BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Led by a staunch defensive effort and solid special teams play, Ohio Dominican's football team recorded its first GLIAC victory in program history, defeating visiting Findlay 20-10 Saturday afternoon at Panther Field.

The Panthers moved to 1-5 overall and are also 1-5 in their first season in the GLIAC. Findlay fell to 1-6 overall (1-5 GLIAC).

"It's great to get that first win in GLIAC play," Bill Conley, head coach, said. "It's definitely a building block toward the right direction."

Sophomore linebacker Mark Markakis (Steubenville, Ohio) set a school record with 20 tackles as the Ohio Dominican defense posted its strongest outing of the season, limiting Findlay to 309 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers. The Panthers finished with 10 tackles for loss, including three by freshman Vincent Vasquez (Delray Beach, Fla.), who finished with 12 stops, and two from Markakis, who also chipped in with a half sack.

"Our defense was huge today," Conley said. "Our blitz reads and cover packages were spot on. We always seemed to have the perfect play called for their offense."

Junior Chris Vortkamp (Cincinnati, Ohio) booted two field goals, one from 38 yards in the second quarter and one from 37 yards in the fourth that helped put the game away. He also blasted a 67-yard punt, which was the second-longest in school history. Junior Brandon Robinson (Eaton, Ohio) set up the Panther offense in good field position three times as he totaled 81 yards on his punt returns, including a long of 37.

Junior quarterback Jeremy Fudge (Eaton, Ohio) directed the offense to touchdown drives in the first and second half, completing 11-of-20 tosses for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 45 yards and a score. Mike Noffsinger (West Branch, Mich.) had 19 carries for 72 yards, while Robinson had a game-high six catches for 75 yards.

Ohio Dominican took a 10-3 lead into intermission , but Findlay took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down the field for a 12 play, 64 yard touchdown drive, capped off by Monterae Williams' two-yard run, to even the score at 10 at the 8:34 mark in the third period.

The teams then swapped punts, and Robinson took the Findlay kick back for 37 yards to the Oiler 28. On ODU's second play of the drive, Noffsinger skirted down the far sideline for a 21 yard pickup to the Findlay two, and Fudge threw a back-shoulder fade to Tyler Maddox (Lewistown, Ohio) for the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Panthers a 17-10 lead with 1:51 left in the quarter.

The Panther defense forced a three-and-out, and another long return from Robinson – this one covering 23 yards – set up the ODU offense inside Findlay territory at the Oiler 46. Fudge connected with Robinson on a 13 yard pass to bring the Panthers to the Findlay 15, but the drive stalled and Vortkamp drilled his kick from 37 yards to make it 20-10 with 13:20 to play.

Findlay threatened to make it a one-possession game on its ensuing drive. The Oilers converted on a fourth-and-10 deep inside ODU territory, but the defense stiffened and kicker Cameron Stevens came up short on a 40-yard field goal try with 8:18 left.

After a Panther punt, the Oilers again moved downfield and into ODU territory, but Ian Smercina (Lebanon, Ohio) and Markakis snuffed out the drive with a sack on fourth down. Findlay would get the ball back one more time, but Jason McCurdy's (Columbus, Ohio) interception sealed the victory for ODU, who closed the game in a victory formation as Conley received a Gatorade shower.

"That was the best shower I think I've ever had," Conley said. "At the end of the game, I was thinking, 'Clock run, please clock, run.' We would have liked to have another first down towards the end, but our defense stepped up and was able to make a great play."

An uneven first half saw both teams fail to capitalize on scoring opportunities as turnovers hurt both squads.

The Panthers took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field to score their first opening drive touchdown of the season. Facing a fourth-and-one on the Findlay 38, Fudge dove over the top of the line to get the first down, and he and Noffsinger covered the final 22 yards themselves on the ground, with Fudge plunging in from the one for the touchdown and the 7-0 lead.

The Oilers threatened to answer with a touchdown of their own, picking up a pair of third downs and advancing to ODU's goal line. Williams lost control of the ball, though, and Eisen Hardy (Pickerington, Ohio) picked it up and ran it to ODU's 24 yard line, just getting tripped up in the open field to prevent a touchdown.

Ohio Dominican threatened to score off the turnover, moving to Findlay's 32 yard line, but a miscommunication between Fudge and a Panther wideout resulted in an interception at the Oiler goal line two minutes into the second quarter.

A 21-yard punt return by Robinson set up the Panthers at the Findlay, but Fudge was sacked and fumbled two plays to halt the drive. The Oilers punted, and ODU was able to move to the Oiler 21 yard line as Vortkamp's field goal put the Panthers in front 10-0 with 2:32 left before half.

Jeff White's (Gahanna, Ohio) first interception of the season was answered by a Findlay pick on the next play, and the Oilers closed the half with a strong drive that was capped off by Stevens' field goal as time expired to make it 10-3 at half.

The Panthers will look for their second win of the season next Saturday as the team hits the road to take on Tiffin University at 1:30 p.m. at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin, Ohio.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu