Muskingum 19, Defiance 13
NEW CONCORD, Ohio — Kyle Longsdorf blocked a field goal as
time expired in regulation to force overtime between Defiance and
Muskingum after the Jackets had rallied from a 10-0 halftime
deficit. DC could not complete the rally however, as the Muskies
prevailed, 19-13, in two overtime periods.
The Yellow Jackets struck first in overtime behind a 45-yard field
goal from Tom Foos but MU countered with a 39-yard boot to knot the
score at 13-13 and found the end zone in the second overtime to
take a 19-13 lead.
Defiance saw its chance to answer get stripped away, as Muskingum
forced DC's fifth fumble of the game and fell on the ball to
end the possession for the Jackets and seal the 19-13 victory.
The game started as it ended, with a costly Defiance fumble on the
opening kick leading to a Muskingum score just two plays later. A
second quarter field goal would extend Muskingum's lead to
10-0 as the two sides headed to the half.
The first half of the 2010 campaign was an anemic showing by the
offense for the Purple and Gold, as DC failed to complete a pass
and mustered only eight total yards of offense in the opening 30
minutes.
After opening the second half with another fruitless possession,
Defiance finally got things going behind the playmaking ability of
Rick Powell. The junior quarterback completed just one of his first
10 pass attempts and tossed an interception to start the game,
before finding his rhythm midway through the third quarter.
Powell was on target on each of his next three attempts, including
a 34-yard completion to Jon Carrabino and scampered for 19 yards on
three carries to account for 70 yards on DC's breakout drive.
Powell capped the drive with a seven-yard strike to Andy Cessna for
a touchdown, bringing Defiance within 10-7.
Defiance would draw even with 5:25 remaining in the fourth
quarter, as Foos split the uprights from 24 yards out to force a
10-10 tie that would be upheld by Longsdorf's blocked field
goal at the end of regulation.
Both defenses flexed their muscles throughout the afternoon, as
the two teams combined for only 19 first downs and 295 total yards
of offense.
The DC defense racked up eight sacks and 15 hits for a loss of 65
yards in the heartbreaking defeat. The eight sacks marked the
team's highest total since equaling that tally in a 20-7
victory at Anderson last season, while the 15 tackles for negative
yardage was Defiance's most since logging 18 against Bluffton
on November 10, 2007.
Joemese Scott led the way with 3.5 sacks and seven tackles, while
Austin Hedderly added 2.5 sacks and eight tackles. Longsdorf picked
up where he left off in 2009, by posting a game-high 14 tackles to
go with 1.5 sacks and the blocked field goal.
Defiance (0-1) will face another tough road challenge on September
11, when it heads north to take on Adrian (0-1) at 6:00 pm. Fans
not able to make the trip across the border will be able to watch
the action on the DC webcast, with Jim Funderburg and Jim Bellamy
calling the action at www.defianceathletics.com/video.
