District College Football Recap – 10/30/2011

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, October 30, 2011 | 3:10 AM

Champions were crowned in the PSAC West and PAC on Saturday, a near upset of a top ten team in Meadville and Saint Francis picks up their first NEC win and Seton Hill ends a long losing streak.

And speaking of losing streaks, Lock Haven sets the PSAC record for futility. Here are recaps of the games, including three heard here on the Network:

Slippery Rock 28 – Mercyhurst 21
The Rock has clinched at least a share of the PSAC West Division title for the first time in eleven years and SRU will head to the PSAC State Title Game for the first time since 1974. The Rock also hopes to improve it’s chances to go to the NCAA Division II playoffs, SRU was ranked sixth entering the game in Super Region One, the top six teams advance.

Slippery Rock shared the West title with three teams in 2000, the Rock can claim the title outright with a win next week at Gannon. The State Title Game will be played on November 12th at the home of the Eastern Division Champion. C.W. Post upset #2 Bloomsburg 24-21, while #16 Kutztown defeated West Chester 24-0. The Huskies, Pioneers and Golden Bears are all tied at 5-1, heading into the final week of divisional play.
Bloomsburg is at Kutztown, C.W. Post hosts Cheyney. If the Pioneers lose, the winner of the Bloomsburg-Kutztown game hosts the Rock, if the Pioneers win and Bloomsburg wins, then the Rock will go to C.W. Post, if the Pioneers and Kutztown both win, the Rock will travel to Kutztown.

Cody Endres put the Rock up for good with a yard run with 57 seconds remaining. Jake Wickline sealed the win with an interception with twenty ticks left.

The Lakers led 7-0 in the first quarter, Richie Sanders scored from a yard out, set up by a throwback pass from Trevor Kennedy to quarterback Anthony Vendemia. The Rock tied the game three plays into the second quarter on an Endres 12 yard touchdown pass to Devin Goda. Endres to Goda from 15 out game SRU the lead with 5:15 left in the half. But Vendemia connected with Kennedy for a 11 yard touchdown, Kennedy’s 15th score of the season to tie the game at 14 at the break.

Both teams traded interceptions to start the third quarter, Wickline, the former Riverside star, picked off his first pass at the Rock 42.  Endres threw deep but Union grad Linnell Robinson intercepted at the goal line for a touchback. Mercyhurst put a drive together, but Steven Wakefield missed a 31 yard field goal, giving SRU the ball. The Rock drove to the Lakers 17, but the drive stalled out and SRU turned the ball over on downs.

The Lakers took the lead on a 13 play 70 yard drive, Vendemia to Kennedy for a four yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead for Mercyhurst. Slippery Rock tied the game on a Endres touchdown pass to Kurt Amos with 5:27 to go again tie the score. Vendemia was intercepted by Anthony Saunders with 1:01 left to set up the winning drive.

Endres threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns, Goda had six catches for 72 yards and two scores. The Rock is now 8-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the PSAC West.

Mercyhurst falls to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in divisional play. Sanders ran for 99 yards on 22 carries. Vendemia was 22 of 36 for 209 yards, he was picked three times and also sacked three more.

Grove City 24 – W & J 21
The Presidents jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead at Robert E. Thorn Field but the Wolverines had the last say, scoring 24 unanswered points to end a twelve game losing streak to W & J.

W & J got off to a great start, Dion Wiegand took the opening kickoff 47 yards to the Grove City 33, Wiegand scored on a Matt Bliss 11 yard pass and a 7-0 lead. Grove City turned the ball over on downs at the W & J 48, Tim McNerney scored five plays later on a 31 yard run to extend the lead. The Presidents used a long drive, 14 plays and 93 yards on their next possession, Taylor Hockman scoring on a four yard run to put the Presidents up by 21 with a minute left in the first quarter.

