BEXLEY, Ohio – Both freshman quarterback Jake Hudson (East Lake, Fla./ East Lake) and junior running back Austin Smith (North Royalton) each ran for more than 100 yards, but the Baldwin Wallace University football team lost 42-41 in overtime at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Capital University in Bernlohr Stadium.
The game was tied 7-7 after one quarter, BW led 21-14 at halftime and 21-7 after three periods. BW (2-6, 1-6 OAC) outgained Capital (4-4, 4-3 OAC) by a 485-423 margin, including 290-198 on the ground. Three of four BW turnovers and a blocked field goal led to 28 Crusader points during regulation.
Hudson, who started his fifth career game, completed 13 of 19 passes for 195 yards. He also ran for a career-high 157 yards in 21 attempts with two TD's. It was his third 100-yard rushing game this season. In addition, Smith ran for 106 yards in 28 attempts and three TDs. It was his sixth career 100-yard rushing day of his career. He also caught a team-high three passes for 20 yards. The BW defense was led by junior outside linebacker Sam Groff (Waynesburg/ Sandy Valley) had a game-high 13 tackles and scored a TD on a "wildcat" QB three-yard run.
For Capital, junior Nick Iske and sophomore Conner McCloud alternated at QB and combined to complete 17 of 28 passes for 225 yards with two TD's and three interceptions. Ike also ran for 95 yards on 25 attempts with two TD's and McCloud ran for 30 in four attempts and a TD. In addition, junior slot back Nick Waters ran the ball 10 times for 24 yards and caught five passes for 64 more. In addition, freshman WR David Barnett caught a game-high six passes for 69 yards and a TD. On defense, sophomore tackle Drew Selegue had a team-high 11 tackles.
In the first period, Hudson gave BW a 7-0 lead at 10:40 when he ran 22 yards to the end zone and senior three-time Academic All-OAC placekicker Joe Simonis (Hinckley/ Medina Highland) kicked the PAT. The score followed the recovery of a fumbled punt return by CU which Yellow Jacket junior strong safety Trypp Washington (Orlando, Fla./ First Academy) recovered at the Crusader 31 yard line. The Crusaders tied it 7-7 at 4:26 when Iske ran three yards to the end zone and senior Will Weir booted the PAT. It followed the recovery of a BW fumble at the Yellow Jacket 43.
In the second quarter, Capital grabbed a 14-7 lead at 9:59 when "wildcat" QB McCloud three a 27-yard scoring pass to Barnett and Weir added the PAT. The Crusader score came after the block of a 39-yard BW field goal attempt which CU recovered at the BW 34. BW returned the favor at 5:57 when serving as a "wildcat" QB, Groff scored from three yards out and Simonis added his second PAT kick. A 31-yard kickoff return by freshman Darius Greer (Toledo/ Central Catholic) kickstarted the rally.
BW took a 21-14 lead at 2:09 when Smith scored on a three-yard run for his 10th rushing TD of the season and Simonis kicked his third PAT.
After a scoreless third quarter, Capital tied the game at 21-21 at 12:05 of the fourth quarter when senior cornerback Chuck English intercepted Hudson and returned it a school-record 98 yards for a TD. Weir added his third PAT kick. The Crusaders again capitalized on a BW miscue when it recovered a Jacket fumble on the CU 19 yard line. Capital drove 81 yards in 10 plays to take a 28-21 lead when McCloud ran into the end zone for six yards away. Weir added his fourth PAT boot.
BW tied the game with 40 seconds left in regulation when Smith ran five yards for his second TD of the game and 11th this season and Simonis added his fourth PAT kick. The scoring play completed a 8-pay and 74-yard drive in 3:43.
In overtime, BW struck first and regained the lead at 35-28 when Smith scored his third rushing TD of the day and 13th this season on a 4-yard run and then Simonis added his fifth PAT kick. The key play in the scoring drive was a run by Hudson on a fourth-and-one at the CU 16 yard line. Capital tied it at 35-all when McCloud threw an 11-yard scoring pass to junior RB Hunter Smith and Weir connected on his fifth PAT kick.
Ike gave Capital a 42-35 lead when he ran for a TD from two yards away in the second O.T. And Weir added his sixth PAT. Hudson cut the lead down to one at 42-41 when he ran 11 yards for his second TD of the game. The Yellow Jacket then went for the 2-point conversion and the win after Capital called one timeout and BW two. On the two-point conversion, Smith carried the ball to the goal line and appeared to cross the plane of the goal line, but fumbled into the end zone and Capital recovered the ball to survive and win.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, November 5 when they travel to Tiffin, Ohio to play the Heidelbereg University Student Princes at Mayer Field at 1:30 p.m. The final home and regular season game is on Saturday, November 12 versus Ohio Northern University on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium at 2 p.m.
