BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College football team ended its 2009 season with a 48-38 loss at Ohio Athletic Conference rival Capital University today (Saturday, November 14) at Bernlohr Stadium in Columbus.
With its loss, the Yellow Jackets end their season at 3-7 overall and 3-6 in the OAC. With its victory, the Crusaders end their season at 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the OAC.
Baldwin-Wallace led 3-0 after one quarter, 24-20 at halftime and Capital led 34-24 after three quarters.
In the first quarter, B-W received the opening kickoff and drove all the way down to the Capital three yard-line before a sack forced the Yellow Jackets to settle for a 25-yard field goal from junior Brad Pollock (Broadview Heights/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) for a 3-0 advantage. Pollock's kick capped a 15 play, 76-yard drive that spanned 6:36. Capital's first drive was ended by an interception from sophomore safety Ryan Dugan (Mentor). The pick was Dugan's team-best sixth of the season.
Early in the second quarter, B-W increased to a 10-0 lead when junior running back John McGraw (North Ridgeville) scored his team-leading ninth rushing touchdown of the season from four yards out. Pollock added the point after as the BW scoring drive covered 12 plays and 80 yards, taking 4:14 off the clock.
Capital quickly answered back on its next drive as quarterback Marty Assmann connected with Evan Blake for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Garrett Bennington's PAT was good, cutting the Jacket lead to 10-7. The Crusaders then forced a B-W three and out and took the lead on the ensuing possession as running back Matt Merritt scored on a six-yard TD run, capping a 10-play, 52-yard drive that took 2:45. Bennington added the PAT, making the score 14-10 Capital.
However, a Capital unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a 36-yard kickoff return by senior Pete Taylor (North Olmsted) gave B-W the ball on the Capital 40-yard line. On the next play, BW pulled off a flea-flicker as senior All-OAC QB Anthony Gardner (Rocky River/Lakewood St. Edward) found sophomore WR Anthony Fairhurst (Ashland/Senior) behind the Capital secondary for a 40-yard TD pass. Pollock added the point after, as B-W regained the lead 17-14.
Capital's Dom D'Andrea gave Capital the lead again with only 1:49 left in the half as he scored on a four-yard TD run, but Bennington's PAT failed, making the score 20-17 in favor of the Crusaders. But, Capital left too much time on the clock as Gardner led a six-play, 62-yard drive in just 1:30 as he found sophomore WR Devon Jennings (Euclid) on a six-yard TD pass with only 12 seconds left in the half. Pollock added another PAT, making the halftime score 24-20 in favor of B-W.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Capital drove down to the BW two yard-line, but an Assmann pass was intercepted by senior safety Ryan Clokey (Massillon/Perry) at the goal line and returned 61 yards to the Capital 39. After BW failed to covert on fourth down, Capital took over possession and drove down to the B-W five yard-line but D'Andrea was stopped on fourth and one by senior OLB Brad Koester (Sunbury/Big Walnut) and sophomore DT Max Wagner (Mentor). But, Capital forced a BW three and out and then scored on the ensuing possession when Assmann found Kevin Wehby on a 22-yard TD pass and Bennington added the PAT. On B-W's next drive, Capital's Aaron Rittgers forced a fumble and ran it back 28 yards for a Capital touchdown as the Crusaders took a 34-24 lead after Bennington's PAT.
In the fourth quarter, Capital found the end zone twice more on one-yard TD runs from Assmann and D'Andrea. B-W added a score when Gardner found sophomore WR Aaron Hurd (Tiffin/Columbian) on a 17-yard TD pass with 46 seconds left. Gardner also found Hurd on the two-point conversion. Sophomore Dave Cantu's (Amherst/Steele) onside kick was recovered by B-W and Gardner ran in a TD from 12 yards out as time expired, bringing the final score to 48-38.
Capital outgained B-W 471-453 in total offense. B-W was led offensively by Gardner, who was 23-of-30 for 240 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also ran for 104 yards on 19 carries and a TD. McGraw added 82 yards on 15 carries and a score on the ground. Jennings was the game's leading receiver with eight catches for 87 yards and a TD. Defensively, BW was led by junior OLB Ryan Kish (Amherst/Steele) with a career-high 21 tackles (18 solo). Koester, Clokey and sophomore LB J.J. Laseak (Mentor) also had double-digit tackles.
Capital was led on offense by D'Andrea who rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns and Assmann who was 15-of-23 for 214 yards and two TD. Defensively, Capital was led by Matt Heagen with 10 tackles and two sacks.
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 B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
