Gators Overpower Quakers in Final Home Game

Nov 6, 2004

Box Score

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny sophomore quarterback Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) threw three touchdown passes, while fellow sophomore running back Mario Tarquinio (Charleroi, Pa.) ran for 143 yards and a score to lead the Gators to a 26-7 win over the visiting Earlham College (Ind).

The Gators have now won four games in a row and improved their win streak over Earlham to 18 straight contests. A win today also marks Allegheny’s 19 consecutive non-losing season, as well as 19 straight winning seasons in NCAC play.

Both teams had a tough time getting their offenses on track in the first few drives before Allegheny struck with a touchdown at the 2:42 mark in the first quarter. Savage moved the Gator offense down the field on a 35-yard drive, which ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Savage to junior wide receiver Matt Pertile (Conway, Pa./Freedom) to give Allegheny a 7-0 lead. Pertile had three catches totaling 59 yards on the day.

Earlham struck back quickly with a touchdown to match the Gators at seven points a piece, as they took the ball 69 yards on 14 plays. The drive was capped off by a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Rummell to wide receiver Joe White. On the drive, Rummell completed all four of his pass attempts and threw for 50 yards.

Savage and the Gator offense answered back quickly by marching 81 yards on nine plays to take the lead back. The key play of the drive came on a third and 12 in their own territory. Savage managed to find Pertile for a 32-yard hookup to move the ball all the way down to the Quakers 34-yard line. Senior tight end Evan Kormos (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) pulled in a 21-yard pass from Savage for the score. The extra point was missed, and the half ended with the Gators on top, 13-7.

After a strong defensive stand by the swarming Gator defense, the offense again moved the ball efficiently down the field. The possession ended in Savage’s third touchdown pass of the day, this time to sophomore wide receiver Dallas Robinson (Wooster, Ohio/Northwestern). The 13-yard strike was Savage’s fourth completion of the drive, as he totaled 53 yards through the air to widen their lead to 19-7. The extra point was again missed as an Earlham defender came through the line and blocked the kick.

After the two teams traded punts at the end of the third quarter, Earlham was threatening to put points on the board before junior cornerback Keith Keenan (Bloomingdale, Ohio/Indian Creek) intercepted Rummell for his second pick of the game. Keenan now has four interceptions on the year to go along with 35 tackles and four pass break-ups.

Earlham moved into Allegheny territory for a third straight time, but again was denied by the Gator defense, as senior cornerback Steve Williams (Westover, W.Va./University) picked off Rummell on the seven-yard line, his second interception of the year.

Allegheny’s next drive put the game away for good, chewing up 5:10 from the clock on the 12-play, 93-yard scoring march. Tarquinio ran 10 times for 75 yards and punched it in from a yard out to put the Gators ahead 26-7. He needs only four yards next weekend against Wittenberg (OH) University to put him over the 1,000-yard plateau. Overall, the Gator running game rolled up 188 yards while the Quakers were held to –3 on the day.

A host of Gators contributed on the defensive side of the ball, led by junior linebackers Elliott George (Bradford, Pa./Bradford Area) and Eric Rupp (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central). George added to his team-leading tackling numbers by making seven stops on the day, giving him 45 on the year. Rupp got the start at middle linebacker today and didn’t disappoint, totaling nine tackles and pass break-up.

The defense sacked Rummell five times on the afternoon and was led by defensive ends Justin Altemus and John Brady. Altemus (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area), a junior, racked up two and a half sacks and Brady (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), a senior, managed one and a half, as both were in the backfield all afternoon.

Savage had his best game of the year in terms of throwing the football, going 14-20 for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for 26 yards on the ground. Tarquinio rushed 28 times for 143 yards and a score, while a host of Gator receivers made life easy for Savage. Pertile, junior tight end Marko Fonzi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood) and junior wide receiver RaShawn Allen (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) all contributed three catches on the day.

Rummell threw for 219 yards on 24-40 passing for the Quakers, but also tossed three interceptions. Earlham receiver James Jewell led the receiving corps with six catches for 92 yards in a losing cause.

The Gators improve their record to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference, while Earlham drops to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the conference.

Next Saturday, the Gators take their show on the road to Wittenberg for their final game of the season and look to close the year with a fifth straight win.

Printable Version