/notables/2021/03/week8-wrapup

Friday: Titan of a romp, Hornets' last laugh

Once a cornerback, now a running back, Vince Giles scored three touchdowns, while Westminster's defense did its share of scoring as well in a romp against Geneva.
Photo for Wesminster athletics by Jason W. Kapusta
 

The Westminster (Pa.) defense made Geneva pay for multiple turnovers at the end of the second quarter, while Shenandoah got the last laugh on Bridgewater in the teams' second meeting of the spring. Plus, Washington & Jefferson got its spring started with a big romp, John Carroll bounced back from its loss to Mount Union and Wilmington saw its win streak snapped at four. It's all part of a crazy week in which Division III football games are played on six days, including Utica and Alfred playing twice in that span.

Ian Barr forced three fumbles, all in the first half, including returning one of them 21 yards for a touchdown as the Titans rolled up a 45-7 halftime lead and cruised to a 52-21 win at Geneva. The Golden Tornadoes (0-1) scored on their first possession of the game but saw the Titans (2-0) respond with the next 45 points, including three touchdowns in the final three minutes before halftime.

Barr registered his second forced fumble and two plays later, Cole Konieczka found Marcel Smith-Austin for a 14-yard touchdown, Smith-Austin's first of his collegiate career. On Geneva's very next offensive snap, Barr ripped the ball out for the school-record third time, on the second consecutive play, and junior Branden Millward jumped on the ball at Geneva's 29. Konieczka found Smith-Austin again on the Titans' ensuing snap – this time from 29 yards out. Barr capped off his historic night on Geneva's next possession as the linebacker returned the ball 21 yards for a touchdown – his first touchdown of the season and second career.

Bridgewater had to get one final stop against a driving Shenandoah for the second time this season, but they were unable to do so this time as the Hornets came away with a 19-18 victory over BC on Jopson Field. A Feb. 27 matchup between these teams was decided when the Eagles, clinging to a six-point lead, intercepted the Hornets at the 10-yard line on their final drive. This time, Shenandoah took the ball with 4:30 remaining and drove 76 yards on 12 plays, finding the end zone with 0:32 left as Brant Butler caught a slant and slipped a tackle to reach the goal line. Trailing 13-12 with 10 minutes remaining, Demetreus Jalepes took the kickoff 61 yards for Bridgewater but then fumbled as he collided into a player while spinning out of a separate tackle. Brett Tharp, who had the clinching interception in the first matchup between these teams, intercepted a pass on the next play. Chad Jones drew a pass interference in the end zone, and Matt Lawton just got over the line on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with the help of his blockers.

John Carroll took advantage of a turnover on the opening kickoff to grab an early lead and never looked back as the Blue Streaks improved to 2-1 with a 34-10 win over Marietta. Tay Pryor took the kick and fumbled it when hit by JCU's Michael Palmer. The Blue Streaks recovered the loose ball on the Marietta 24-yard line and four plays later Jake Floriea connected with Kenny Cross for the touchdown less than three minutes into the game.

Wilmington's four-game winning streak came to an end on Friday night as Heidelberg came to town and left as winners, 38-16. Down 21-10, the Quakers (2-1) got the ball back at their own 35 with less than a minute to play in the first half, similar to positions the team has been in the previous two weeks which have resulted in game-winning drives. Wilmington moved the ball into Student Prince territory, but were forced to use all three timeouts on the drive. Itika Wynn Jr. snagged a 20-yard pass at the Heidelberg 2-yard line, but the clock ran out before the ball could be spiked. Heidelberg's Jace Grossman blocked a punt midway through the third quarter and Garrett Mullet recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown for the Student Princes (2-0) and Heidelberg went on to the win.

Washington & Jefferson's layoff without football was long, but it was even longer for Andrew Wolf. The wide receiver returned to the field for the first time in 553 days and had himself a night, catching eight passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns as the Presidents rolled over I-79 rival Waynesburg 66-0. The W&J defense limited Waynesburg to 165 yards of total offense, forced four turnovers, recorded six sacks, scored a defensive touchdown and blocked a punt in the victory. Wolf, a 2018 D3football.com All-America selection, played in just three games in 2019 after getting hurt in a preseason scrimmage with Mount Union.

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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