QUINCY, Ill. – Ohio Dominican's football team made its non-conference game one to remember as the Panthers rolled to a record setting 73-28 victory at Quincy Saturday afternoon.

The 73 points are a school record, breaking the old mark of 71 set in 2007 against Campbellsville. That's tied for the third most points scored in a Division II game this season, entering week eight. It's the third time in school history ODU has surpassed 70 points in a game and the first time in its NCAA Division II era.

Senior Dez Stewart (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied 108 yards receiving to establish a new school record with 2,813 career receiving yards, breaking the record of 2,741 set by Jared Stace.

Sophomore Darryl Johnson (Mason, Ohio) set a school record with five rushing touchdowns in the game and also caught a touchdown pass, becoming the first player in ODU history with six total touchdowns in a game as well. His five rushing touchdowns are tied for the second most by a Division II player this fall entering the week

Junior O'Sha Jackson (Warren, Ohio) tied a school record with his three interceptions and also made eight tackles. The three picks are tied for the second most by a Division II player this season.

The Panthers scored on their first nine possessions and rolled to 582 total yards, a season-high. ODU punted just once in the game and racked up a season-best 28 first downs as well.

Quincy fell to 2-5 on the season. The Hawks were coming off a pair of close setbacks, including a 26-20 loss to Indianapolis, which is just outside the top 25 in the nation.

ODU got its day rolling as senior Brad McCurdy (Columbus, Ohio) intercepted a pass on Quincy's first drive, leading to Johnson's first touchdown run from one yard out. A 13 yard touchdown run by freshman Esaias Chapman (Waverly Hall, Ga.) on the next drive bumped the lead to 14-0, and Johnson scored from six yards to give ODU a 21-0 cushion with 4:12 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, sophomore Austin Ernst (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit Stewart on a 12 yard TD to make it 28-7 three minutes into the period. Johnson scored on a 49 yard run, a career long for him and the longest of the season by a Panther, to make it 35-14 midway through the quarter, and Johnson scored again on a five yard run with 41 seconds left in the half to send the Panthers into the locker room with a 42-21 lead.

ODU put the game away with three quick touchdowns to start the third quarter. Johnson's two yard touchdown run extended the cushion to 49-21 early in the quarter, then caught a screen pass from sophomore quarterback Grant Russell (Newark, Ohio) and scored from 39 yards out to make it 56-21 with 11:21 left. Three minutes later, sophomore JT McFarland (Zanesville, Ohio) caught a 17 yard touchdown pass from freshman Thomas Wibbeler (Zanesville, Ohio) to give ODU a 63-21 advantage.

The Panthers capped the scoring in the fourth quarter as senior Casey Williams (Nashport, Ohio) caught a 37 yard touchdown pass and senior Brent Wahle (Pataskala, Ohio) hit a 38 yard field goal to account for the school record in points with 5:41 to play.

Johnson finished with 107 rushing yards on 14 carries, averaging 7.6 yards per run, and was not tackled for a loss. Chapman chipped in with 59 yards as well.

Russell completed 19-of-24 throws (79.2 percent) for a career best 293 yards and two scores. Stewart pulled in nine passes, Williams had 65 yards, McFarland made five grabs and senior Jerad Butler (Nevada, Ohio) had a career-best 51 yards receiving.

The defense allowed just seven points in the final 33:45 of action, and those came on a short field after a blocked punt. McCurdy had seven tackles with a forced fumble to go along with the interception, and freshman Brian Hunter (Mayfield, Ohio) set a personal best with eight tackles.

Senior Austin Osborne (Jackson, Ohio) had two of ODU's nine tackles for loss, along with a sack.

Ohio Dominican returns home to take on Northwood at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu