Box Score | Updated Season Statistics
MARIETTA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College defense forced five turnovers (4 interceptions and one fumble) and running backs Willie Jackson (Citrus Springs, Fla./Crystal River) and Tyler Lohr (Kent/Roosevelt) rushed for 119 and 112 yards as the Yellow Jackets defeated Marietta College, 17-7, today (Saturday, October 1, 2011) in an Ohio Athletic Conference game in the Don Drumm Stadium.
With the victory, the Yellow Jackets improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the OAC. The loss drops the Pioneers to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the OAC.
Both teams were held scoreless both were responsible for causing three turnovers in the opening period. The Yellow Jackets first forced a fumble by senior linebacker Matt Higginbotham (Hartville/Uniontown Lake) and senior linebacker John Harasyn (Mentor) fell on the loose ball. B-W tallied its second takeaway when junior cornerback Brandon Russo (Olmsted Falls) intercepted from Marietta quarterback Andrew Keller. The Pioneers were able to intercept Yellow Jacket junior quarterback Ryan O'Rourke (Avon) in the back of the end zone.
In the second quarter, B-W and Marietta each continued to be plagued by turnovers as both teams each threw an interception. Sophomore corner back Kevin Johnson (Maple Heights/St. Ignatius) recorded his first career interception for the Yellow Jackets. B-W got the lone points of the half when sophomore placekicker Chris Mohler (Kent/Roosevelt) connected on his first career field goal from 20-yards as time expired.
The Pioneers took their first lead of the game when wide receiver Tannon Roberts caught the nine yard touchdown pass off the hands of senior linebacker Brett Thompson (Shelby) from quarterback Kyle Shackle with the 3:01 left in the third quarter. Nathan Zarnoksi tacked on the extra point for the 7-3 advantage. The Marietta drive was aided by two 15-yard penalties (roughing the punter & pass interference) by the Yellow Jackets.
B-W regained the lead (10-7) when Lohr scored the go ahead touchdown on a nine yard run and Mohler add his first career extra point with 14:00 minutes remaining in the game. Lohr accounted for all 44 yards on the Yellow Jacket drive.
B-W extended its lead with 6:59 left as Harasyn gathered his second turnover of the game on an interception off the tipped pass from junior safety Tom Goebel (Parma/Padua Franciscan) and took it 48 yards to paydirt. Mohler tacked on the extra point to make the lead 17-7. Harasyn has accounted for all of the Yellow Jacket defensive touchdowns this season as he already returned a 68-yard fumble against Wooster in the season-opener.
In addition to the five turnovers, B-W tallied six sacks as senior defensive end Derron Hamilton (Euclid) accounted for three and half sacks. Hamilton has had seven sacks in the last two games.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, October 7 when they travel to Westerville to take on the Cardinals of Otterbein University at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The next home game is on Saturday, October 15 when B-W hosts 24th-ranked Ohio Northern University on the annual Homecoming Game at 2:00 p.m. It will be the second of three home games televised by SportsTime Ohio.
FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.