Box Score CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph University football team jumped out to a fast start vs. Defiance on Saturday. Racing out to a 41-7 halftime lead, cruising to a 55-35 win. The win moves the Lions to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in HCAC play.
Josh Taylor completed 15-of-21 passes for 244 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Lions potent offensive attack. Taylor also added a rushing touchdown and his first receiving touchdown of his career, a 24-yard touchdown strike from wide receiver
Jake Ayler. The Lions boast one of the most balanced receiving corps in the HCAC, with 14 different receivers making catches in the game. Once again it was
Joey Newton leading the group with 4 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Omar Porter Jr. added a pair of touchdowns,
Kadin Pollard,
Austin Brock, and
Mariano McKenzie each added one.
Running back
Cornell Beachem Jr. continued to lead the Lions rushing attack. With the lopsided score Beachem only carried the ball 7 times in the game for 62 yards (8.9 per rush). McKenzie was the teams second leading rusher with 7 carries for 39 yards.
Defensively it was the defensive line who got it done all-game for the Lions. The unit registered 10 sacks in the game, with
Noah Hammond leading the way with 4 of his own.
Decklan Brophy added 2.5,
Jack Tucker,
Brady Buller and
Brock Harris each had one, and
Nicholas Paff had a half sack.
Hammond was first on the team with 8 total tackles (4 solo), 4 sacks and 4 TFLs, while
Nate Austin was second on the team with 7 tackles. The team forced a pair of Yellow Jacket turnovers,
DeShawn Starks picked up his third interception on the season and Tucker recovered a Defiance Fumble.
The Lions will take to the road once again next weekend, hitting the road to take on the Ravens of Anderson University (0-5, 0-2 HCAC) with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 PM.