Grove City had a great scoring chance to start the second quarter, but Brian Pell was picked off by Neil Sorice. Pell was able to get the Wolverines on the board on the next drive, hitting Joseph Gulasky on a fourth and goal at the three for a touchdown with 3:40 remaining in the half.

The Wolverines got the ball back at the W & J 25 with 1:48 left, Pell hit Blaine Miller for a 56 yard score to cut the lead to 21-12 at the half. Grove City caught a huge break early in the third with Tim Irwin forcing a Alex Baroffio fumble, and Pell hitting Anthony Ritchie for a 26 yard touchdown, Ethan Witmer missed his second extra point of the day, leaving the Presidents up by three.

The lead changed on the fourth play of the final quarter, Pell connected with Jimmy Bailey for a 46 yard touchdown and a 24-21 lead, Witmer’s extra point was blocked by Sorice. W & J looked like they were driving for the go-ahead score but Irwin forced McNerney to fumble, Ben Manwaring recovered at the Wolverine 5 and Grove City ran out the clock.

Pell was 21 of 33 for 305 yards and the four scores. Miller had eight catches for 96 yards, Ritchie made five grabs for 92 yards. Grove City is now 2-6 overall, 2-4 in the PAC.

W & J is 4-4 overall, the Presidents fall to 3-3 in the PAC. McNerney ran for 127 yards on 21 carries, Bliss was 23 of 36 for 207 yards. Baroffio caught eight passes for 106 yards.

Geneva 50 – Thiel 31
Rocco Colavecchia ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 95 yards and a score as the Golden Tornadoes picked up the PAC win at Reeves Field.

Thiel led 7-0 in the opening minute, De’Von Drish scored on a yard run after a Julian McLean kickoff return. That lead lasted fourteen seconds, A.J. Delmonico went 80 yards with the ensuing kickoff to knot the game at seven. It took Geneva just two plays on their next possession, Alex Mack a 27 yard touchdown pass from Zack Hayward and a 14-7 GT lead.

Colavecchia scored on a five yard run on the third play of the second quarter, Drish answered with a six yard run, Hayward hooked up with Mack again for a seven yard scoring strike and Bryan Visengardi kicked a 35 yard field goal on the final play of the half to put Geneva up 31-14 at the break.

Geneva scored on the opening drive of the third, Colavecchia to Corey O’Patchen for a 39 yard strike. Scott Erb ended the next Thiel drive with an interception at the Geneva seven, but Hayward took a sack in the end zone, the safety made it a 37-16 lead for Geneva. After the free kick, Thiel used an eight play drive, Devonte Campbell to Matt Fedzen for a ten yard touchdown. Geneva answered with a Visengardi 40 yard field goal for a 40-24 lead.

Colavecchia scored with 12:33 remaining on a three yard run to put Geneva up 47-24. Drish scored from seven out to cut the lead to 16, but Visengardi kicked his third field goal, this time from 38 yards to end the scoring. Geneva is now 3-6 overall and 3-4 in the PAC.

Thiel got 90 yards from Drish on 23 carries, the Tomcats are 0-8.

Sacred Heart 27 – Robert Morris 15
Tim Little threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Pioneers knock off the Colonials in Moon Township. Little was 16 of 29 for 212 yards as Sacred Heart goes to 5-3 overall.

Jeff Sinclair put RMU up 7-0 with a 22 yard run early in the first quarter. After the teams traded field goals, Little tied the game at ten with a 15 yard run. Greg Langer kicked his second field goal for the Colonials, a 45 yard boot to put Robert Morris up 13-10. But Little found Greg Moore for a 24 yard touchdown with 26 seconds left in the half to give the Pioneers the lead for good.

Little hit Rock Tate for a 7 yard touchdown in the third quarter, Chris Rogers kicked his second field goal, Robert Morris was able to force a safety in the final 45 seconds to end the scoring.

