Trine athletics photo by Lindsey Mechalik

Taylor Masiewicz has always wanted to be a starting quarterback at the college level. It just wasn’t in the cards to be the starter at NCAA Division II Ferris State.

But the junior quarterback did find a home at Trine, and he’s made the most of the opportunities that have come his way in his first season with the Thunder.

“You grow up wanting to be a starter, and I’m thankful for the opportunity I have here,” Masiewicz said. “It’s like being a kid at Christmas every time I step on the field.”

Masiewicz has certainly been delivering his share of gifts, throwing for 1,299 yards and seven touchdowns for a Thunder team that is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He has also shown his ability to run the ball well when needed, racking up 365 yards and seven scores.

“We had a lot of returning players this year, and we just let Taylor be himself out there,” Trine coach Matt Land said. “He has been able to go out there and use his skills and has done a great job of running our offense.”

But for Masiewicz, it’s not about his own personal success. His main concern is doing what he can to help the Thunder win games.

“I’m not focused on my own success,” Masiewicz said. “The win-loss record is what matters. I just want to do my part to make plays and help our offense be successful.”

He admits the transition from FSU to Trine was difficult at first as he had to get used to new teammates and a new offense. But he’s handled the transition well and he credits a lot of that to the coaching staff.

“It all starts with the coaches,” Masiewicz said. “They ask a lot of the players and they do a great job of putting us in a position to succeed.”

Trine is averaging 453.7 yards per game and has scored 20 or more points in every game, including 40-plus the last two weeks. Trine lost this past Saturday, falling 49-46 in a wild non-conference game against Concordia (Wis.).

Masiewicz played well despite the loss, setting a school record for total offense, rolling up 454 yards. He threw for 309 on 20-of-34 passing and rushed for 146 yards. Masiewicz scored three rushing touchdowns as well.

Even with the loss last week, Masiewicz said he is continuing to become more comfortable running the offense.

“Everything is slowing down a lot more and I know I have teammates who will make plays,” Masiewicz said. “The offensive line has done a great job, too, and each week, I get more comfortable with the offense.”

Austin Shoemaker leads the rushing attack with 404 yards and three touchdowns while Gage Comer has caught 33 passes for 494 yards. Anthony Yoder has been a solid receiving threat as well, grabbing 28 passes for 467 yards.

The defense is allowing 422.8 yards per game and is led by Michael Spears, who has tallied 53 tackles. Tyler Guzy has come through with 49 tackles and Taylor James has racked up 48.

“I feel like we are getting better as a team every week,” Land said. “We have room for improvement on both sides of the ball, but I like the way things are going. We feel like we are ready to finish strong.”

Trine has four games remaining and is the lone unbeaten in league play. But if the Thunder, 4-2 overall, is going to win its first conference crown since 2010, it needs to be at its best the rest of the way.

“We don’t want to just play 10 games,” Masiewicz said. “We want to win a conference title and go to the playoffs. We know we can’t afford a loss. If we stay focused and continue to play as a team like we have, we’re going to have an opportunity to accomplish our goals.”

Back on track

After three consecutive losses against three of the top teams in the Ohio Athletic Conference, Ohio Northern got itself back on track Saturday with a 38-31 road win over Capital.

The Polar Bears rode career performances from quarterback Patrick Angle and wide receivers Devon Price and Reed Allen en route to rolling up 532 yards.

Angle threw for a career-best 398 yards in addition to throwing for four touchdowns while Price racked up a career-best 170 receiving yards and scored a touchdown. Allen tallied a career-high 165 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns.

Price caught 11 passes and Allen made five receptions. Angle was 24-of-31 passing.

All three players have been instrumental in ONU’s offensive success this season. Angle has thrown for 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has done a good job of taking care of the ball as well, throwing just two interceptions in 199 attempts.

Price and Allen have been Angle’s top targets. Price leads the team with 48 catches for 624 yards and four scores. Reed has caught 20 passes for 376 yards and five touchdowns.

The Polar Bears are averaging 421.2 yards per game and have put up 400 or more yards four times, including a season-best 650 in a 69-52 loss to Heidelberg on Sept. 27th.

Wild day in MIAA

Adrian and Albion battled in a pivotal Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association game on Saturday, and after both teams played through a scoreless first quarter, the two teams combined for 73 points in the final three, with Adrian doing most of the scoring in a 47-26 victory.

One of the Bulldogs’ keys to success was the play of freshman running back Emmanuel Stewart. He rushed for a school-record 281 yards, breaking the previous record of 255, and also scored a pair of touchdowns. He helped fuel a productive day for the Adrian ground attack, which rolled up 434 yards, the second-highest total in program history.

Stewart has been solid all year, carrying the ball 93 times for 660 yards. He has scored seven touchdowns and has only fumbled the ball once in six games.  His performance on Saturday marked the first 200-yard game of his career and the second time he has rushed for more than 100 in a game. It was also his second multiple-touchdown game of the season.

Cruz control

Justin Cruz rose to the occasion for Oberlin on Saturday and helped the Yeomen knock off Allegheny 37-9 and snap a three-game losing streak.

Cruz, a sophomore wide receiver, caught a career-high 14 passes, including three touchdowns, a total that also set a career high. He also set a single-game school record for yards with 242 as Oberlin won its second North Coast Athletic Conference game of the season.

Cruz’s yard total breaks the old record of 239 and his reception total is tied for the second-most in a single game.

Although Oberlin has struggled to win games, Cruz has stepped up. In six games, he has 32 catches for 568 yards and seven touchdowns, emerging as the team’s top receiver.

Cruz, a California native, has come a long way since last season when he finished with 173 yards and a touchdown in 10 games.

Spartans shine

Case Western Reserve put an end to a two-game losing streak with a 33-19 Presidents’ Athletic Conference win over Geneva on Saturday. The Spartans opened up a 20-7 lead after one quarter and never looked back.

The story of the day was the defense of CWRU, which forced three turnovers, scored on a safety and allowed only 38 rushing yards en route to improving to 3-3 overall and to 3-3 in the PAC.

Junior linebacker Gavin Sandidge paved the way for the Spartans, racking up 12 tackles and forcing a fumble. Sandidge has come through with 41 tackles in six games, building off his strong 2013 season. He ranks third on the team in tackles.

A year ago, Sandidge was a first-team All-University Athletic Association selection, ranking second in the league with 76 tackles.

Sandidge, a mechanical engineering major, has come a long way since his freshman season when he played in only one game after a stellar prep career at Central Catholic in Pittsburgh.

Poll points

Third-ranked Mount Union continues to crush opponents, the latest victim Heidelberg, which fell 58-17 on Saturday. The Purple Raiders rolled up a season-high 746 yards, with Bradley Mitchell rushing for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns….Aramis Greenwood caught three touchdown passes as No. 7 John Carroll crushed Marietta 80-0. Greenwood has 25 touchdown receptions in his career, the most in school history…. No. 10 Wabash held Keyon to minus 7 yards rushing in a 52-10 road win. It was the third time the Little Giants have held a team to negative yards….Zach Culvahouse caught 12 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in 14th-ranked Wittenberg’s 42-7 win over Wooster. Culvahouse’s reception total ties for the second-most catches in a game as the Tigers won their 18th consecutive game against NCAC opponents...No. 20 Washington & Jefferson scored 34 unanswered points in a 34-3 win over Bethany. Ryan Ruffing rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown and became only the second running back to rush for 100 yards against the Bison this season. It was his sixth consecutive 100-yard game.