Quakers fall to Ohio Northern 23-6

 Corey Smith throws for179 yards in loss

[Box Score]

November 6, 2004

  WILMINGTON ñ The Wilmington College Quakers fell to 3-6 overall and 3-5 in the OAC with a 23-6 loss to the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University on Saturday afternoon.

 Freshman quarterback Corey Smith (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area) was 12-of-26 passing for 179 yards in the loss.

 Ohio Northern started strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving 74 yards on 11 plays, culminating with a Corey Minnfield-to-Mike Paulus one-yard touchdown pass with 10:19 to play in the first period.  The Quakers blocked the extra point, keeping the deficit to 6-0.  The Polar Bears scored three possessions later when running back Zach Weber cut back on a rush and scampered 85-yards for the eventual game-winning score, as the Polar Bears were once again unable to convert the extra point try, this time on a Weber rush.

 The Polar Bears increased their lead to 15-0 with 8:03 left in the first half when Charlie Webb connected on a 22-yard field goal, before the Quakers made good on a field goal of their own, a 29-yard try by Jon Bednarek (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales) with 23 seconds to play in the half.

 The Quakers struck first in the third quarter when Smith found running back Schuyler Streber (Wilmington/East Clinton) with a 61-yard pass to start the half, with the drive ending on Bednarekís second field goal of the game, this one from 22 yards away.  The Polar Bears scored their final touchdown of the game with 4:48 to play in the third quarter when Minnifield found Brian Lee from nine yards away, giving the visitors a 21-0 lead, after the extra point was blocked by Brad Osborn (Germantown/Valley View). 

 ONU got two points in the fourth quarter when an errant snap to punter Drew Springer (Clayton/Northmont) went through the back of the end zone for a safety, giving the game its 23-6 final score.

 Smith led the way for the Green and White with his 179 passing yards while Andrew Hamel (Tracy,CA/Tracy) was 3-of-11 passing for 26 yards.  Minnfield was 27-of-44 passing in the game for 305 yards and a pair of scores.

 Charles Simmons ( Miami , FL /Central) led the Quaker rushers with 26 yards on 14 carries.  Weber, behind his 85-yard touchdown scamper, gained 130 yards on 19 attempts to go with his touchdown, as the rest of the team combined for 10 net rushing yards.

 Marque Jones (Wilmington/Wilmington) led the Quakers with four receptions while Streber and Deon Short (Cincinnati/Mt. Healthy) each had three receptions in the game.  Streber led the squad with his 91 yards while Jones racked up 53 in the loss.  Tight end Mike Paulus hauled in a game-high nine passes for 80 yards and a score while Greg Evilsizor had eight catches for a game-high 184 yards.

 Defensively the Quakers were led by Cory Norvell (Dayton/Dunbar) who had 11 tackles, seven of which were solo, while Chad Otte (Maria Stein/Marion Local) had nine stops, two of which came for a loss.  The NCAA Division IIIís leading sack artist, Jason Trusnik, led the Polar Bears with 11 tackles including four tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. 

 With the loss, the Quakers fall to 3-6 overall and 3-5 in the OAC while Ohio Northern moves into sole possession of second place in the league with a 6-2 league record and a 7-2 overall record.

 The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, November 13 when the team plays their final game of the year against Capital University at Williams Stadium with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.