Box Score
The Mount St. Joseph University football team amassed nearly 550 yards of total offense in the game, and out-scored their opponent 28-0 in a decisive third quarter, en route to a 49-17 HCAC home win on Saturday over Manchester University. The Lions, 3-1 overall, 2-0 and tied atop the conference with Franklin College, will be back in action on Oct. 4 at HCAC-rival Earlham College.
The Lions got onto the scoreboard first in the game, nearly halfway through the first quarter, when quarterback Greg Simpson (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore) hooked up with wide receiver John Peters (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) on a 29-yard pass play. Shane Kelly (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) converted the PAT kick, giving the Mount a 7-0 lead. Manchester would tie the game up just over two minutes later when they scored on a short run and conversion kick. The Lions grabbed back the lead, when Mike Williams (Cincinnati, OH/Taft) raced 20 yards into the end zone late in the first quarter. Manchester would then take the lead, first tying the game at 14-all after a fumble recovery in the end zone, and then booting a 25-yard field goal with 1:43 left in the half, giving them a 17-14 halftime lead.
The Mount would get things turned around on the scoreboard, and on the offensive side of the ball, scoring five unanswered TDs in the second half, including four scores in the third quarter alone. Simpson tossed TDs to Denzel Norvell (Dayton, OH/Thurgood Marshall) and Peters, then the Mount added a 47-yard interception return for a TD by Tyler White, a 57-yard TD scamper by Norvell and a final score on a two-yard plunge by Charles McCall (Miami, FL/Miami Norland).
The Lions totaled 301 yards rushing, with Norvell leading the way with 85 yards. Simpson completed nine-of-15 passes for 228 yards and three scores. Williams added 78 yards rushing. Peters had four receptions for 116 yards and two scores, while Leonard Riston had four receptions. The defense, which forced two fumbles and had three interceptions, was led by Brent McCleerey (Mooresville, IN/Monrovia), who had 11 tackles.
