Gators Finish Off OWU For Perfect NCAC Mark

Nov 15, 2003

Boxscore

Picture: Jon Turner, Will McMahon, Matt Komar, head coach Mark Matlak, and David Pisanick accept the NCAC Championship trophy from NCAC Commissioner Dennis Collins. Allegheny President Richard Cook, far right, was also on hand to congratulate the Gators. Photo by Dave Lester.

Allegheny finished off their North Coast Athletic Conference schedule with a 20-12 win over Ohio Wesleyan to wrap up the 2003 regular season with a perfect mark in conference play, 7-0, for the first time since 1996. Allegheny (7-3, 7-0 NCAC) will watch the NCAA Division II and III Playoff Selection Show on ESPNews tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to find out whom they will play in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Senior quarterback Bubba Smith (Doylestown, Ohio/Chippewa) continued his assault on the record books, going 19-for-28 for 191 yards, to surpass two single-season records. Smith now has 160 completions, breaking his old record of 150, and 266 attempts, besting his record of 262. The senior set both of those records as a sophomore in 2001.

Junior Jamie Sye (Titusville, Pa./Titusville) rolled for 122 yards on 23 carries and senior wideout Jon Turner (Franklin, Pa./Franklin Area) caught a game nine passes for 99 yards.

Both teams traded punts in the first quarter before Allegheny put together a monster drive, going 93 yards in 16 plays capped off by a one-yard run from Sye, giving the Gators a 6-0 lead at 13:13 of the 2nd quarter. The extra point was blocked.

Senior Brian Woods (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) nearly returned his third punt for a touchdown this season, but was tackled at the five-yard line setting up a four-yard score by sophomore Kyle Geiser (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville). Smith hit Geiser for the two-point conversion making it 14-0 with 2:34 left in the half.

OWU made it interesting as quarterback Ryan Sir Louis had a 56-yard carry that led to a 17-yard touchdown pass to Steven Asbeck, cutting the lead 14-6 after the blocked point after with 1:11 left. After a short kickoff, Allegheny took over at their own 48. Smith rushed for three yards, and then found Turner for 15 and then 25 to take the ball to the OWU four-yard line. Senior Aaron Polack (Medina, Ohio/Medina), an Academic All-District II selection, converted on the 21-yard field goal attempt as time expired to put the Gators up 17-6 at the half.

Polack had a 27-yard field goal for Allegheny and Mike Ward scored from two-yards out for the Battling Bishops to cap the scoring.

Senior Ryan James (New Castle, Pa./Kennedy Christian) led all tacklers with 11 for the Gators, including eight solo stops.

Allegheny has won their last seven straight, their longest streak since the 1997 season, and will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs as the winner of the NCAC.

Ohio Wesleyan finishes the season 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

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