Football: Ohio Northern (4-2 Overall, 3-2 OAC) at Muskingum (1-5 Overall, 0-5 OAC)
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, 1 pm - McConagha Stadium, New Concord, Ohio
Saturday's Contest: Today is the fourth road game and the seventh game overall of the 2017 season for Ohio Northern. ONU head coach Dean Paul would become the school's all-time winningest football coach with a victory over the Muskies. He is currently tied with Tom Kaczkowski with 93 victories at Ohio Northern.
ONU Head Coach Dean Paul: Paul is in his 14th season at ONU with a 93-47 record. Paul is tied for 1st on ONU's all-time wins list and will become the all-time winningest coach in ONU football history with his next victory. He is 133-59 in 18 seasons overall and is 11-2 against MU.
MU head coach Al Logan: Logan is in his 11th season at MU with a 28-78 record. He is 2-8 against ONU.
ONU Last Week: ONU scored touchdowns on both of its overtime possessions and got a big defensive stop on a 4th and 7 to hold on for a 27-20 double overtime victory at John Carroll. RB Christiaan Williams ran 31 times for 212 yards, including an 18-carry, 159-yard effort in the first half. He also caught four passes for 82 yards and had 294 all-purpose yards. Williams also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 1,085 rushing yards in six games. QB Will Freed completed 20-of-39 passes for 328 yards and 3 TDs for ONU. The game was tied at 13-all after regulation and JCU went on top 20-13 on on its first OT possession. ONU answered with a 14-yard TD pass from Freed to RB Rodney Holmes to tie the game at 20-all. Freed then hit WR Caleb Saalfeld on a 12-yard TD pass to put ONU ahead 27-20 in the 2nd OT. ONU out-gained JCU 531-292 in total offense and held the ball for 33:04. Defensively, LB Mark Niles and S Andrew Valenti had 10 tackles each to lead ONU.
ONU Leaders: The ONU running game is led by All-OAC RB Christiaan Williams (165 att, 1,085 yards, 5 TDs). All-OAC QB Will Freed is 122-of-199 passing for 1,593 yards and 17 TDs. WR Chad Rex (31 rec, 585 yards, 8 TDs), RB Rodney Holmes (24 rec, 194 yards, 1 TD) and RB Christiaan Williams (24 rec, 215 yards) lead the receiving corps. LB Mark Niles, LB Zach Schmerge and S Greg Dennis lead the defense with 49, 42 and 38 tackles, respectively. DL Justin Croswell leads the team with 3.5 sacks.
MU Last Week: Muskingum dropped a tight 23-20 decision to Baldwin Wallace on Homecoming in New Concord. QB Brody Hahn was 21-of-37 for 216 yards and two scores passing, WR Damon Jones had a career-high 144 yards receiving and a TD and RB Bernard Johnson added 7 catches for 50 yards and 12 carries for 18 yards and a score. BW broke a 20-all tie with a late fourth quarter field goal. MU drove to the BW 31-yard line in the final moments, but an interception thwarted the drive. BW out-gained MU 361-286 in total offense.
MU Leaders: The MU running game is led by RB Bernard Johnson (90 att, 441 yards, 7 TDs) and QB Brody Hahn (80 att, 340 yards, 2 TDs). QB BNrody Hahn is 106-of-195 passing for 1,260 yards and 8 TDs. WR Damon Jones (32 rec., 596 yards, 5 TDs) and RB Bernard Johnson (23 rec., 266 yards, 2 TDs) lead the MU receivers. DL Tim Ousley, LB Mark Fishel and DB Cle'Von Burch lead the defense with 40, 39 and 36 tackles, respectively. DL Chris Weck leads MU with 4.5 sacks.
Last Year's Game: Ohio Northern celebrated its Homecoming Weekend with a 44-3 victory over Muskingum in Ada. The Polar Bears dominated from the outset, leading 14-0 after the first period and 31-3 at halftime. TE Logan Ray caught eight passes for 86 yards and three touchdowns and K Joe French set a school single-season record with 11 field goals on the year to lead Ohio Northern. QB Will Freed completed 23-of-36 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns and freshman running back David Haseleu ran 17 times for 84 yards in his first career start for ONU. S Dan Eller led the ONU defense with nine tackles and an interception. Ohio Northern out-gained Muskingum 364-207 in total offense and held the ball for 35:15 in the game.
ONU Statistical Leaders:
Rushing Yds. |
Passing Yds. |
Receiving Yds. |
Tackles | Sacks | ||||||||||||||
1. | Williams | 1,085 | 1. | Freed | 1,593 | 1. | Rex | 585 | 1. | Niles | 49 | 1. | Croswell | 3.5 | ||||
2. | Holmes | 62 | 2. | McFadden | 8 | 2. | Saalfeld | 229 | 2. | Schmerge | 42 | 2. | Niles | 3.0 | ||||
3. | McFadden | 29 | 3. | Nolletti | 224 | 3. | Dennis | 38 | 3. | Rowe | 2.0 |
All-Time Series: ONU leads the series between the two schools by a 29-23-2 margin. ONU has won the last 5 in the series, including a 44-3 win in Ada in 2017. ONU is 13-12 in games played in New Concord.
Tickets: Tickets are priced at $7 for adults and $3 for seniors and non-OAC students and children.