CINCINNATI, Ohio-- The Mount St. Joseph University Football Program opened the 2018 campaign playing host to the Crusaders of Capital University. For the second straight season The Mount was able to take down the Crusaders in week one. The Lions were led in the game by an outstanding offensive effort, and a defense the was able to get key stops on Saturday evening. The total team effort helped the Lions to secure a 59-21 victory.
The Lions were able to get going early in this one as the first drive of the game was the Colby Newman (Nixon, Tex./Nixon-Smiley) show. The Lions freshman running back making his collegiate debut touched the ball on the Lions' first three offensive plays. Capping the first drive off with a 40 yard touchdown scamper, for his first score in a Lions uniform. The Mount was unable to convert the PAT jumping out to a 6-0 lead.
Capital came back and scored a touchdown on their next possesion to take the lead away from the Lions. Thomas Wiebbeler connected on a 29 yard touchdown pass to David Barnett, on a fourth down play.
The Mount was able score another touchdown on their second drive of the game. Newman again was featured on this drive, carrying the ball four times for 23 yards and a touchdown on the drive.
Capital quickly answered with another long Wiebbler touchdown pass, taking a 14-12 lead into the second quarter. That lead did not last long as Troy Speakman (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) gave the Lions fanstastic field position with a 56 yard kickoff return. It took The Mount only three plays to find the endzone, as Chaiten Tomlin (Mt. Orab, Ohio/Western Brown) connected with A.J. Glines (Harrison, Ohio/Harrison) on a 10 yard touchdown pass.
The Lions offense continued to roll, the scored touchdowns on every drive of the first half. Tomlin connected twice to Chase Pankey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) and once with Cooper Earls (Blue Ridge, GA/ Fannin County) in the second quarter. The game really flipped for the Lions in the final minute of the first half. Capital was driving with intention of cutting into the Lions' 17 point lead before the halftime break. The Mount's defense though made a stand and forced a turnover on downs with :58 seconds on the clock, giving the ball back to their potent offense. Seeming intent on taking the lead into the half the Lions handed the ball to Newman on the first play, and he snapped off a 17 yard run. The Lions then put the pedal to the metal, with Tomlin connecting on back to back fades, the first to Grayson Roberts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Reading) for 35 yards, and the second to Pankey for the 40 yard touchdown. The drive covered 92 yards in only :20 seconds of game action.
After the halftime break the Lions continued their offensive onslaught, putting the game out of reach quickly. They were able to score touchdowns on their first three second half drives as well, all three passes from the right arm of Tomlin, the third of which was caught by Paul Minor (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central). Jerry Porter (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) did not make his 2018 punting debut until the fourth quarter of the game.
Defensively the Lions were led by Julius Fischer (St. Mary's, Ohio/St. Mary's) who tallied 7 solo tackles from his linebacker position. Tavon Robertson (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) and Tyler Hannah (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) led the defensive backfield. Robertson tallied 6 solo tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup from his safety spot. Hannah added five tackles, and five pass breakups, while being matched up with Capital's number one receiving option most of the game. Cory Hardin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) registered the Lions lone sack on the evening.
All told the Lions outgained the Crusaders 605 to 332, while scoring touchdowns on their first nine possesions. The offensive output coupled with a solid defensive effort secured the Lions a 59-21 victory to open the 2018 campaign.
LIONHEARTED PERFORMANCE:
Quarterback Chaiten Tomlin will lead a potent offensive attack in 2018, and that started in this one. For the game Tomlin was 21-28 passing, for 442 yards and 7 touchdown passes. He spread the ball around well connecting with eight different pass catchers in the game.
UP NEXT:
The Mount (1-0, 0-0 HCAC) will travel to Morehead, Kentucky to take on Division I (FCS) Morehead State (0-1, 0-0 PFL). The game is scheduled to kickoff at 6:00 PM at Morehead's Jayne Stadium. Coverage will be availble on MSJsports.com.