Staff Report
Junior wide receiver Tim Shadoan (Dublin/Scioto) booted a 40-yard field goal to bring Ohio Wesleyan within 7-3, but fourth-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor pulled away for a 42-3 non-conference win over the Bishops on Saturday at Selby Stadium.
Ohio Wesleyan had the first scoring threat of the game, with junior quarterback Dominick Orsini (Massillon/Archbishop Hoban) connecting with junior wide receiver Eugene Coleman (Northfield/Nordonia) for 37 yards on the Bishops’ first play of the game, setting up a first down at the Crusader 42. After sophomore running back TraVon Wilkes (Akron/Buchtel) picked up 2 yards on a third-and-1 call to move the chains, however, the drive stalled and, facing a fourth-and-9 from the UMHB 30, the Bishops elected to go for it, with Orsini’s pass intended for Shadoan falling incomplete.
Later in the quarter, the Cru assembled a 37-yard play of their own, with Zach Anderson finding Robbie Seybold for 37 yards to the Ohio Wesleyan 30. Malcolm Miller rumbled for 9 yards to set up an Anderson throw to Wykeyhe Walker for a 17-yard touchdown that gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Shadoan broke loose up the right sideline for 51 yards on the ensuing kick return, and Wilkes picked up another first down on the ground, setting up Shadoan’s 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Bryce Wilkerson brought a punt back 42 yards to the Bishop 23-yard line later in the period, and 2 plays later, Anderson found Justin Brumfield on a 21-yard scoring play for a 14-3 Cru lead.
Mary Hardin-Baylor added field goals of 40 and 33 yards by Jacob O’Neill during the third quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with a lengthy march into Crusader territory, with freshman running back Jesse Beachy (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) picking up one first down on a third-and-2 call, and Orsini finding Coleman for 5 yards on a third-and-4 play from the Cru 34. On third down from the UMHB 30, however, the Crusaders recovered a bad snap to turn aside the Bishop threat.
Early in the fourth quarter, Orsini ran for a pair of first downs, posting a gain of 13 yards to open the drive and then rushing for 9 yards on third-and-7. Shadoan came on for a 34-yard field goal try, but his kick hit the left upright.
Mary Hardin-Baylor countered with a score on Duane Thompson’s 33-yard run, and the Cru would go on to add a couple of scores, twice taking advantage of a short field after Raylon Hickey returned an interception deep into Ohio Wesleyan territory.
Orsini completed 14 of 30 throws for 121 yards. Coleman grabbed 7 passes for 54 yards and junior wide receiver Adrian Bishop (San Diego, Calif./Madison) had 4 catches for 37 yards. Wilkes led Bishop rushers with 44 yards on 17 carries.
Defensive leaders for the Bishops included senior end Cameron Pappa (Gilroy, Calif./Kings Academy), who had 11 tackles, including a sack and 2 for loss; junior linebacker Keaton Leppla (Millersburg/West Holmes), who had 11 tackles, including half a tackle for loss, intercepted one pass and broke up another; and junior end Gary Brodek (Parma/Valley Forge), whose 9 stops included a sack.
Anderson completed 5 of 14 passes for 122 yards and 2 scores. Walker had 2 catches for 50 yards. Miller led Crusader rushers with 64 yards on 14 carries. John Thorne and Pierce Thedford each had 9 tackles, including 1½ for loss.
OWU Sports Information contributed to this report.
