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Allegheny Claims 21-14 Double OT Victory
September 11, 2004
Photogallery by Dave Miller
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. Allegheny College sophomore quarterback
Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/ Hoover) scored on a 22-yard run and junior linebacker Vincent Werner (Sheffield, Pa.) intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal a 21-14 double overtime victory for the Gators Saturday at Westminster College.
The victory evens Allegheny’s record at 1-1, while the Titans fall to 0-2.
In the first half, Westminster completely dominated play and looked like it might run away from the Gators. The hosts opened the game with a 13-play, 59-yard drive that ended on a 27-yard field goal by George Malactaris. After Allegheny went three downs and out, the Titans scored again as a 10-play, 34-yard march was again capped by a 27-yard field goal from Malactaris to put Westminster ahead 6-0 late in the first period.
The Gators offense struggled throughout the entire first half, as it did not record a single first down and was held to -2 yards of total offense. That put the Gator defense under tremendous pressure all half, as Westminster, who’s worst starting field position following the opening drive was its own 43, began three drives on the Gator side of the field.
But the Allegheny defense was up to the challenge, as it had four sacks, including one that caused a fumble and was recovered by the Gators at their own 29. Despite holding the ball for nearly 10 minutes longer and gaining 158 yards more than the Gators, Westminster’s lead was still 6-0 at halftime.
The second half was a different story, as the Gators took the second half kickoff and drove right down the field. Needing 10 plays to go 65 yards, sophomore running back Sean Locklin (Export, Pa./ Franklin Regional) burst into the end zone from four yards out to put Allegheny ahead 7-6. Locklin carried the ball five times for 31 yards on the drive.
Although the second half was a different story for the Gator offense, Allegheny’s defense continued to put pressure on Titan QB J.R. Barley. Another Westminster drive into Allegheny territory was thwarted when junior cornerback Keith Keenan (Bloomingdale, Ohio/ Indian Creek) came on a blitz and sacked Barley, causing a fumble that was recovered by senior nose tackle Nick Sciarro (New Castle, Pa.) at the Gator 34. For the game, Allegheny registered eight sacks of Barley, including a pair by junior defensive lineman Dan Monarko (Allison Park, Pa./ Hampton).
Early in the fourth quarter, it looked like Allegheny would put the game away offensively. The Gators drove down to the one-yard line before stalling on fourth down. The Gators sent in freshman kicker Jason Black (Warren, Ohio/ Champion) but he pushed the field goal wide right and the lead stood at 7-6.
Although the momentum appeared to go back to the Titans, the Gator defense grabbed it right back on the next play. Barley flipped a screen out to fullback Lou Fani, who was hit by sophomore defensive back Zach Pucci (Coudersport, Pa.) and fumbled. Werner scooped up the ball and raced into the end zone from 25 yards out to extend the Allegheny margin to 14-6 with 9:33 to play in the game.
With the way the Gator defense was playing, that seemed like it would be enough. But Westminster did come back. Westminster running back Scott Froelich, who ran for 120 yards in the game, had runs of 15 and 23 yards as the Titans moved 70 yards in seven plays for their second touchdown of the game. Barley finished the drive with a 16-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Brian Ekis to bring the Titans within two points. On the conversion, Froelich took a pitch and dove into the end zone to knot the score at 14-14 with 3:06 to play.
The game appeared headed for overtime but Westminster would get one more shot. After forcing the Gators to punt the ball back, the Titans reached midfield. Barley then unleashed a pass deep down the middle that looked like it would be caught by Titan wideout Jake Buzard. But Allegheny senior safety Adam Klimas (Youngstown, Ohio/ Boardman) timed his hit perfectly, knocking the ball into the air, where it was picked off by junior linebacker Elliott George (Bradford, Pa.) to kill the Titan threat and send the game into OT.
In the first extra session, Froelich fumbled on the first play and the Gators recovered. However, Allegheny could only move to the 22-yard line and Black’s 39-yard field goal was not good, forcing a second overtime.
Allegheny had possession first in the second extra session and facing a third and seven from the 22, Savage broke out of the pocket and outraced two Titan linebackers into the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score. Westminster looked like it would quickly tie the game, reaching the Gator three-yard line in two plays. But after Barley lost
five yards on a carry and then threw an incompletion, his third down pass was tipped and picked off by Werner to seal the overtime win for the Gators, their first since a 61-55 victory over St. Francis in the 1999 season finale.
On the stat sheet, Westminster held an overwhelming advantage in total yards (315-202) but that was countered by the Gators eight sacks and Westminster’s seven interceptions. Savage finished the game 9-20 passing for 97 yards, while Locklin pounded out 58 tough yards to lead the ground game. Senior tight end Evan Kormos (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) grabbed two passes for 22 yards, while his back-up, Marko Fonzi
(Pittsburgh, Pa./ Brentwood) hauled in a 55-yard pass.
Froelich finished the game with 146 total yards, as he caught three passes for 26 yards to go along with his 120 rushing yards. Barley was 18-28 through the air for 205 yards, with his favorite target being Ekis, who pulled in nine receptions for 141 yards.
Defensively, Allegheny junior linebacker Adam Duncan (Blairsville, Pa./ Derry Area) made eight tackles and recovered a fumble, while Werner made five stops to go along with the fumble recovery and interception. Westminster was led by defensive end Don Waldron with nine tackles, including three and a half for loss.
The Gators complete their non-conference schedule next week with a home contest against Washington & Jefferson College as Allegheny celebrates Community and Alumni Day. Westminster remains at home to face off with Hiram (Ohio) College. Kickoff for both games is set for 1 p.m.