CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph football team got off to another fast start, scoring 49 first half points en route to a 77-14 victory over Anderson on Saturday. The 77-points in a game was the broke the program's single game record for points in a game previously set vs. Anderson in 2017. The 11 touchdowns scored by the team was also a school record besting the previous record of 9 which was set on three different occasions.
To open the game Anderson took the ball and was quickly forced in to a 3-and-out by the Lions defense. The Lions offense quickly moved down the field to open the scoring as
Mariano McKenzie carried the ball in from 1-yard out for the touchdown.
The second Anderson drive of the game was again ended quickly by the Lions defense.
Anthony Wright picked off a Ravens pass at the 27-yard line and returned it 11 yards to the Anderson 16. On second and goal from the 2-yard line the Lions drew up some trickery,
Josh Taylor handed the ball to McKenzie who pitched it back to
Kadin Pollard. Pollard looked to be reversing field before pulling up and passing the ball to
Cornell Beachem Jr. in the back of the endzone.
Defensively the Lions forced another quick punt from Anderson, and the offense once again found the endzone quickly. The big play on the drive was a 45-yard run by
Jackson Gifford, setting up the eventual Taylor to
Joey Newton 6-yard touchdown.
The Lions were able to force their second turnover of the game as Deshawn Starks picked off the first of his two passes in the game. Just two plays later the Lions found the endzone again this time it was Gifford carrying it in from 5-yards out.
They would go on to lead 49-0 at the halftime break and finish the game at 77-14 to move to 5-1 and 3-0 in the HCAC.
Josh Taylor was 13-of-19 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns,
Devin Holt led with 66 yards rushing and a touchdown, Gifford added 61 and a touchdown.
Twelve different receivers caught passes for the team, led by
Zane Dine who had two for 65 yards and a touchdown. Five other players caught touchdowns with Beachem, Pollard, Newton, .
Ari Turner,
Joe Key and
Nathan Martz all catching one.
Defensively the Lions forced five interceptions and are currently leading the nation in that category. Starks had two and leads D3 with 6 thus far this season, with Wright,
Brady Hornberger, and
Nate Austin each getting one.
UP NEXT:
The Lions will welcome Hanover (5-1, 2-1 HCAC) to Cincinnati for Homecoming! The game is scheduled to kickoff at 1:30 PM.
