 17-9 at halftime and 45-9 after three periods.
The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring on its initial drive at the 11:13 mark of the first quarter quarter when senior placekicker Cory Ramos (Macedonia/ Nordonia) connected on a 34-yard field goal. The field goal capped a nine play, 52-yard drive and covered 3:47. The drive was aided by a 46-yard pitch and catch from junior quarterback Anthony Gardner (Rocky River/ Lakewood St. Edward) to junior running back Kyrell Crook (Columbus/ St. Francis DeSales).
Marietta answered just three minutes later with 8:00 left in the first quarter after a 13-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Dexter Hughes to junior running back Lamar Hunter to cap a six play, 62-yard drive which spanned 3:08. Junior placekicker Corey Lemke's PAT failed.
B-W countered with a touchdown of its own at the 1:37 mark of the first quarter when Gardner ended a 14-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown scamper on fourth-and-goal. Ramos' point-after-touchdown was good and gave B-W a 10-6 lead. The key to the scoring drive was Gardner's five completions in six attempts for 54 yards.
On Marietta's next drive, the Yellow Jackets capitalized on a loose ball when senior All-OAC linebacker Paul Burger (Mentor) recovered a fumble. Much of the second quarter was marked by stout defense on both sides of the ball until Marietta cut the lead to 10-9 after Lemke connected on a 23-yard field goal to cap a four play, six-yard drive which took 1:18 off the clock.
After both teams traded punts, B-W regained possession at its own 40 yard line with 3:48 remaining. Gardner completed three straight passes and on first-and-ten from the Marietta 11, freshman running back Tim Miker (Parma/ Senior) cruised into the endzone for his second touchdown of the season to cap off a six play, 60-yard drive. Ramos extended the lead to 17-9 with the extra point.
The Yellow Jackets stymied the Marietta offense throughout the third quarter and put up 28 points of their own. The offense struck with 9:09 remaining after the Yellow Jackets strung a seven play, 61-yard drive spanning 2:18 capped by Crook's four-yard touchdown run, his second of the season. Ramos' extra point gave B-W a 24-9 lead. After forcing a punt, B-W scored minutes later with 7:00 remaining in the third quarter on anAnthony Gardner to senior All-OAC wide receiver Matt Lepley (Bellevue) 46-yard touchdown strike. Ramos' extra point was good and B-W led 31-9. The drive lasted just three plays, 45 yards, and 0:56. It was Gardner's sixth touchdown pass and Lepley's third touchdown grab of the season.
B-W scored its third touchdown in less than six minutes later at the 3:58 mark after Gardner orchestrated a four play, 63-yard drive capped by his 11-yard touchdown run, his second of the game and third of the season. Ramos' extra point made the score 38-9. The Yellow Jackets scored for the fourth time in the third quarter when Gardner tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Steve Price (North Olmsted), his first career touchdown. It capped a three play, 44 yard drive that took just 0:53. Ramos connected on his sixth extra point of the game.
Marietta would get on the board with just 3:29 remaining when Hughes hooked up with junior wide receiver Marty Mueller for a 22-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10 play, 86-yard drive spanning 3:29. Lemke's extra point cut B-W's lead to 45-16.
B-W regained possession and ran out the clock to end the game.
Offensively, B-W racked up a season-high 543 yards of offense, including 375 through the air and 168 on the ground and did not committ a turnover. The Yellow Jackets were led by Gardner who completed 24-of-38 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another two scores and has two 300-yard passing games this season. Crook had a game-high 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, including a touchdown. Lepley had a game-high eight receptions and 93 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Yellow Jackets gave up a season-low 261 total yards of offense, including a season-low 192 passing yards. B-W was led by senior safety Lee Yoder (West Liberty/ West Liberty Salem) with six tackles and a pass break-up. Senior defensive tackle Joe Kowalski (Macedonia/ Nordonia) added five tackles, including a sack, and sophomore linebacker Richard Starr (Cleveland/ East Tech) and sophomore cornerback Ryan Dugan (Mentor) also had five tackles. Junior defensive tackle Kyle Menn (Willoughby/ South) and senior defensive end Dale Buckner (Berea) also had sacks.
Next Saturday is Homecoming in Berea and B-W hosts Mt. Union on the new turf at Tressel Field in The George Finnie Stadium at 2:00 p.m. Fans also can watch that game via tape delay on SportsTime Ohio (www.sportstimeohio.com) at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 and again at 5:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Sunday, Oct. 5.
In addition to the football game, prior to the game, B-W will recognize its eight new membes of its Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame and its 1977 OAC Championship and 1978 NCAA Division III National Championship football teams. The 1978 squad is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 or 5906 and e-mail atkruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.BWyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.
