Quakers hold on for 20-13 victory

Brandon Tisdale makes mark in NCAA history book in victory.

[Box Score]

October 23, 2004

WILMINGTON – The Wilmington College Quakers held onto a 13-0 third quarter lead to defeat the Cardinals of Otterbein College 20-13 on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Senior defensive tackle Brandon Tisdale (Wilberforce/Xenia) recorded three quarterback sacks, moving him into third in NCAA history in career sacks second in career tackles for loss in NCAA all-divisions while Freshman Corey Smith (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area), in his first collegiate game, was 15-of-29 passing for 215 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 13 times for 57 yards, including the winning touchdown with 1:19 to play in the contest.

The Quakers struck first in the game, as the hosts used a Jermaine Isaac (Eastpointe, MI/Renaissance) five-yard touchdown rush to give the team a 7-0 lead. Otterbein threatened with 5:24 left in the second quarter when they knocked starting quarterback Cam Marsh (Hillsboro/Hillsboro) out of the game, and his replacement, Smith, was picked off on his first pass attempt by Dan Dustin, who returned the pick 29 yards the WC one yard line but Smith forced a fumble that went through the back of the end zone, giving the hosts the ball on their own 20-yardline. Neither team was able to get a drive moving after that, sending the teams into the locker room with the Quakers holding the slim 7-0 lead.

The Quakers scored on their second possession of the third quarter when Smith connected with freshman receiver Marque Jones (Wilmington/Wilmington) for a 51-yard score, but a blocked extra point kept the Quaker lead to just 13-0. Both teams hit an offensive stand still until Otterbein drove 62 yards on five plays in the fourth quarter when quarterback Paul Stelzer broke out of the pocket, scoring from 25 yards out, cutting the deficit to six at 13-7 After a three-and-out by the Quakers, Otterbein’s defensive back Micheaux Robinson returned the ensuing punt 52 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 13. An excessive celebration penalty moved the extra point attempt back to the 17 yardline, where kicker John Sims’ attempt at the extra point was missed, keeping the game a 13-point tie.

On their next possession, the Quakers used 11 plays to drive 79 yards, scoring the winning points on a Smith 12-yard scamper from the pocket. The Cardinals threatened on their next possession, but the drive fizzled on the WC 20 yardline as time ran from the clock for the Quaker victory.

Isaac led the rushing attack for the Quakers with a career-high 167 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, while Smith had 13 carries for 57 yards in back-up action, following starting quarterback Cam Marsh’s five-carry, 32-yard first half effort. Josh Braden led the Otterbein attack with 44 yards on 14 carries, as the team managed just 47 yard rushing in the game.

Smith was 15-of-29 passing for 215 yards and a touchdeown, while Marsh was 2-of-6 passing for 14 yards. Stelzer, the Otterbein quarterback, was 24-of-41 passing in the game for 294 yards.

Deon Short (Cincinnati/Mt. Healthy) hauled in a team-high six passes for 67 yards while Jones had four catches for 86 yards, including the 51-yard touchdown. Kyle Wolfe and Ricardo Lenhart each had seven catches, Wolfe’s for 132 yards and Lenhart’s for 66 in the loss.

The Quaker defense was led by safety Cory Norvell (Dayton/Dunbar) who had nine tackles while Chad Otte (Maria Stein/Marion Pleasant), Jeff Jenkins (Bellbrook/Bellbrook) and Brandon Tisdale (Wilberforce/Xenia) each had seven tackles. Otterbein was led by OAC Player of the Week Colt Dodrill and Jim Gledhill, who each had nine tackles, while Justin Clark had six tackles, two of which came for a loss.

With the win, the Quakers improve to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the OAC, while the Cardinals fall to 1-6 overall and 0-6 in league play.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, October 30 as the team travels to Marietta, Ohio to face off against the Pioneers of Marietta College starting at 6:00 pm.