Marian University at Walsh University
KICKOFF: Saturday, November 14 at 12 pm in Canton
RADIO BROADCAST: AM 900 WCER/AM 640 WHLO am and on the internet at www.wcer.us, www.whlo640.com (11:45 am pre game)
STADIUM: Fawcett Stadium (22,365)
RECORDS: Walsh (7-3, 4-2) / Marian University (6-4, 3-3) Mid-States Football Association Mideast Game
NAIA RANKINGS: Walsh # 21 NAIA, VSN # 21
COACHES: WALSH: Jim Dennison (103-59, 15th yr., 183-121-2, 28th yr.) / Marian: Ted Karras (14-17, 3rd year)
WALSH: Walsh improved to 7-3 overall and to 4-2 in the MSFA Mideast with a 38-7 road win at Trinity International last Saturday. The Cavs close the regular season with Marian University at Fawcett Stadium. Walsh is ranked 21st in the latest NAIA poll and still has an outside chance to qualify for the NAIA Playoffs.
Toba Olarewaju (R-Fr., Youngstown, OH/Christian) rushed for a career-high 202 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns in the Cavs at Trinity International University (0-11, 0-7).
Olarewaju scored on a 15-yard run on the Cavs second possession of the first quarter to give Walsh a 7-0 lead. Eric Buchanan (Jr., Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) then booted a 25-yard goal as time expired to give the Cavs a 10-0 halftime lead. Olarewaju scored his second TD on a one-yard run at the 11:28 mark of the third quarter as the Cavs went up
17-0.
Kevin Beichler (Jr., Orrville, OH/Smithville) then came off the bench to spell Olarewaju in the period and scored on a six-yard run to extend the lead to 24-0. Beichler would finish the day with 94 yards on 12 carries, with most of his yards coming on the TD drive.
Walsh would score twice in the final period. Olarewaju scored his third TD on a one-yard run at the 11:08 mark to give the Cavs a 31-0 lead. Trinity spoiled the shutout with a four-yard TD run with 4:09 to play. Walsh closed the scoring on Beichler's second TD of the day, on a four-yard run with 2:07 remaining. Walsh piled up 422 yards total offense, while holding the Trojans to 188. Walsh quarterback Jim Shiplett (So., Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) completed 7-16 passes for 107 yards, hooking-up with Mike McGill (Sr., Barberton, OH/Coventry, OH) four times for 65 yards.
TOP 25: Walsh jumped two spots to number 21 spot in the latest NAIA Coaches poll. Walsh is number 21 in the latest College Fanz Sports Network Top 25.
IMPRESSIVE: Walsh's defense has allowed only seven sacks, while sacking opposing QB 31 times. Last season, the Cavs registered 17 QB sacks the entire season.
DEFENSE: After allowing 48 points in the season opening loss at West Liberty, the Cavs have allowed 152 points, for an average of 16.9 ppg. For the season, the Cavs are allowing 20.0 ppg.
MSFA LEADER BOARD: Clinton Blossomgame leads the MSFA (2nd NAIA) in rushing with 1,315 yards. He leads the MSFA (2nd NAIA) with an average ot 146.1 yards per game and is tied for the MSFA lead with 15 touchdowns. Brian Williams (Sr., Canton, OH/McKinley) leads the MSFA, (2nd NAIA) in kick return average (29.8). Mike Welce (Jr., Columbiana, OH/HS) is second in the MSFA with nine sacks.
TURNAROUND: At this point of the season the Cavs (7-3) have made a four-game turnaround from last season when they finished 3-8.
BLOSSOMGAME, MORGAN OUT: Clinton Blossomgame (Jr., Columbus, OH/Beechcroft) and Joe Morgan (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley/Illinois) will miss today’s regular season finale. Blossomgame banged-up his right knee in the loss to St. Xavier and will miss his second straight game. Morgan will miss his third straight game after suffering a shoulder injury late in the first half against Malone.
NUMBERS: Walsh has outscored the opponents in every quarter this season. The Cavs have also outscored the opposition 66-20 in the fourth quarter.
MARIAN: Marian (6-4, 3-3) scored with ten seconds to play on a two-yard TD pass from Matt Rogers to William Stubbs to defeat Malone University 28-24 in a MSFA Mideast game. The win was the third in the last four games for the Knights. Rogers passed for four TDs and 272 yards. Wide receiver Chris Rutherford caught six passes for 150 yards and two TDs.
SERIES: Marian won 34-31 in Indianapolis in overtime last year. The all-time series is tied 1-1.
SERIES HISTORY
MARIAN
2007 Walsh 54-28
2008 Marian 34-31
Saturday in the MSFA
St Francis (IN) at Taylor 1 p.m.
Iowa Wesleyan at St. Ambrose 1 p.m.
McKendree at Grand View 1 p.m.
Quincy at Waldorf 1 p.m.
William Penn at St. Francis (IL) 1 p.m.
Malone at Olivet Nazarene 1:30 p.m.
