COLUMBUS, Ohio – As the old cliché says, the games are played on the field, not on paper.
Coming into Saturday's home finale, Ohio Dominican looked to have the clear advantage in their match-up versus visiting Central State University. The Marauders came into the game with a record of 1-6, while the Panthers had won their previous three games to post a 4-2 record. But a strong first half effort by CSU leveled the playing field before ODU took control in the third quarter to pull out the 55-35 victory.
The Marauders used a little trickery on their first possession to post the early lead. Quarterback Jeff Brooks connected with Jerred Hill on a flea flicker for the 43-yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked, but the guests held the 6-0 edge.
Just 35 seconds later, Ohio Dominican (5-2) hit pay dirt on a long pass play of their own, a 44-yard strike from quarterback Billy Griffin (Jr. /Columbus, OH) to Tyler Purcell (So. /Franklin, OH). The Marauders returned the favor on the point after try, blocking the attempt to keep the game knotted at six.
On the ensuing kickoff, Central State's Mychal Davis fumbled the ball and Christen Haywood (Jr. /Columbus, OH) recovered for the Panthers at the CSU 26. Six plays later, sophomore Austin Wallace (Reynoldsburg, OH) cashed in from 3-yards out to put ODU on top, 13-6.
Central State owned the second quarter as running back Joshua Anderson scored twice while Alphonso Lopez added a 30-yard field goal. The only saving grace for ODU was perhaps the turning point of the game.
Following Anderson's second touchdown run of the quarter, Mark Nichols (Fr. /Pataskala, OH; pictured) ran through several tacklers en route to an 80-yard kickoff return for touchdown. Nichols' return was the first kickoff return for touchdown in ODU history, while the 80-yard return eclipsed the school record for longest kickoff return of 71-yards, established last season by Kyle Warden.
Thanks to Nichols' effort, the home team found themselves down by just three at the half, 23-20.
Ohio Dominican came out of the locker room fired up, rattling off three scores in the quarter to take the 41-23 lead. Sophomore Mike Noffsinger (West Branch, MI) scored from 3-yards out, then, with the aide of an interception by the Panthers' Miguel Davis (Jr. /Baltimore, MD), Wallace added his second score of the day on a 5-yard run. Tight end Kyle Reichelderfer (Sr. /Circleville, OH) completed the third quarter scoring as he hauled in a 9-yard pass from Griffin.
The Marauders struck back to begin the final quarter as Brooks scored on a 5-yard keeper to pull his team within 12, 41-29. But it was as close as the visitors would come the remainder of the game.
Griffin connected with Brian Vollmer (So. /Sagamore Hills, OH) on the ensuing ODU possession before Central State answered as Brooks threaded a pass through two ODU defenders to find Hill on a 45-yard touchdown strike. But the Panthers had the final word as Nichols capped the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter.
Despite the score, the final stats were fairly equal for both teams. Central State owned the offensive production, but only by four yards, 422-418. The Marauders dominated the time of possession by a 2-to-1 margin, but timely plays allowed ODU to own the only stat that counts: the final score.
Leading the ODU charge was the record setting freshman running back, Nichols, who finished with a total of 182 total yards, 102 of which came on eight rushing attempts. Griffin finished the day 10-of-21 for 180 yards and three scores.
For the Marauders, Brooks completed 18-of-32 pass attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns alongside 48 rushing yards and another score. Anderson ran the ball 36 times for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
After completing their home schedule, the Panthers will hit the road for the final three weeks of the 2009 regular season. Up first for ODU is a trip to former MSFA foe Urbana University next Saturday, October 31. Kickoff with the Blue Knights is slated for high noon.
