BEREA, OHIO--The Baldwin-Wallace College football team opened the 2009 season by losing to 19th-ranked Franklin (Ind.) College, 38-31, at The George Finnie Stadium on Tressel Field in Berea, Ohio before 5,071 fans. The game was designated as the 32nd Annual Lee Tressel Shrine Classic.
The Grizzlies led 14-7 after one quarter and 28-21 at halftime. The game was tied 28-28 after three periods.
Franklin opened the scoring at the 11:49 mark when junior quarterback Kyle Ray threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to junior wingback Ryan Momberger to complete a 10-play and 68-yard drive. Senior kicker Machy Magdalinos' extra point kick was good for a 7-0 Grizzly lead.
B-W bounced right back with its own nine-play and 64-yard drive that was capped when junior running back Kyrell Crook (Columbus/ DeSales) scored on a six-yard run at the 8:14 mark. Junior PK Brad Pollock's (Brecksville/ Brecksville-Broadview Heights) PAT kick made the score 7-7.
Franklin again gained the lead at 14-7 when it went 65 yards in 12 plays in 3:06 to score at the 5:02 mark when Ray tossed a 10-yard TD pass to sophomore wingback Mitch Deffner and Magdalinos PAT kick was good.
Franklin increased its lead to 21-7 at the 6:15 mark of the second stanza when junior RB Mitch Downs scored on a seven-yard run and Magdalinos added the PAT kick to cap a sevenplay and 58-yard jaunt.
B-W then scored 14 unanswered points to tie the score at 21-21. The first score came at the 5:14 mark and was a 56-yard catch and run on a pass from junior QB Anthony Gardner (Rocky River/ Lakewood St. Edward) to sophomore wide receiver Devon Jennings (Euclid). Pollock then added the PAT kick. The second came on Crook's second TD run of the game, this time a one-yarder at the 2:47 mark. It capped a seven play and 24-yard drive that was set up by an interception by sophomore safety Corey Hildreth (Massillon/ Washington). Pollock also made his third straight PAT.
Franklin then regained the lead at 28-21 four seconds before halftime when Ray tossed a 13-yard TD aerial to Downs and Magdalinos made the PAT to cap an eight-play, 64-yard drive in 2:38.
B-W opened the second half by travelling 73 yards in 14 plays to tie the score at 28-28 when junior RB John McGraw (North Ridgeville) ran seven yards to paydirt and Pollock made the PAT at the 8:38 mark.
Franklin regained the lead at 31-28 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Magdalinos nailed a line-drive 43-yard field goal with 14:57 left. The Grizzlies then gained a 10-point lead when an errant shovel pass was intercepted and Franklin took over at the B-W 45-yard line. It went the 45 yards in seven plays to score and lead 38-28 when junior QB Nick Purichia scored on a one-yard run and Magdalinos made the PAT at the 11:52 mark.
The Jackets closed to within seven points at 38-31 with 1:19 left when Pollock nailed a 23-yard field goal. The score was setup by a 25-yard punt return by senior cornerback Pete Taylor (North Olmsted) and a 41-yard pass from Gardner to freshman WR Terence Davis (Fremont Ross).
Franklin then 'iced' the game when it recovered an onside kick and then ran out the clock.
Offensively, Franklin was led by QB's Ray and Purichia who combined to complete 31-of-43 passes for 239 yards and three TD. Ray was 24-of-35 for 204 yards with the three TD and one interception. He also ran eight times for 35 yards. Purchia was was six-of-eight passing for 57 yards with a rushing TD. The Grizzly running game was led by Downs with 16 carries for 45 yards and one TD and had six catches for 32 yards and another score. Junior WR Matt Zmich led all Franklin receivers with eight catches for 81 yards. On defense, Franklin was led by a trio of players with eight tackles each.
The B-W offense was led by Gardner, Crook and Jennings. Gardner completed 19-of-30 passes for 279 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Jennings caught a career-high eight passes for 105 yards and a TD. Crookcarried the ball 28 times for 85 yards with a pair of TD. On defense, sophomore outside linebacker Brett Thompson (Shelby) and junior OLB Ryan Kish (Amherst/ Steele) tied for the team lead with 11 tackles each.
The Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19 when they travel across town to battle Greater Cleveland and Ohio Athletic Conference rival John Carroll University at 7:00 p.m. at Don Shula Stadium.
FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
