Lions' quarterback Vince Palmer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) tossed touchdown passes to four different receivers, and the Lions starting defense shutdown visiting Hanover today in a 56-21 Homecoming win. The Lions, ranked 20th coming into the game in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll, are now 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the HCAC. Hanover falls to 0-5, 0-2.
The Mount hosts another HCAC game next weekend, when they play Franklin College (4-1, 2-0) on Oct. 13 at 1:30 p.m. The game could decide this season's HCAC Championship.
Palmer hit wide out Mike Jones (Columbus, OH/Walnut Ridge) with a 38-yard TD strike to open the scoring in the first quarter. Hanover answered that on the ensuing kickoff with a 90-yard TD return and knotted the score at 7-all. The Mount then rolled off four unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter, jumping out to a commanding 35-7 lead at the half. Derick Tabar (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain) returned a punt 51 yards for a score and Palmer hit Mike Zies (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) on a 14-yard scoring play to put the Mount up by a 49-7 margin.
Hanover scored two, third quarter TDs on the Mount's second and third team players before Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) scooted in from 23 yards out in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
The Mount had 25 first downs to Hanover's 16, and out-gained the Panthers 503 to 277 yards in total offense, including 274-114 on the ground. Palmer finished the game 16-of-23 for 192 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. Kevin Cocanougher (Louisville, KY/DeSales) had a game-high 77 yards rushing on six carries while Mike Lovell (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) had 66 yards on the ground. Jones had a team-high five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Kyle Prosser (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) had a game-high nine tackles, while teammates Alex Harbin (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) and Kyle O'Brien (Lima, OH/Lima Central Catholic) each had a half a sack. Joel Steinmetz (Amelia, OH/Amelia) added an interception.
