With the win, the Yellow Jackets improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the OAC and reached the seven-win plateau for the first time since 2006. B-W is now tied for second place with No.12-ranked Ohio Northern University at 6-1 in the OAC and one game behind first place Mount Union (8-0, 7-0 OAC). With its loss, Muskingum falls to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in the OAC.
After one quarter of play the score was tied at 7-7 and Muskingum led 16-7 at halftime. Baldwin Wallace led 20-16 after three stanzas. B-W piled up 211 total yards on the ground, including 100-plus yard games from senior running back John McGraw (North Ridgeville) and junior RB Tim Miker (Parma/Senior). The Jacket 'Swarm D' held Muskingum to 25 yards rushing and sacked Muskingum quarterback Jake Burns seven times, including four by senior defensive end Keith Darbut (Miami, Fla./Palmetto Senior).
In the first quarter, B-W opened up the scoring at the 10:36 mark when sophomore quarterback Ryan O'Rourke (Avon) connected with junior wide receiver Troy Van Meter (Gahanna/Westerville North) on a 27-yard pass to cap a six play, 84-yard drive that took 2:04 off the clock. Senior placekicker Brad Pollock (Broadview Heights/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) added the extra point. The key play on the drive was 41-yard completion on third down from O'Rourke to sophomore WR Aaron Manders (Toledo/Cardinal Stritch).
Muskingum answered with an 11 play, 70-yard drive when QB Jake Burns tossed a seven yard swing pass to Antowan Logan for a Muskie TD with 3:39 left in the first. Caleb Carpenter added the PAT. The drive was kept alive when B-W was penalized with a roughing the holder penalty on a Muskingum field goal attempt, giving the Muskies a fresh set of downs.
B-W was led offensively by McGraw who carried the ball 19 times for 125 yards. Miker also contributed 110 yards and a TD on 22 carries. Through the air, O'Rourke was nine of 19 passing for 147 yards including three TD passes. Junior WR Dan Turner (Youngstown/Ursuline) had team highs in catches (4) and yards (48). Hurd compiled two catches for 23 yards and a TD.
The Jacket defense was led Darbut who had five tackles, including four sacks for 39 lost yards and a tipped pass that led to an interception. He now has 9.5 sacks in 2010. Junior safety Corey Hildreth (Massillon/Washington) led the Jackets with eight tackles including one for loss. Dugan had six solo tackles on the day and added the late fourth quarter interception to seal the win. The pick was Dugan's team-best third of the season. Senior defensive end Mitch Tulk (Elyria/Senior) had three tackles for loss totaling 14 lost yards.
Muskingum was led on offense by Burns who passed for 311 yards through the air, completing 28-of-45 passes and a score against three interceptions. Josh Sams had game-highs with nine receptions and 105 yards. Logan added six catches for 70 yards and a TD. Alex Thomas had 10 tackles for the Fighting Muskie defense and Chad Bajc had eight tackles and two tackles for loss.
Next Saturday's kickoff versus Mount Union on Seniors' Day at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea is at 1:30 p.m. Fans can listen to that game live on campus radio station WBW, 88.3 FM, and via the WBW Internet Web site at www.wBW.com. For tickets for that game, please call the BW Athletic Department at 440-826-2140 or 2184. For ticket prices, please visit the B-W Athletics Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics/ticketprices/
Following the Mount Union game, B-W ends its regular season on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Cleveland cross-town and OAC rival John Carroll University at 1:30 p.m. on Wasmer Field in Don Shula Stadium in University Heights.
FOR MORE BW 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 Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.
