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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After cruising to a 57-6 victory in its opener against Virginia-Lynchburg, Ohio Dominican's football team has a stern task in front of it as the Panthers open GLIAC play at defending conference champ Hillsdale at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
It was a record-setting debut for Ohio Dominican in the opener, highlighted by an aggressive defense that held VUL to just 101 yards of offense (1.9 yards per play) and forced six turnovers. The yards allowed were the fewest in school history and fourth fewest in the country this week, and the six turnovers tied a school record. ODU had four interceptions, which was the second-best tally in program annals.
The Panthers, who have won five straight dating to last season, also finished with 13.0 tackles for loss, fourth-best in school history, and the 57 points scored were the eighth-most in a game by ODU.
Senior Eisen Hardy (Pickerington, Ohio) had an interception and returned a blocked kick for a touchdown, and senior Kevin Guthrie (Gahanna, Ohio), sophomore Cody Culbertson (Galloway, Ohio) and freshman Da'Twane Harris (Cleveland, Ohio) also had picks. Senior Eli Kovach (Eastlake, Ohio) had one of ODU's three sacks, which was good for a safety, and freshman Warren Shields (Richwood, Ohio) made six stops.
On offense, ODU ran for 181 yards. Junior Ronnel Spates (Cleveland, Ohio) led the way with 53 yards and a touchdown and also had 32 yards receiving. Sophomore Mark Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio), in his first start, threw for 140 yards and a score, while sophomore Abe Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) set career totals in catches (five) and yards (52).
ODU's special teams also excelled. Junior Keith Wells (Gainesville, Ga.) blocked the field goal that Hardy took back for the touchdown, and junior Justin Bell (Columbus, Ohio) (school-record 53 yards) and Johnson (37) both had long punt returns. Freshman Brent Wahle (Pataskala, Ohio) was superb in his debut as ODU's kicker, drilling two field goals, all seven extra points, and recording three touchbacks on kickoffs, and freshman Michael Snyder (Clayton, Ohio) averaged 45.5 yards on his two punts, placing his first at the VUL one-yard line.
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 820 AM (St. Gabriel Radio) and simulcast online everywhere at www.pressboxproductions.net. This week's broadcast starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Panther Countdown Pregame Show. Veteran broadcaster Todd Bell returns for his fifth year in the booth as the play-by-play announcer and is joined by Matt Natali in the booth, while Scott Grady handles the pregame and halftime shows. Live video is also provided FREE for all six home games this season.
THE SERIES
This is the third all-time meeting between Hillsdale and ODU, with each team winning on the road. Last year, ODU staged a dramatic comeback, rallying from a 21-0 first quarter deficit and scoring twice in the final 2:29 to claim a wild 43-42 win. Jeremy Fudge threw for 184 yards and ran for 136 and Justin Bell had 11 tackles and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a TD to spark the rally.
DID YOU KNOW
>> Ohio Dominican is 2-3 all-time in games played in the state of Michigan, with the wins coming at Northwood and Hillsdale in 2011.
>> The Panthers are 21-11 in non-conference games all-time, including a 20-6 mark since 2006 (counting playoffs.)
>> Dating to last season, ODU has converted 11 straight fourth downs and 12 of its past 13 attempts. The Panthers led the GLIAC in that category in 2011.
>> Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert is a Hillsdale alumnus, as is Bob Clark, who directed the movie A Christmas Story.
Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu
