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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Dominican's football team hits the road for the first of consecutive GLIAC South clashes in Northeast Ohio as the Panthers take on Walsh at noon on Saturday.
The Panthers, winners of 18 consecutive regular season games dating back to 2012, are 3-0 this fall and are one of four unbeaten teams left in the GLIAC. Walsh enters the matchup with a 1-2 record. This is the ninth meeting between the teams, with the series split 4-4. ODU has played Walsh more than any other opponent in school history.
ODU stymied Ashland in the second half of last Saturday's game en route to a 38-20 win in front of a sellout crowd at Panther Stadium. The Panthers limited the high flying Eagle offense to just 97 yards in the second half and 303 for the game. Ashland entered play averaging over 575 yards and 53 points per game on the year.
Though the defense had no takeaways or sacks, they held Ashland to just 14 first downs as the Eagles converted just 5 of 14 third downs and possessed the ball for just 26:26. ODU also held Ashland to just 119 passing yards.
Junior Warren Shields (Richwood, Ohio) made nine tackles and juniors Austin Osborne (Jackson, Ohio) and Billy Eakins (Pickerington, Ohio) each had eight tackles. Sydney Omameh (Westerville, Ohio) made 1.5 tackles for loss and blocked an extra point.
Overall, the defense has 24 tackles for loss in three games, and opponents have converted just 15 of 47 third downs (31.9 percent). The Panthers lead the GLIAC in allowing just 289.3 yards per contest.
The offense continued to display its versatility as the Panthers rushed for 140 yards as a team while senior quarterback Mark Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) tossed for 310 yards and a career-high five scores. Four different receivers caught a TD pass and Miller completed passes to eight different targets overall.
Junior Dez Stewart (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the receivers with six catches for 102 yards and a score, his second consecutive 100 yard game, and senior Casey Williams (Nashport, Ohio) also hauled in six passes for 63 yards and a TD. Junior Ronald McCloud (Cleveland, Ohio) had two touchdown catches – his fourth career multi-TD game – as well.
Junior Brandon Schoen (Lewis Center, Ohio) rushed for 90 yards and had 49 yards receiving. He is just 237 rushing yards away from breaking Mike Noffsinger's career rushing record of 2,714 yards.
QUICK HITS
• Since 2006, ODU has an overall record of 63-26 (.708 win percentage.) The Panthers are 25-4 in their last 28 games (.862 win percentage.)
• ODU is 28-5 against opponents from Ohio since 2007 (.848 win percentage.)
• During the 18-game regular season win streak, ODU has outscored opponents 754-302, with an average margin of victory of 25.1 points per game. The Panthers have scored 30 or more points 16 times in the streak and held opponents to 14 points or fewer nine times.
• Over the past 25 games, ODU's offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks. They have surrendered just one in 2014 and nine tackles for loss this season in 215 offensive snaps. The nine tackles for loss are the second fewest nationally.
• The Panthers have outscored their first two opponents 70-9 in the second halves of games and outgained them 728-220. ODU has outscored teams 42-0 in the fourth quarters of games as well.
Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu
