NEW CONCORD, OHIO, October 29, 2011 - The Muskingum University football team stumbled in Ohio Athletic Conference play on Saturday at Baldwin-Wallace College, 29-17.
With the loss, Muskingum moves to 4-4 overall and 3-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Muskies will look to rebound when they travel to Capital University on Saturday, November 5 for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will be broadcast live on WMCO 90.7 FM and simulcast on the Muskingum Web Broadcasting Network located on the Muskingum athletic web site beginning with the pregame show at 1:15 p.m.
With the win, Baldwin-Wallace improves to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in league play. B-W next travels to second-ranked the University of Mount Union for a showdown next Saturday.
Baldwin-Wallace grabbed the early 7-0 lead at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Ryan O'Rourke to Aaron Manders. The scoring drive was set-up by a Muskingum fumble that the Yellow Jackets recovered. O'Rourke ended the day with 83 yards passing with two touchdowns. He also added 60 rushing yards with one score.
Muskingum tied the outing at 7-7 in the opening ticks of the second quarter on sophomore quarterback Dalton Smith's 16-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Romie Graham. Sophomore defensive back Andrew Davis set-up the score with a career-best 61-yard punt return. Smith ended the game throwing for a career-high 265 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
The Yellow Jackets scored the next 15 points to break open the close contest and grab a 22-7 advantage. Andrew Dziak tossed a 55-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson at the 8:36 mark of the second quarter to put B-W up 14-7. The Yellow Jackets added a safety midway through the third period and O'Rourke notched a 71-yard touchdown run late in the third to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 22-7. Baldwin-Wallace forced a Muskie fumble in the red zone to set the stage for the 71-yard score.
Muskingum trimmed its deficit to 22-14 when Smith hit sophomore wide receiver James Washington for a 43-yard score in the final minute of the third quarter. Washington ended the game with a career-best seven grabs for a career-high 141 yards and one score. Sophomore kicker Caleb Carpenter booted a career long 40-yard field goal early in the fourth to pull the Muskies to within 22-17.
Baldwin-Wallace answered the Muskie challenge with a touchdown with six minutes left in the game to seal the win. O'Rourke fired a seven-yard touchdown pass to Troy Van Meter. The final tally was once again aided by a Muskie fumble. Muskingum ended the game with four fumbles and one interception.
Steve Stooksbury led the Muskie defense with a career-best 12 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack. Senior linebackers Ethan Wetzel, Alex Thomas and sophomore linebacker Erik Hall all recorded six hits.
Sonny Hazelwood led the Yellow Jacket defense with eight tackles with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while Matt Bowen added six stops with three pass break-ups.