Box Score
The College of Mount St. Joseph held a 14-7 lead at the half, and behind a 14-point third quarter rolled to a 28-7 Homecoming win today over Earlham College. The Lions, 4-3 overall, 3-3 in the HCAC, resume action on Oct. 29 when they play at HCAC-foe Manchester College (2-5, 1-4.
Earlham College got the scoring started early in the second quarter, when they picked off a pass from Trey McPhail (Nashville, TN/Father Ryan) and raced in from 55 yards away. The ensuing PAT kick left the Quakers in front, 7-0. That would be all the scoring they would do in the game as the Lions scored on two TD runs in the first half. James Clay (Louisville, KY/Manual Dupont) bulled in from two yards out just 3:10 after the Quakers' score, and Brian Pitzer (South Salem, OH/McClain) had a seven-yard TD run with 7:15 left in the second half for the Lions' scores. Dan Dripps (Wapakoneta, OH/Wapakoneta) twice made the PAT kick as the Mount led, 14-7 at the intermission.
The Lions were particularly effective on third down in the first half, converting four-of-seven third down conversions in the first 30 minutes of play, while holding Earlham to two-of-eight on third down in the opening half. The Quakers would finish two-for-14 on third down, and one-for-three on fourth down for the game, while the Mount was seven-for-14 on third down possessions. Both teams would also miss field goals in the opening half of play.
The Mount added two more scores, both coming in the third quarter to put the game away. Brandon Brown (College Park, GA/Westlake) raced in from nine yards out, capping the Lions' longest drive of the game - eight plays and 69 yards - and Dripps hit the PAT kick to give his team a 21-7 advantage. Pitzer and Sean Keller (Maineville, OH/Kings) hooked up on a 38-yard TD pass play, and Dripps' converted the kick, to give the Mount a 28-7 lead with 2:45 on the third quarter clock.
Earlham had the ball for seven different possessions in the second half but was stymied throughout by the Lions, who forced five punts and an interception during that stretch. The Mount, meanwhile, had over 200 yards of total offense in the second half as they substituted liberally on both sides of the ball.
The Lions gained more first downs than Earlham, 19-12, had more total yards, 335-175 and recorded four sacks in the game. Earlham had 90 yards rushing on 42 attempts and completed just eight-of-19 passes.
Clay finished with a game-high 80 yards rushing on 14 carries while three Mount quarterbacks combined for six-of-18 for 116 yards passing. Zachary Gerber (Payne, OH/Wayne Trace) led all receivers with three receptions. Russell Turner II (Fairfield, OH/Fairfield) led the Mount with nine tackles, including two for loss yards and a sack. Cory Babbington (Lebanon, OH/Henry M. Gunn Sr.) added an interception.
