CANTON, Ohio – Two interceptions deep in Ohio Dominican territory and two long offensive plays helped lead Ohio Dominican's football team to a 20-3 victory in G-MAC action at Malone Saturday night from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Sophomores Gus Dimmerling (Perrysburg, Ohio) and Alessio Amato (Zanesville, Ohio) each picked off passes to stop potential scoring drives, while sophomore David Turner (Fort Wayne, Ind.) had a 73 yard touchdown catch and sophomore EJ Colson (Middletown, Ohio) had an 85 yard run to set up another ODU touchdown.

Five players made seven or more tackles for the defense, which bent a couple of times against the Pioneers but never broke. Freshman Shyoun Petteway (Steubenville, Ohio) intercepted a pass for the second straight week and led the team with 10 tackles while also busting up three passes.

Senior Tre McIntyre (North Lewisburg, Ohio), sophomore Camren Moore (New Carlisle, Ohio) and Dimmerling each made eight stops, with McIntyre registering 1.5 tackles for loss. Sophomore Jalen M. Christian (Dayton, Ohio) registered seven tackles as well. Junior Brian Hunter (Mayfield, Ohio) had 1.5 sacks and junior Tristan Kehres (Shelby, Ohio) had a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss.

The Panthers (2-3, 2-0 G-MAC) got on the board on their second possession as Turner caught a pass underneath and turned on the burners down the ODU sideline, racing 73 yards for a score to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead just over five minutes into the game.

The score remained that way through the end of the first quarter, but ODU stretched it to two scores early in the second period. Junior Cory Contini (Dover, Ohio) caught a seven yard pass from Russell in the end zone to close out a 13 play, 78 yard march down the field, making it 13-0 in favor of the Panthers less than 50 seconds into the quarter.

Later in the quarter, Dimmerling intercepted a pass at the ODU 23 yard line to stop a potential Malone scoring drive. However, ODU's offense couldn't capitalize, and Malone (0-4, 0-1 G-MAC) kicked a short field goal moments before halftime to make it 13-3 heading into intermission.

The defense came up with a stop on the first possession of the half, and ODU's first play saw Colson burst loose for 85 yards down the Panther sideline before being tackled at the Malone 5. On the next play, Russell kept it himself around the left end and walked in for the score to extend the lead to 20-3 with 9:31 to play in the third.

ODU threatened to score later in the quarter, but an interception in the end zone ended that threat, the first that Russell threw this season, snapping a streak of 208 consecutive tosses without a pick.

Malone threatened on its ensuing drive, but Amato registered his first career interception in the end zone to stop the threat.

Petteway then capped off a scoreless final period with his pick with less than two minutes to play.

Colson's 85 yard run was tied for the second longest in school history and is the longest carry in G-MAC history. He racked up his first career 100 yard game, finishing with 150 yards on just 12 carries. Freshman Fred Pitts (Huber Heights, Ohio) added 53 yards on the ground.

Russell threw for 187 yards and the two scores. Turner finished with 110 yards on five grabs for his third collegiate 100 yard receiving game.

The Panthers ran for 240 yards and finished with 427 total yards.

Ohio Dominican returns to Panther Stadium for a noon kickoff against Hillsdale on Saturday, Oct. 7. It is ODU's Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu