Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Dominican's football team trailed 28-6 early in the third quarter and rallied twice but could not complete the comeback, falling 34-28 against GLIAC foe Ferris State (Mich.) Saturday at Panther Field. The Panthers dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

An interception on ODU's first drive of the second half set the Bulldogs (2-1, 2-0 GLIAC) up in good field position on the Panther 39 yard line, and they scored four plays later to open up the 28-6 lead with 9:58 to play in the third quarter. The Panthers were forced to punt on their next possession, but it was misplayed by the Ferris State return team and recovered by sophomore Eisen Hardy (Pickerington, Ohio) on the Bulldog 16. Three plays later, senior Billy Griffin (Columbus, Ohio) connected with Tyler Purcell (Franklin, Ohio) on a 16-yard TD strike, and the two hooked up on the ensuing two-point conversion to make it 28-14 with 8:03 to play in the period.

The Panther special teams stepped up and made another big play on the next possession. After the defense forced a three and out, Jeremy Scott (Norwood, Ohio) broke free and blocked the Bulldog punt, and Ronnel Spates (Cincinnati, Ohio) was there to scoop and score from five yards to make it 28-21 with 6:15 left in the period.

The teams exchanged punts until the Bulldogs finally broke through with an eight play, 71-yard drive, capped off on a four-yard run by Aaron Olman. An errant snap on the extra point kept the score at 34-21 with 8:40 remaining, and a methodical drive brought ODU back into the ballgame.

The Panthers marched 70 yards in 12 plays, picking up a pair of third down conversions on the way. Big plays included an 18 yard completion from Griffin to Purcell and a roughing the passer penalty on Ferris State, setting up a two-yard score from Mark Nichols (Pataskala, Ohio), who hurdled over the pile at the goal line for the touchdown.

That cut ODU's deficit to 34-28 with 4:15 left, and the special teams came up with a play on the ensuing kickoff as Dominic Clegg (Columbus, Ohio) stripped FSU's John Webster on the return. Vincent Vasquez (Delray Beach, Florida) recovered the fumble on the Bulldog 25, but the Panthers picked up just six yards and turned the ball over on downs.

ODU's defense forced a three-and-out by Ferris State, and after a short punt, Ohio Dominican's offense took over on its 48 yard line with 2:15 to play. Facing fourth-and-long, Griffin's downfield heave was intercepted, ending ODU's rally.

Tyler Maddox (Lewistown, Ohio) finished with six grabs for 67 yards, and Purcell also made six catches for 58 yards. Junior Mike Noffsinger (West Branch, Mich.) tallied 50 yards on a game-high 13 carries. Griffin finished with 193 yards through the air and one touchdown with two picks.

Leading the defense for a second-straight week was Kevin Guthrie (Gahanna, Ohio), who finished with 13 tackles. Jeff White (Gahanna, Ohio) also recorded 12 tackles to pace the ODU defense.

Ohio Dominican got on the board first, taking the opening kickoff and driving 67 yards in eight plays. Noffsinger capped it off with a run around the right side and into the end zone from 19 yards out as the Panthers took a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored 21 unanswered before halftime and tacked on the early third quarter score to make it 28-6, setting up the dramatics at the end of the game.

The Panthers will take their first road trip of the season next week as they travel to Wayne State (Mich.) to take on the Warriors. Kickoff is set for noon next Saturday in Detroit.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu