The College of Mount St. Joseph scored three, first quarter touchdowns today before subbing liberallly throughout the rest of the game en route today to a 28-0 win at Bluffton University. The shutout was the second straight for the Lions who went to 8-1 on the season and 6-1 in the HCAC. Franklin leads the HCAC with a 6-0 record and finishes 2007 regular season play next Saturday at Hanover. The Lions' only loss this season was a 28-19 setback at home against the Grizzlies.
The Lions will host cross-river rival Thomas More College (4-5) on Nov. 10 in the annual Bridge Bowl game. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. The Mount still has an outside shot of qualifying to the NCAA Tournament.
Kevin Cocanougher (Louisville, KY/DeSales) scored on runs of one and 65 yards within the first nine minutes of play in the first quarter helping the Lions to a 14-0 advantage. The Lions played the game without starting quarterback Vince Palmer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) and starting tailback Mike Lovell (West Chester, OH/Lakota West). Fullback Ben Widolff (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) scored his first TD of the season, on a one-yard run, with just over a minute left in the first quarter, and the Mount jumped out to a 21-0 lead.
Cocanougher scored on a 40-yard pass reception late in the third quarter, from quarterback John Barbour (Reading, OH/Reading) to close the scoring. Kevin Koch (Cincinnati, OH/Roger Bacon) was successful on all four of his PAT kicks. Barbour and Ben Hunterman (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) combined to go 10-for-20 for 147 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Cocanougher finished with 119 yards rushing on 18 carries while teammate Tim Meiner (Hamilton, OH/Talawanda) hauled in three passes for 62 yards.
The Lions' defense held Bluffton to 10 first downs, 89 yards rushing (on 52 carries), and eight-of-21 passing for 64 yards. Nick Yahl (St. Mary's, OH/Memorial) had a team-high 12 tackles, with two forced fumbles and 1 1/2 sacls. Rocky Siegel (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) had an interception while Alex Harbin (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) had two sacks, giving him 8 1/2 sacks this season, just 1/2 sack shy of the Mount's single-season record of nine, held by three different players. The Mount had six sacks in the game against the Beavers.
