GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Senior Zach Miller (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) totaled five touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers as the Gettysburg College football team raced past McDaniel College 47-7 in front of the home crowd at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium on Saturday.
Gettysburg (3-2, 3-1 CC) picked up its third consecutive victory, while McDaniel (1-4, 0-4 CC) dropped its fourth-straight decision. Miller threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 75 and two more scores. Miller was one of four Bullets with 50-plus yards on the ground and the team totaled 320 rushing yards overall.
The high-powered offense was countered by another solid defensive effort, particularly against the run. Gettysburg held a foe to less than 100 yards rushing for the third consecutive game as the Green Terror managed only 46 yards on the ground. The Bullets also picked off three passes and forced a fumble.
Gettysburg wasted little time getting on the board, opening with an eight-play, 62-yard scoring drive. Miller capped the drive with a throw to senior Fred Caruso (Sinking Spring, Pa./Holy Name) for a 19-yard score.
The Bullets came up empty on their second drive into McDaniel territory, but the hosts cashed in on the next possession. A 45-yard pass from Miller to Caruso set up a 19-yard touchdown run by senior Nick Ulassin (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) to make it 14-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.
Despite forcing a fumble on the ensuing kick-off, Gettysburg failed to score after turning the ball over on downs. The Bullets didn't let the next takeaway go to waste, however, as sophomore Chris Miller (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) intercepted a pass for the second week in a row to set up a short scoring drive. Zach Miller completed the effort with a one-yard scamper to boost the lead to 21-0.
Gettysburg's special teams came up with a huge play later in the second quarter, downing a Robby Fay (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) punt just outside the goal line. The Bullet defense took advantage as sophomore Michael Pennella (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) took down McDaniel running back Tayahd Campbell in the end zone for a safety.
Gettysburg would add two more scores before the break with Miller throwing a 35-year score to sophomore Jordan Kelso (Cookstown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) before rushing for another score to make it 37-0 at the break.
After totaling 358 yards in the opening half, the Bullets put the offense on cruise control in the final half of play. Sophomore Garrett Long (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) booted a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter and after a quick three-and-out by the visitors, Miller found senior Danny Christian (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) for a 47-yard touchdown reception to make it 47-0 with less than six minutes left in the third quarter.
McDaniel would spoil the shutout with a 91-yard drive to start the fourth quarter, capped by a 61-yard toss by Matt Callahan to Sean Montgomery.
The Bullets would put the game to rest on an interception by sophomore Lu Ramos (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) with two minutes remaining.
Gettysburg posted its most lop-sided win over McDaniel since a 62-20 win in 1989. The Bullets out-gained the Green Terror 527-318. McDaniel's rushing total was the lowest by a Gettysburg foe since Ursinus College managed just 17 yards on Sept. 8, 2012.
Ulassin, junior Kyle Wigley (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), and junior Paul Lowry (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) each finished with 50 or more yards on the ground with junior Travis Andrews (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) gaining 39 yards on just four carries.
Caruso picked up 65 yards on three receptions, while Kelso totaled 57 on a pair of hauls. Christian finished with two catches for 51 yards.
The kicking game was particularly strong for the Bullets with Fay averaging 39.2 yards on six punts, including four inside the 20 yard line, while Long averaged over 60 yards on kickoffs and posted four touchbacks.
Defensively, the Bullets totaled four sacks and eight tackles for a loss. Senior Mike Maguire (Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck) totaled 11 tackles and junior Brian Calatozzo (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) posted seven stops. Pennella picked up six tackles, one sack, and two tackles for a loss. Sophomore Danny Speca (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) posted a pair of sacks and Chris Miller logged a fumble recovery to go with his interception.
Callahan finished 27-of-40 for 272 yards for McDaniel. Campbell picked up 31 yards on the ground and Montgomery totaled 68 yards receiving. Drew Scott led the defense with 13 tackles.
Gettysburg will enjoy a bye this week before resuming its schedule at Muhlenberg College on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m.