Moore had six catches for 108 yards, the Pioneers are 3-2 in the NEC. Sinclair threw for only 148 yards and was picked off twice, Shadrae King caught five passes for 73 yards, King has now caught at least one pass in 27 straight games. The Colonials are now 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Duquesne 16 – Monmouth 0
Sean Patterson ran for a score and threw for another as the Dukes ended a four game losing streak to the Hawks. Patterson opened the scoring with a 19 yard first quarter touchdown run. Charlie Leventry kicked a 33 yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the half, Patterson took advantage of a turnover and found Issac Spragg with a 18 yard touchdown with forty seconds until the break,

Larry McCoy ran for 110 yards on 35 carries, Duquesne is now 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the NEC. Connor Dixon caught one pass, but that extends his consecutive games streak to 24 with at least one catch.

Julian Hayes ran 34 times for 114 yards for Monmouth, now 4-4 overall and 3-2. The Hawks have not won in four tries at home this season.

Saint Francis 27 – Central Connecticut State 13
Kyle Harbridge ran for 187 yards on 41 carries thru the snow in Loretto as the Red Flash pick up their first NEC win of the season. Harbridge opened the scoring on a 10 yard run in the first, John Kelly hit Ryan Zarnich for a 32 yard touchdown and Harbridge scored on a two yard run, plus a Josh Thiel 45 yard field goal at the gun put Saint Francis up 24-0 at the break.

Brian Fowler scored on 11 and 7 yard runs for the Blue Devils, who were the pre-season pick for the top spot in the NEC by the coaches. CCSU is now 2-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference, they have dropped six straight..

Saint Francis ran for 304 yards, Keion Wade added 84 yards, the Red Flash are now 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference.

Youngstown State 56 – Western Illinois 14
The Penguins led 28-0 after one quarter and never looked back in the victory at the Ice Castle Saturday.
Kurt Hess threw for four touchdowns and ran for another. Hess hooked with Christian Bryan for a 70 yard touchdown eight seconds into the game.

Hess scored on a 13 yard run, Jamaine Cook scampered in from two yards out, and Hess hit Jelanie Berassa for the first quarter lead. Hess was 7-10 for 209 yards, Cook ran for 111 yards and two scores. The Penguins are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the MVC.

The Leathernecks are 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference, Nikko Watson broke the shutout with a five yard run in the third quarter, Josh Hudson hit Terruin Crump for a four yard touchdown in the fourth.

California 28 – IUP 10
Peter Lalich threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Josh Gumbert on the final play of the first half, that lead Cal to a victory in the snow at George P. Miller Stadium in the third annual Coal Bowl. The win keeps Cal alive for a playoff berth, IUP was ranked ninth in the Super Region 1 poll, but will fall out with the loss.

IUP led 3-0 in the first quarter on a Brett Ullman 37 yard field goal, Cal took the lead on two Lalich touchdown passes, 44 yards to Thomas Mayo and 41 yards to Chedrick Cherry. Pat Smith cut the Cal lead to four with a three yard touchdown run, setting up the Lalich to Gumbert td at the end of the half, putting the  24th ranked Vulcans up 21-10 at the break. 

Jeff Knox scored the only touchdown of the second half on a one yard run with 5:52 left in the third quarter,
With the snow-covered field and slick conditions, running the ball was a key and Cal did just that. Lamont Smith led the way with 24 carries for 147 yards, Knox had 25 carries for 106 yards. Lalich threw for 224 yards and the three scores. Cal is now 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the PSAC West.

Pat Smith was 5 of 17 for 90 yards for IUP, now 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the PSAC West. Harvie Tuck carried 19 times for 84 yards, IUP was denied the program’s 500th win, however IUP takes on winless Lock Haven next week.

Clarion 28 – Gannon 21
Patrick Graham-Murphy ran for over 100 yards in his second start at running back, after being moved from the defensive backfield and the Golden Eagles claimed the home win at Memorial Stadium. The Brashear star, ran for 155 yards and a touchdown, the score came in the opening minute on a 68 yard run.

