By Ryan Briggs
Grove City SID
More often than not, highly anticipated matchups in sports turn out to be lopsided affairs. Last Saturday proved to be the most anticipated regular-season weekend in quite a while throughout the Great Lakes Region. Would that theory concerning lopsided games hold true?
Unfortunately, yes.
The Capital-Mount Union game featured little drama as Mount Union rolled to a 38-12 home victory. In Washington, Pa., Washington & Jefferson took control of the Presidents' Athletic Conference with a 30-3 win over Waynesburg.
Wabash knocked Wooster out of contention in the NCAC, 20-10, as the Little Giants had six sacks and held Wooster to just 147 yards.
One game that did live up to expectations occurred outside the boundaries of the Great Lakes Region as Carnegie Mellon won the UAA with a 10-7 overtime win over host Washington University in Saint Louis.
Although the "main event" games turned out to be somewhat non-descript, several other games produced heart-stopping finishes.
Here's our weekly look back at the Great Lakes Region:
Running down a title
In last week's column, I noted that Capital's run defense had been questionable in the weeks preceding Saturday's game with Mount Union. Well, Mount Union took full advantage of the Capital run defense, piling up a season-high 345 yards in a 38-12 victory.
Sophomore workhorse Nate Kmic carried the ball 35 times for 240 and three touchdowns for Mount Union. Defensively, Mount Union proved just as adept at stopping the run, limiting Capital to minus-31 yards on the ground.
"The biggest difference was up front (Saturday)," Capital head coach Jim Collins said. "Their offensive line dominated our defensive front and their defensive line dominated our offensive line. Kmic is very difficult to stop. He's simply the best back we've faced this year."
In last year's playoff meeting, Capital stayed within striking distance of Mount Union and actually led 31-28. This year, Mount Union bolted to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter as Darrell Pierce blocked a punt and Chris Kappas recovered it in the end zone.
The victory pretty much cements the OAC title for Mount Union. Capital is still in good shape for a Pool C bid. However, the Crusaders cannot need to win both to eliminate any doubt at all.
Capital is arguably the second-best team in the North Region. No doubt, we could see a second meeting between these two programs for a second consecutive year.
W&J D
The Washington & Jefferson defense scored a pair of touchdowns and limited Waynesburg to just 171 total yards and an 0-for-10 third-down performance Saturday in the Presidents' 30-3 win over Waynesburg at historic Cameron Stadium.
W&J led 17-3 midway through the fourth quarter when senior defensive end Dan Brodland intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. On the final play of the game, defensive lineman Jeff Ernst returned a pick 21 yards for a touchdown.
"There's no love lost between these two teams," Brodland told the Washington Observer-Reporter. "But that's what makes it so much fun."
Because of its location on the fringe of the Great Lakes Region, most fans are probably not aware of the fact that the W&J-Waynesburg series in all sports is one of the more heated in the region.
O-R writer Joe Tuscano asked Brodland about the exchange of "trash talk" during the game. Brodland responded with perhaps the quote of the year: "I'm Norwegian, so I'm not affected by that stuff," said the 6-3, 240-pounder.
Perhaps even more surprising than Brodland's response is the fact that W&J threw just two (2) passes in the second half.
Gateway to the playoffs?
Carnegie Mellon earned its first University Athletic Association title since 1997 Saturday with its 10-7 overtime win at Washington (Mo.) in Saint Louis. CMU managed just seven first downs, 19 passing yards and 145 total yards.
As good as Washington's defense was, the Tartan "D" was even better, holding the hosts to just 49 rushing yards and 136 total yards. Nat Greenstein's 22-yard field goal in overtime gave CMU the victory.
Saturday's win marked the first time this year that CMU (8-0) did not have a 100-yard rusher. Yet, the Tartans found a way to earn the win and remain in contention for a Pool B playoff bid.
Back to winning ways
Baldwin-Wallace clinched its 39th winning season in a 40-year span Saturday, earning a 13-7 home win over Ohio Northern in a defensive struggle at Finnie Stadium. B-W (6-2) limited Ohio Northern to just 79 total yards of offense.
The loss is ONU's fourth straight. Meanwhile, Baldwin-Wallace kept its playoff hopes alive by improving to 6-2. Running back Brandon Hedges moved into third place on B-W's all-time rushing list with 2,371 yards. He needs 286 yards to pass Mark Anders as the program's all-time rushing leader.
Ohio Northern played without standout running back R.J. Meadows, who is out for the season due to injury.
Moving into position
Olivet set up a possible de facto MIAA championship game this Saturday against Hope by pulling out a 28-24 home win over Alma at the Cutler Athletic Complex. Lonnie Jones' one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter put the Comets ahead to stay.
Both Olivet and Alma were essentially one-dimensional Saturday. Two-hundred seventy-nine of Olivet's 334 yards came on the ground. Meanwhile, Alma threw for 363 yards but managed just 10 on the ground.
Alma's Joe Cline pulled in 15 passes for 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Brehm completed 38 of 58 attempts for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Jones ran for 76 yards and a pair of scores while Pat Clasgens led Olivet with 103 yards on the ground.
Olivet can earn a trip to the playoffs by winning out. The Comets host Hope (5-0 MIAA) Saturday. Hope clinches with a win.
