COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's offense erupted for 511 total yards and the defense limited Northwood to 64 yards in the first half as the Panthers scored a 48-14 home victory over the Timberwolves Saturday in GLIAC play.

Senior Brent Wahle (Pataskala, Ohio) hit field goals from 48 and 49 yards out to set the GLIAC career record for most field goals made in conference games with 55.

Senior Dez Stewart (Cincinnati, Ohio) nearly broke his own single-game receiving record. He finished with 178 yards and two touchdowns, coming nine yards shy of the mark he set in 2013 at Georgetown. The yardage, which is tied for the third-most in a game in school history, also bumped his career total to 2,991.

Sophomore Grant Russell (Newark, Ohio) had a career day as he completed 22-of-32 passes for 351 yards and three scores, a new personal best in yards while matching his high in TD tosses.

Senior Brad McCurdy (Columbus, Ohio) intercepted a pass in the third quarter to give him four this season and 12 in his career, breaking the school record set earlier this year by classmate Billy Eakins (Pickerington, Ohio) for career interceptions.

ODU improved to 6-3 (5-3 GLIAC), while Northwood fell to 4-5 (4-4 GLIAC).

Both teams punted on their first three possessions of the first quarter before the Panther offense caught fire late in the frame. ODU moved 85 yards in nine plays, including a 37 yard completion to senior Casey Williams (Nashport, Ohio), and sophomore Darryl Johnson (Mason, Ohio) scored on a one yard run to put ODU in front 7-0 with 1:37 left in the quarter.

The Panthers then took control in the second quarter. Johnson had a run for 15 yards and freshman Esaias Chapman (Waverly Hall, Ga.) followed with a 21 yard run to move inside the Northwood red zone. Russell then threw a fade pass into the back corner of the end zone that Stewart hauled in for a five yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 3:51 left.

After forcing a Northwood punt, ODU went 53 yards in just five plays and 44 seconds as Russell connected with Williams on a 20 yard scoring toss to bump the lead to 21-0.

The defense then forced another three-and-out, giving ODU the ball back with 51 seconds left, and the Wahle hit his 48 yarder with two seconds left to send the Panthers into the locker room with a 24-0 cushion.

ODU had a 297-64 edge in total yards at the half, including a 16-2 advantage in first downs. Northwood had just 35 rushing yards and 29 passing yards.

Northwood scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half, but it didn't take long for ODU to answer. On the first play after the kickoff, Stewart got behind the Northwood secondary and Russell hit him in stride for a 71 yard strike, giving ODU a 31-7 lead.

Later in the period, Wahle hit from 49 yards out to make it 34-7, and Chapman scored on an 11 yard run to put the Panthers in front 41-7 heading into the fourth.

Johnson's five yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter capped the scoring for ODU as the Panthers led 48-7 at that point.

Johnson finished with 55 yards rushing and 61 yards receiving on five grabs, while Williams had 57 yards receiving. Chapman totaled 33 yards on just four carries and sophomore JT McFarland (Zanesville, Ohio) made four catches.

Junior O'Sha Jackson (Warren, Ohio) led the defense with seven tackles, while junior Marquise Tyus (Lakewood, Ohio) and freshman Brian Hunter (Mayfield, Ohio) each made six. Tyus also broke up two passes while Hunter recovered a fumble and had 1.5 tackles for loss.

ODU's defense limited Northwood to 105 passing yards and the Timberwolves converted just 2-of-12 third downs while missing on both fourth down attempts. The Northwood defense, meanwhile, ranked second in the GLIAC in points allowed per game (21.9) entering today's game.

Ohio Dominican is back on the road for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Saginaw Valley next Saturday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu