ALLENDALE, Mich. – A 21-point comeback in the fourth quarter gave Ohio Dominican's football team a lead over No. 4 Grand Valley, but the Lakers rallied with a last-minute touchdown to claim a 46-41 win over ODU Saturday night in GLIAC action at Lubbers Stadium.

The Panthers, who trailed 40-20 at the start of the fourth quarter, had taken a 41-40 lead with 6:07 to play on a four-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Mark Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio).

ODU's defense forced a punt, and the Panthers (2-2, 1-2 GLIAC) picked up one first down before having to punt themselves. Grand Valley (4-0, 3-0 GLIAC) then moved 58 yards in seven plays and, facing a third-and-20 from the Panther 25, scored on a fade to the back of the end zone to go on top, 46-41, with 1:16 to play.

Miller and the Panthers moved to their own 48-yard line with less than 40 seconds to play, but his pass downfield was deflected and then intercepted, and the Lakers kneeled the clock out.

Freshman Brandon Schoen (Olentangy, Ohio), in his first action of the season, ran for a school-record 298 yards on 27 carries in the setback, the most of any Division II player this season. That helped the Panthers run for 395 yards as a team, second-most in school history, and generate 630 yards of total offense, fourth-best in history.

Miller threw for 235 yards and three scores, with senior Andy Mick (Hamilton, Ohio) hauling down four passes for a career-best 94 yards. He had 71 career receiving yards entering the game. Sophomore Nick McKnight (Middletown, Ohio) tallied 67 yards through the air as the Panthers outgained Grand Valley by 170 yards.

Down 26-13 at the half, the Panther offense came within striking distance on its first drive of the second half, but was stopped on downs at the Laker four. Later in the frame, GVSU struck on a 43-yard TD, but ODU responded with a seven play, 74-yard drive. Schoen's 27-yard jaunt set up a three-yard pass from Miller to sophomore Abe Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) for the TD, making it 34-20 with 2:08 left in the quarter.

The lead stretched back out to three scores, though, with the Lakers taking the ensuing kickoff back 83 yards for a touchdown. It took the Panthers just four plays to respond, though, with Miller connecting with a wide open Mick down the seam for a 60-yard strike that made it 40-27 10 seconds into the fourth. It was Mick's first career TD.

Freshman Brad McCurdy (Columbus, Ohio) ended GVSU's next drive with an interception, and the Panther offense went on the move again. Facing third-and-20, Miller and Mick connected for 19 yards, and Schoen sprinted for 14 yards on the fourth down play. On third-and-long from the Laker 40, Miller scrambled out of the pocket and hooked up with McKnight, who found himself behind the Laker defense, for the touchdown to cut the score to 40-34 with 9:08 to play.

ODU's defense forced a three-and-out, and Schoen had carries of 14 and 52 yards to the Laker nine. Another Schoen run put the ball on the four, and Miller called his own number up the middle to give the Panthers their 41-40 lead, setting up the final minute dramatics.

ODU started the game strong, as junior Ronnel Spates (Cleveland, Ohio) busted through the middle and down the left sideline 31 yards – the longest of his career - to the Laker 22-yard line. Freshman kicker Brent Wahle (Pataskala, Ohio) later connected on a 38-yard field goal to put ODU on top 3-0 five minutes into play.

The Panthers then halted GVSU's ensuing drive as senior Kevin Guthrie (Gahanna, Ohio) forced a fumble inside the ODU 10, which classmate Jeff White (Gahanna, Ohio) recovered. Later in the quarter, ODU's defense made another stand inside the 10, and the Lakers missed a 26-yard field goal that kept ODU on top 3-0 through the end of the first.

In the second frame, Schoen ripped off a 33-yard run down the left sideline, and Wahle finished off the drive with a 40-yard kick that extended the Panther lead to 6-0 early in the quarter.

Grand Valley took the ensuing kickoff deep into Panther territory, though, and scored on its first play from scrimmage, then took advantage of an ODU turnover to score a second touchdown moments later to go on top 14-6 with 12:08 to play in the second.

The Panthers answered right back, as Schoen took the first handoff after the kickoff and raced untouched down the ODU sideline for a 75-yard score, tying the longest run in school history. Wahle's extra point made it 14-13 just 13 seconds after the Laker score.

GVSU responded with another touchdown drive, then closed the first half with an 85-yard TD drive to take a 26-13 edge into the locker room as both extra points were blocked.

Freshman Billy Eakins (Pickerington, Ohio) led the defense with eight tackles, while senior Justin Bell (Groveport, Ohio) had seven stops.

The Panthers averaged 7.7 yards per rush, carrying the ball 51 times for the 395 yards, and averaged 8.0 yards per play overall.

Schoen broke Marcus Roberts' rushing record of 219 yards against Taylor on Nov. 12, 2005.

Ohio Dominican returns home for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Walsh on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Panther Field. It is ODU's Homecoming game.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu