BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team opened the 2023 season as it fell to Mount St. Joseph University in a non-conference 45th Lee Tressel Shrine Classic game by a final score of 46-33 on the Tressel Field inside the George Finnie Stadium.

BW (0-1) falls to 0-2 in the all-time series with Mount St. Joseph (1-0). 

Senior quarterback Joey Marousek (North Royalton) was selected as the Yellow Jacket Shrine Classic Player of the Game.  Senior quarterback Josh Taylor was selected as the Lion Shrine Classic Player of the Game

Offensively for BW, Marousek completed 24-of-41 passes for 330 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.  Junior running back Victor Ford, Jr. (Cleveland/Shaker Heights) led the ground attack as he rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. Marousek also rushed for 37 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns.  In his first career game, sophomore wide out Connor Awad (Grafton/Midview) led the receiving unit as he caught five passes for 153 yards.  Defensively, senior linebacker Connor Miller (Boardman) recorded a career-high seven tackles.

Offensively for Mount St. Joseph, Taylor completed 27-of-51 passes for 428 yards with six touchdowns.  Junior running back Jackson Gifford rushed for 48 yards on nine carries.   Junior wide out Joey Newton caught six passes for 147 yards with two touchdowns.  Defensively, junior safety Austin Price tallied 10 tackles.

First Quarter (BW, 7-6)

• 6:15     Joey Newton 58-yard pass from Taylor (Kyle Farsing kick is no good)
• 2:46     Senior wide receiver Elijah Arnett (Akron/Woodridge) 1-yard pass from Marousek (Freshman Joseph Evans (Chardon) kick is good)

Second Quarter (MSJ, 19-14)

• 8:58     Kadin Pollard 7-yard pass from Taylor (Junior defensive back Alden Steele (Lorain/Amherst) intercepted Taylor's 2-point conversion)
• 6:33     Porter, Jr. 16-yad pass from Taylor (Farsing kick is good)
• 2:41     Marousek 1-yard run (Evans kick is good)

Third Quarter (MSJ, 32-20)

• 10:44   Farsing 24-yard field goal
• 8:11     Austin Brock 18-yard pass from Taylor (Farsing kick is good)
• 6:35     Marousek 1-yard run (2-point conversion failed)
• 3:04     Farsing 20-yard field goal

Fourth Quarter (MSJ, 46-33)

• 14:17   Senior tight end Jonah Schrock (Howell, Mich.) 2-yard pass from Marousek (Evans kick is no good)
• 7:22     Pollard 32-yard pass from Taylor (Farsing kick is good)
• 5:53     Ford, Jr. 6-yard run (Evans kick is good)
• 2:33     Newton 60-yard pass from Taylor (Farsing kick is good)

The Yellow Jackets continue their three-game season opening homestand on September 9 when they host the OAC opener and Hall of Fame game against Wilmington College at 1:30 p.m.