Gannon answered with a Daniel Tapscott 37 yard pass to Jerry Smith late in the first. Ben Fiscus put Clarion back on top with a 13 yard pass to Jon Reid. Tapscott hit Lawrence Coleman for a 45 yard score on the final play of the half to knot the score at 14.

It was all Clarion in the second half, Brandon Akins scored on a 32 yard run, Fiscus added a one yard run to go up 28-14, Ty Watson tossed a touchdown pass to Smith from two yards out to cut the lead to seven with 49 seconds remaining. Clarion recovered the onsides kick to end the game.

Clarion is now 2-7 overall, 2-4 in the PSAC West, Fiscus threw for 174 yards and ran for 88. The Golden Eagle defense held Gannon to minus 14 yards rushing.

The Golden Knights are now 3-6 overall and also 2-4 in divisional play. Tapscott threw for 266 yards, he was intercepted three times. Watson tossed for 124 yards. Coleman had 194 yards receiving on seven catches. Smith had six catches for 127 yards.

Edinboro 42 – Lock Haven 7
The Fighting Scots handed the Bald Eagles their 40th consecutive loss, breaking the PSAC mark. The 40 game skid is also the longest current streak in any NCAA division.

The victory also keeps the playoff chances for Edinboro alive, the Fighting Scots were ranked eighth in the Super Region One poll last week, the Fighting Scots travel to Cal next week, the loser will be eliminated from any NCAA consideration.

Cody Harris threw four touchdown passes and David Bostic set single game records for catches and receiving yards in the win. Bostic had 13 receptions for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

Drew Harrell put Edinboro on the board first with a three yard run, Harris hit Marcus Johnson for a 71 yarde touchdown with just over a minute to play in the first.

Harris threw his second td pass of the day to Nick Marino for 30 yards and a 21-0 lead. Jarrett Kratzer scored on a yard run for the Bald Eagles, but Harris hit Bostic for 19 yards and a score with 11 seconds to play in the half to put Edinboro up 28-7.

Harris and Bostic connected on the opening drive of the third quarter for a 41 yard score. Ty Stoldt threw the final td pass to Bostic, a 74 yard bomb. Harris was 27 of 33 for 398 yards, Edinboro is now 7-2 and 4-2 in the PSAC West.

Lock Haven got 168 yards rushing from Brandon Brader on 33 carries, Kratzer was just 8 of 24 for 81 yards, he was intercepted three times.

Seton Hill 26 – West Liberty 22
The Griffins pick up their first win of the season. D.J. Lenehan returned at quarterback and threw for 322 yards and a score, he also ran for two touchdowns.

Lenehan ran for a five yard touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Griffins a 7-0 lead. L.D. Crow answered with a td pass to Brandon Schroeder for 16 yards, the extra point was missed, keeping Seton Hill up 7-6 at the half.

In the third quarter, Crow found Brandon Carver for a 34 yard touchdown. Lenehan went deep to Jeorge Valdovinos for 70 yards, the extra point was blocked, the score knotted at 13.

Crow hit Marvin Murray for a seven yard touchdown in the fourth to put West Liberty up 20-13. Daniel Butler evened the game with a one yard run, then Lenehan scored from nine yards out to put the Griffins up for good. Seton Hill took a safety on the final play of the game.

Valdovinos had five catches for 144 yards. Crow threw for 322 yards, Schroeder had 13 catches for 180 yards. Both teams are 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the WVIAC.

Thomas More 27 – Westminster 10
The sixth ranked Saints claimed their fourth straight PAC title with the win today and Waynesburg’s loss to Saint Vincent. Thomas More is now 8-0 overall and 7-0 in the conference.

