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ADA, Ohio - The Wilmington College football team took a 13-7 lead late in the third quarter, but Ohio Northern University (ONU) scored the game's final 14 points to defeat the Quakers 21-13 in the season finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams struggled to move the chains as the Quakers were just 2-of-13 (15 percent) in the game and the Polar Bears 5-of-15 (33 percent). ONU did convert on two tries on fourth down with the first yielding the game's first touchdown. The hosts took the opening drive and scored on 4th-and-goal from three yards out on an Adan Figueroa pass to Noah Miller.
After a three-and-out, the Quakers' defense would stand tall, stopping the Polar Bears on its next three drives. The third stop set up the WC offense in prime position as Noah Perry sacked Figueroa on the first play and Xzerious Stinnett recovered. One play later and the game was tied 7-7 as Adam Dixon connected with Lathan Jones for a 30-yard touchdown.
The second quarter saw three combined turnovers between the two teams, but no points were scored. The third quarter looked to also be scoreless, but on 2nd-and-15 from near midfield, Dixon found Itika Wynn Jr. over the top for a 52-yard touchdown. Seth Best's point-after attempt failed, however, and the visitors led 13-7 after three.
The hosts would trail for exactly 97 seconds as three quarterback rushes from Figueroa covered 40 yards in four plays for the go-ahead touchdown. Wilmington, now trailing 14-13, failed to move the chains on the ensuing possession, but Jarod Lee gave the offense another opportunity as the junior intercepted a pass at midfield and returned it to the ONU 40-yard line. Wilmington couldn't take advantage, however, and the Polar Bears iced the game with a nine-play, 73-yard touchdown drive on the ground.
ONU held a slight 328-303 advantage in total yards, doing most of the damage on the ground. Figueroa, despite completing just 5-of-15 for 86 yards and two interceptions through the air, carried 24 times for 128 yards and two scores. Brock Martin had 13 rushes for 73 yards.
Wilmington got the majority of its yards through the air as Dixon completed 12-of-28 for 205 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Wynn Jr. hauled in six receptions for 95 yards and a score while Nehemiah Jenkins carried the rock 15 times for 98 yards. Wynn Jr. closes out is five-year WC career with 196 receptions for 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns. Those marks are fourth, third and third in program history respectively.
Defensively, ONU was led by Daltin Tjong with 10 tackles while Nichal Johnson and Myles Aldrich both had two sacks. For WC, Stinnett had 15 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble while Lee picked off two passes.
Wilmington finishes its 2022 season with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-7 mark in OAC competition.