Sept. 9 – HIRAM, Ohio – Junior quarterback Randy Tucker set a new program standard on Saturday afternoon as the Hiram football team defeated Earlham College, 63-41.
The Terriers had to wait an extra week to get the season started following a week one bye, but the Hiram offense did not disappoint, as the Tucker-led Terriers set a new program record with 628 total yards of offense in their 63 point barrage.
Directly having an impact on 56 of the 63 points, Tucker was dynamic throughout the game, accounting for eight touchdowns and setting a new program record with six TD passes.
His six touchdowns broke his own record of five which he set in the season finale in 2016. Since becoming the everyday starter in week eight of last season, Tucker has posted a 3-1 record, and has 11 passing touchdowns in his last two starts.
Not only did he break the school's TD mark, but he also came just one touchdown shy of tying the NCAC mark of seven set by Earlham's Justin Rummel in 2006.
Despite the huge night from the Terriers, Hiram actually trailed the Quakers 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. The lone TD for Hiram came at the 6:22 mark as Tucker found the end zone with his feet for the first touchdown of the season.
Hiram began to pour it on in the second quarter, posting 28 points to widen the gap to 34-10 at the halftime break.
Tucker was sensational in the second quarter, tossing four TDs to three different players in the frame.
He first capped a 76-yard drive with a 31-yard strike to sophomore Jaris Foreman, giving the Terriers the lead for good.
He then posted three touchdowns in the span of 4:41, including a 15-yarder to Miguel Hernandez, to extend the lead to 20-10.
The junior signal caller then threw a pair of touchdown passes to CJ Maner and Hernandez in the final 49 seconds to round out the halftime scoring. The final strike to Hernandez was as time expired in the first half, pushing the lead to 34-10 at the break.
The Terrier defense had as much to do with the 28-point swing as the offense. The Terrier "D" held Earlham to -5 total yards in the frame, including four three-and-outs over that span.
The third quarter was an offensive explosion by both teams, as the two sides combined for 39 points. Earlham tallied 25 in the frame while Hiram scored a pair of TDs.
Tucker found Foreman for his second receiving touchdown of the night at the 10:31 mark of the quarter, while freshman Moe Yarbrough scored his first career receiving TD with 4:02 to play in the frame.
In the final stanza, the Terriers held Earlham down once again, outscoring the Quakers 15-6. Junior Isaiah Jones scored the lone touchdown of the night that had nothing to do with Tucker, extending the Hiram lead further.
Following the touchdown, an unlikely duo connected on a two-point conversion as senior Sam Conway rolled out on a botched snap and found senior defensive end Alex Meehan, who fought his way through four Earlham defenders for the two-point conversion.
The final scoring drive of the day for Hiram was all on the ground as Danny Robinson toted the ball five-straight times, gaining 51 yards before Tucker found the end zone with his feet from eight-yards out.
Overall the junior QB finished his day with 421 total yards of offense, including 369 passing yards and 52 yards rushing. He tallied a school record, eight TDs, while completing 28-of-42 passes. More importantly, however, Tucker did so without throwing a single interception.
Nine different Terriers caught at least one pass from Tucker, led by Hernandez, who tallied his first-career 100-yard game. Hernandez finished with seven catches for 127 yards and two scores.
Maner caught five passes for 56 yards and a score, while Foreman, playing in his first collegiate game as a wide receiver, made three grabs for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
Yarbrough finished with three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, while Luther Fortson III posted four catches for 32 yards. Other pass catchers included Torin Mayhew and Mike Skizenta, who each caught two, as well as Robinson and DJ Franklin, with one, each.
On the ground, Hiram averaged 6.3 yards per carry, getting 100 yards on just nine touches from Jones. Robinson totaled 94 yards on 17 carries, with Tucker adding 52 yards.
On special teams, Conway was a perfect 7-for-7 in extra points, and also tossed a two-point conversion for the Terriers.
Defensively, R.J. Nelson led the way with nine stops, while freshman Sirahn Fields totaled eight in his first collegiate start.
Sophomore Horace Johnson added six tackles, including a pair of sacks and three for loss. Winston Webb was also a force at the line, totaling a pair of sacks in the game.
Hiram will be back in action on Sept. 16 as they open North Coast Athletic Conference action against DePauw University. Action at Charles A. Henry Field is set for a 1 p.m. start.