Senior halfback Mike Lovell (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) came off the bench today to rush for two touchdowns and backfield mates Kevin Cocanougher (Louisville, KY/DeSales), a senior; and Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) had one rushing score each helping the 20th-ranked Lions to a 35-14 win in front of a capacity crowd at home over Thomas More College in the annual Bridge Bowl game. The win was Head Coach Rod Huber's 50th in his career - all at the Mount.
The Mount closes the regular season with a 9-1 mark and hopes to receive an at-large bid to next week's Division III Post-season Tournament. Franklin College won the HCAC's automatic bid to the playoffs by going 7-0 in conference play (with the Mount finishing second at 6-1). Thomas More ends the season with a 4-6 record. The Mount had 24 seniors playing their final home game today at Schueler Field.
The Lions will learn of their post-season fate on Sunday, Nov. 11 when the selections for the NCAA Division III Tournament are announced on ESPNU at 11:30 a.m.
Lovell, who has played sparingly this season due to injuries, came in in the second quarter and gave the Lions offense an immediate boost. The Mount's all-time leading rusher plunged into the end zone with 11:08 left until halftime to give his team a lead they would never relinquish.
Vince Palmer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Tim Meiner (Hamilton, OH/Talawanda) just over four minutes later after Lovell's first TD before Thomas More scored on a 17-yard TD pass off a fake field goal attempt. The Lions entered the locker room with a 14-7 advantage.
Cocanougher and Lovell added third quarter TDs improving the Mount's lead to 28-7. Thomas More's Kyle James scored on a three-yard TD reception with 6:42 to play in the game before Davis fiinshed the scoring in the game, racing in from two yards out. Kevin Koch (Cincinnati, OH/Roger Bacon) converted his fifth PAT kick - in five tries - on the day to close the scoring at 35-14.
Davis finished with 78 yards rushing on 15 carries while Lovell and 50 yards on nine carreis. Overall, the Mount rushed for 195 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Palmer was 13-of-18 for 112 yards, one TD and one interception. Senior Jonathan Burrell (Louisville, KY/Seneca) hauled in a game-high four receptions.
The Mount's defense held Thomas More to 10-of-30 passing with two TDs and two interceptions, both by Phil Poetter (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson). Kyle Prosser (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) led the defense with 11 tackles. The Mount had three sacks in the game, including one by Alex Harbin (Cincinnati, OH/Elder), who set the Lions' single season record. He has 9.5 sacks this season.
