Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The big play ability of the offense and defense for Adrian College led to a 14-0 win at Defiance College on Saturday afternoon to even the Bulldogs' record at 1-1. It was the seventh straight win over the Yellow Jackets and the first time that Adrian has shut out Defiance in the series since 2008. The Adrian defense yielded 300 total yards and stiffened in the red zone as Defiance went 0-for-3 inside the 20-yard line.
The game was scoreless heading into the final minute of the first half before lightning struck for the Adrian defense. Defiance was third-and-six from the Adrian nine-yard line when Sean Washington was hit by Jack Carter and coughed up the ball. Deontae Bridgeman scooped it up and rumbled 91 yards for a score to give Adrian a 7-0 lead. It was the longest fumble return for a touchdown in school history.
Defiance drove into Adrian territory on their second drive of the third quarter, but it stalled on fourth-and-seven from the 31-yard line when Washington completed just a two-yard pass to Aaron Spence. The Bulldogs fumbled on their next possession and called again on the defense to make a stand. The Yellow Jackets marched to the Adrian 13-yard line, but on fourth-and-two it was Washington throwing incomplete to Joey Chester with Bridgeman breaking up the pass.
Defiance moved into the fourth quarter with possession but was forced to punt down to the Adrian 18-yard line with 13:57 left. Adrian false started and then lost two yards on the ground before Aaron Tenney and Nathan Hartline connected on a school-record tying 89-yard scoring strike to give Adrian a 14-0 lead with 12:59 remaining in the game.
Washington was picked off at the Adrian 15-yard line by Curtis Rhoden who then lateraled to Charles Fleck for a 12-yard return with 8:45 to play. Adrian simply could not move the ball most of the day but were able to pin the Yellow Jackets deep after a 51-yard punt by Dustin Salliotte to the Jacket 15-yard line. Defiance took the ball with 4:03 left and Mark Boggs took over at quarterback for the home team. His second pass however was intercepted by Nate Smith at the DC 43-yard line and went out of bounds.
Adrian went three-and-out and the Yellow Jackets took over one more time with 1:16 remaining. Boggs ran for no gain and had two incomplete passes setting up fourth down. Jordan Clark and LeShawn McGuire ended things fittingly with a quarterback sack for a loss of 10 yards. Adrian took one knee and the game was over.
Adrian gained 207 total yards rushing for 74 and throwing for 133. Dae'Von Robinson rushed for 49 yards and Hartline hauled in three passes for 108 yards eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. Salliotte averaged 44.2 yards per punt on six attempts. Dro Clark led the defense with nine tackles while Hunter Juntunen added eight tackles including two for a loss of 10 yards. Adrian's defense caused three turnovers and made 10 tackles for a loss of 34 yards. Next up for the football team will be homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 21 versus Concordia-Chicago with kickoff set for 5 p.m.