Mike Jones (Columbus, OH/Walnut Ridge) caught two, third touchdowns from Vince Palmer (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) as the Lions rolled to a 31-19 win at Wilmington College today in the season opener. The victory marked the fifth straight for the Mount over the Quakers, and tied the all-time series at 8-all.
The Mount (1-0) will play at home on Sept. 8 against HCAC-foe Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (1-0). Game time is 6:00 p.m. for the HCAC opener.
The two teams entered the lockerroom today at the half tied at 7-all. Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter on a 10-yard run to get the Mount on the scoreboard. Wilmington tied the game just 3 1/2 minutes later when they capped a nine-play, 71-yard drive with a 13-yard TD run.
Palmer and Jones hooked up on a 25-yard TD play at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter and then connected again for a score on a 50-yard TD with 1:54 left in the quarter as the Mount rolled out to a 21-7 advantage. Wilmington then scored two unanswered TDs put missed a PAT kick and a PAT two-point conversion pass following those scores to trail, 21-19. Kevin Cocanougher (Louisville, KY/DeSales) added a 28-yard TD run with 4:48 to play and Kevin Koch (Cincinnati, OH/Roger Bacon) booted a 39-yard field goal with 1:18 remaining in the game to close the scoring.
The Mount had 23 first downs to Wilmington's 18 and out-gained the Quakers 508-286 in total offense. Palmer was 14-for-22 for 219 yards, two TDs and one interception in his first start for the Lions. He also led the team in rushing with 72 yards in 10 carries. The Mount gained 289 yards on the ground as Davis chipped in 51 yards rushing. The Lions defense recorded two interceptions, one each by Joel Steimetz (Amelia, OH/Amelia) and Ricky Stautberg (Cincinnati, OH/Elder), and forced one fumble. Rocky Siegel (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) and Steinmetz led the defense with eight tackles each.
