Box Score
Caleb Watkins (Middletown, OH/Middletown) threw four TDs, and ran for one score, as the Lions continued their winning ways in the HCAC with a 41-27 win on Saturday afternoon at Manchester University. The Mount, 5-2 overall, 5-1 in the HCAC, are in second place in the conference standings, one-half game behind Franklin College (5-0). The Lions resume HCAC action on Nov. 2 with a game at Rose-Hulman (4-1 HCAC).
The Spartans jumped out to a 13- 0 lead against the Lions by the end of the first quarter, scoring on two, one-yard runs. Watkins got the Mount on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, scoring on a one yard run of his own. The Lions would add four more unanswered TDs after that, with Watkins tossing scoring passes of 17 yards and 16 yards to John Peters (West Chester, OH/Lakota West), along with a one yard TD score to Leonard Riston (Cincinnati, OH/Withrow). Cody Meade (Paintsville, KY/Pike County Central) added the last of those four scores, on a one yard run to give the Mount a 34-13 advantage at 10:35 of the fourth quarter.
Manchester would add two, fourth quarter TDs, but Watkins would hook up for his fourth TD throw of the day, this time to Eric Love (West Jefferson, OH/West Jefferson) from six yards out, in between the Spartan's two TDs.
The Mount held a 25-16 edge in first downs, and rolled up 477 yards of total offense to Manchester's 249 yards of offense. Watkins finished the game 26-for-38 for 333 yards, four TDs and one interception. Riston had 10 receptions for 167 yards while Denzel Norvell (Dayton, OH/Thurgood Marshall) had six receptions. Antonio Banks (Middletown, OH/Middletown) had 75 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead all rushers while Watkins added 48 yards on the ground. The Mount converted nine-of-14 third down plays to the Spartans' eight-of-17 on third down.
Brent McCleerey (Mooresville, IN/Monrovia) had 12 tackles to lead the Lions' defense, while teammate Aaron Abbott (Kettering, OH/Fairmont) chipped in 10 tackles.