The Saints opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first quarter with Robert Kues hitting Adam Rauch for a 32 yard touchdown, one play after Thomas More recovered a Tyler Banks fumble. The Saints got three more points off a turnover in the second, Zach Autenrieb intercepted Shawn Lehocky and returned the pick to the Westminster 12, setting up a 28 yard Aaron Walter field goal and a 10-0 Saints lead.

Westminster drove twice inside the Thomas More 20, but came out with only one Zac Henry 25 yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-3 at the break.

Kues opened the third quarter scoring with a 25 yard run and a 17-3 lead. Lehocky answered with a one yard run, but the drive took twenty plays and ate up most of the third quarter. Kues scored on an eight yard run with 11:52 remaining to put the Saints up by two touchdowns. Walter added another field goal with 4:49 to play to ice the win.

Domonique Hayden ran for 99 yards on twenty carries. Kues threw for only 153 yards, but figured in on three scores. For Westminster, Lehocky threw for 225 yards, he was picked three times and sacked four more. Collin Wallace had nine catches for 112 yards. Westminster falls to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the PAC.

Saint Vincent 17 – Waynesburg 14
The Yellow Jackets saw their PAC title hopes fade away with a home loss at Wiley Stadium. Morgan Porter kicked a 24 yard field goal on the final play of the game to give the Bearcats a huge win.

Waynesburg led 14-7 at the half. Josh Graham connected with Adam Moses for an 11 yard touchdown early in the second quarter, Saint Vincent answered with an Aaron Smetanka 17 yard touchdown pass to Jake Smith. Bertrand Ngampa gave the Yellow Jackets back the lead with a one yard touchdown run with 1:54 left in the half.

The score stayed the same until Devin Anderson returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown and tied the game at 14. Saint Vincent had a golden opportunity when they forced a fumble by Sean Hunt inside the ten yard line, but the Bearcats turned the ball over on the next play.

Saint Vincent got the ball back at the Waynesburg 30, and was able to drive the final 3:50 off the clock, setting up Porter for the game winner.

Both teams turned the ball over five times with three interceptions and two fumbles each. Saint Vincent is 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the PAC, Waynesburg is 4-3 overall and 4-2 in the PAC, the Yellow Jackets were eliminated from the conference title picture with the loss.

Wabash 22 – Allegheny 16
The ninth ranked Little Giants got a major scare in Meadville, having to hold the Gators off in the red zone in the final minute for the win. Wabash is now 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the NCAC, setting up a date with #23 Wittenberg next week.

Wes Chamblee caught a 28 yard touchdown pass from Chase Belton in the first quarter, Ryan Zipf kicked a 20 yard field goal for the Gators. In the second, Allegheny took the lead on a Jordan Fowler two yard touchdown pass to Dan Lubarda. Belton scored on a three yard run to put the Little Giants up 14-10 at the break.

Zipf kicked 29 and 38 field goals to give Allegheny back the lead at 16-14 with 12:15 remaining. Belton connected with Johnathan Horn. Allegheny drove to the Wabash 13, but turned the ball over on downs with 58 seconds left. 

Belton threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Chamblee had six catches for 104 yards. Fowler was 33 of 45 for 240 for the Gators, Brian Tamburlin had nine catches, he also ran for 79 yards on 25 carries. Allegheny is now 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Washington University 14 – Carnegie Mellon 7
The Tartans scored first but fell to the Bears in the UAA conference opener in Pittsburgh. Chris Garcia went in from a yard out to finish a ten play drive in the first quarter. Dan Burkett hit Drew Sexton for an 18 yard touchdown with 1:03 to play in the half.

The Bears got the only score of the second half, Burkett to Easton Knott for 77 yards to put Washington U up for good. Chris Castelluccio ran 25 times for 126 yards. Burkett was only 9 of 21 for 162 yards, but threw the two touchdown passes. The Bears are 5-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Rob Kalkstein was 15 of 21 for 171 yards, Patrick Blanks carried 14 times for 81 yards. CMU is now 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the UAA.

Tags: Geneva, Slippery Rock, Washington