COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Despite falling to fellow GLIAC newcomer Lake Erie last Saturday, Ohio Dominican's football team still has a shot to finish 3-1 against the in-state schools in the conference as the Panthers play host to Ashland at noon Saturday at Panther Field.
A pre-game ceremony will honor the team's nine seniors. Over the past four years, the class has helped ODU register a 35-17 record, including a 12-1 mark and playoff appearance in 2007.
The Panthers will look to rebound from their 30-15 setback to the Storm last week, a contest in which ODU trailed just 10-9 entering the fourth quarter. However, the Storm scored 20 unanswered points, aided by a long interception return and a long punt return, to take a 30-9 lead and put the game away.
Ohio Dominican had its chances to put points on the board early, as the team had the ball inside Lake Erie territory six times in the first three quarters, but only managed three field goals by Chris Vortkamp (Cincinnati, Ohio) to show for it.
Jeremy Fudge (Eaton, Ohio) led ODU with 121 yards passing and 60 rushing before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injury. Mike Noffsinger (West Branch, Mich.) ran for 68 yards and Tyler Maddox (Lewistown, Ohio) had a career high 12 catches for 70 yards as the Panthers finished with 313 yards of total offense.
Several defenders had career highs in tackles, led by Vincent Vasquez (Delray Beach, Fla.) with 17 tackles and Jason McCurdy (Columbus, Ohio) with 15. Manju Jabbie (Westerville, Ohio) also made 12 tackles as ODU forced four Lake Erie turnovers.
ALL OHIO DOMINICAN FOOTBALL GAMES LIVE ON THE RADIO AND INTERNET
Fans in Central Ohio can listen to Ohio Dominican football LIVE on the radio on 1580 AM (St. Gabriel Radio) and simulcast online everywhere at panthers.ohiodominican.edu. This week's broadcast starts at 12:30 p.m. with the Panther Countdown Pregame Show. Veteran broadcaster Todd Bell returns for his third year in the booth as the play-by-play announcer and is joined by John Westenhaver as the color commentator and Ashton Cooper on the sidelines.
THE SERIES
Saturday marks the first meeting between the two schools. Tiffin and Lake Erie are the lone two schools on the schedule that Ohio Dominican has faced prior to 2010.