Knez Knows Defense
Wabash's Frank Knez recorded three sacks and a forced fumble Saturday, helping the Little Giants earn a 20-10 home win over Wooster.
The Little Giants limited Wooster to just 147 total yards and 1.4 yards per carry. Offensively, quarterback Dustin Huff threw for 281 yards on 22-of-32 accuracy. He also ran for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Wabash is now 5-1 in the NCAC. Wittenberg is 4-1 in the NCAC after a 22-6 win at Oberlin. Wittenberg has the head-to-head edge on Wabash, though, and would earn the NCAC's automatic qualifier if the teams end up tied.
455 Rocket
During the 1970s, General Motors produced the "455," a 455-cubic inch V-8 plant that generated nearly 400 horsepower. Saturday, the Denison offense produced nearly that much horsepower, rushing for 455 yards in a 41-35 double-overtime victory over Kenyon in Granville.
Jon Berg ran for 213 yards on 35 attempts, including a one-yard touchdown in the second overtime that gave Denison the win. Fred Lee also went over the 200-yard mark, picking up 203 yards on 31 attempts. It is the first time in Denison history that two backs have gone over the 200-yard mark in the same game.
Denison owned a 2-to-1 edge in time of possession. It is the Big Red's second straight win. The loss pretty much knocks Kenyon (4-4, 3-2 NCAC) out of contention in the NCAC.
Case study
Case Western Reserve snapped a four-game skid Saturday with a 10-9 home victory over Chicago in Cleveland. Corey Checkan's two-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds left gave CWRU the win.
Case pulled out the win despite a minus-6 turnover differential! Inside linebacker Tom Brew led the Spartans with 20 total tackles.
Cruse missile
Bethany wide receiver Matt Cruse caught a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Bison rallied for a 21-17 victory over Thomas More at Dixie Heights High School Saturday afternoon.
Cruse's 45-yard touchdown reception from Brent Owens with 7:55 left in the third quarter tied the game at 14-14. He then hauled in a 14-yard pass from Owens with 59 seconds left to give Bethany the win.
Bethany defensive back R.J. Faldowski intercepted a pair of passes, including one in the closing seconds that sealed the victory.
The Bison are now 4-4 on the season. Head coach Tim Weaver definitely deserves consideration for PAC Coach of the Year, if not some regional Coach of the Year honors. The Bison closed last season on a nine-game losing streak and had not won a PAC game in four years. Now, Bethany could possibly finish at or above the .500 mark.
Around the MIAA
Hope remained undefeated in the MIAA with a 21-7 win at Tri-State. The Dutchmen scored a pair of defensive touchdowns as Kevin Roschek returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown and Matt Rugenstein recovered a fumble in the end zone. Hope also had four sacks ... Chase Chandler intercepted two passes while quarterback Jake Wilson accounted for three touchdowns as Albion held off Kalamazoo, 21-13 ... Matt Kehl ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns but Wisconsin Lutheran fell to 0-8 with a 33-13 loss to visiting Adrian. TJ Williams ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who raised their record at 4-4 overall, 3-2 in the MIAA.
Around the NCAC
Earlham earned its first conference win of the season, slipping past Hiram, 24-16. Quarterback Justin Rummell threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns while defensively, Brandon Mock and Vince Milholland both had two sacks ... The lights went on in Meadville, Pa. Saturday night as Allegheny picked up a 30-13 win over Ohio Wesleyan in the first-ever NCAC night game. The Gators are now 3-0 at Robertson Field. Halfback Mario Tarquinio paced Allegheny with 160 rushing yards ... Wittenberg stayed on Wabash's heels in the NCAC with a 22-6 win at Oberlin, crippling the Yeomen's title hopes. Tristan Murray accumulated 140 yards from scrimmage for the Tigers, who were out-gained 210-188.
Around the OAC
John Carroll limited Wilmington to just 11 total yards Saturday as the Blue Streaks earned a 35-0 home victory. It is the Blue Streaks' second straight shutout. John Carroll had not posted consecutive shutouts in 10 years. Joseph Konrad caught seven passes for 132 yards for JCU ... Quarterback Jason Vrable accounted for 411 yards of total offense as Marietta downed Heidelberg, 32-17. Vrable threw for 286 yards and ran for 125 ... Tyrone Morgan's 183 yards on 23 carries lifted Otterbein to a 20-0 home win over Muskingum. His 79-yard touchdown run in the second quarter broke a scoreless tie.
Around the PAC
Grove City quarterback Andrew DiDonato set program records for single-game completions (27) and attempts (47) Saturday in the Wolverines' 38-21 home loss to Rochester. DiDonato threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns ... Westminster dropped a 14-6 decision at Frostburg State. Jordan Blinn led the Titans with 17 total tackles.
Games of the Week
Hope at Olivet, 1:00 p.m.: A Hope win would give the Dutchmen the MIAA title and a berth in the NCAA playoffs. Olivet, however, also controls its own destiny and would go to the playoffs with wins each of the next two weeks.
Bethany at Carnegie Mellon, 1:00 p.m.: Bethany is having its finest season since 2001 and could clinch at least a .500 season by upsetting Carnegie Mellon. The Tartans are playing their home finale and cannot afford a loss in their quest for a Pool B bid. CMU's strength of schedule is rather weak and they may very well have to go 10-0 to offset that number.
