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Gators Erupt in Third Quarter for Overwhelming Win
September 16, 2006
MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College Gators (2-1) erupted for 35 third-quarter points, turning a 10-0 halftime lead into a 45-0 third quarter advantage, opening their newly renovated field in grand fashion with a 52-7 victory of the Terriers of Hiram College (0-3).
The Gators racked up 602 yards of total offense in the win, 302 coming in the air via a career-high from quarterback Jimmy Savage (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) who was 18-of-28 and three touchdowns. The rushing attack was equally effective, rushing 39 times for 300 yards in the game, highlighted by Mario Tarquinio (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi), who missed a career-high by three yards, grounding out 213 yards on 25 attempts.
Andy Toner (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), left, and the defense were not to be out-done by the offense, as the Gator junior picked off a school-record-tying three interceptions, with the defense forcing four interceptions in all in the lopsided win.
The Gators wasted no time to start the game, as the Blue and Gold used seven plays to drive 91 yards on their first possession and scored when Tarquinio broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run for the 7-0 lead.
Savage, right, who only had 18 yards passing in the first quarter, erupted in the second stanza, throwing for 102 yards, however, Allegheny was only able to find the scoreboard when Josh Whiteside (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) booted a 37-yard field goal with 6:47 left in the period, sending the Gators into the locker room with a 10-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter the Gator offense blew the game open, out-gaining the Terriers 242-46 in the period. The Gators needed only two plays, a 32-yard rush from Tarquinio and a Jim Lieb (Carrolltown, Pa./Northern Cambria) 39-yard touchdown pass to put their first points on the second-half scoreboard. After a Hiram punt, the Gators once again used little time in scoring again, as Savage found Dallas Robinson (Wooster, Ohio/Northwestern) from seven yards out, extending the lead to 24-0.
After their second three-and-out in as many possessions, the Allegheny offense once again went on the attack, using nine plays to travel 62 yards, with Tarquinio scoring his second rushing touchdown of the day, from 14 yards away, giving the Gators a 31-0 cushion. Three plays later Hiram quarterback Nic Borling was intercepted by Michael Cox (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg), before Savage threw his third touchdown pass of the quarter to Jeremy Walker (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) from 34 yards away, as Savage drew the Terrier defense offside with a hard count, and on the free play found the sophomore wide open for the score. After a pair of Jon Agnew rushes for Hiram, Matt Pratt, the Terrier backup quarterback, was intercepted by Toner, his second of the day, which he returned 30 yards for the squads fifth touchdown of the period, pushing the advantage to 45-0.
The fourth quarter gave Allegheny head coach Mark Matlak a chance to empty the bench and let the non-starters see action, as Marcus Solomon (Rockwell, Texas/Dallas Christian) rushed for 35 yards on four straight rushes before sophomore Matt Feldhaus (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) dipped and weaved his way to a 21-yard score, providing the finishing touches for the offense with their 52nd point and seventh touchdown.
The young Hiram squad would not give up, however, as the Terriers took the ensuing kickoff and drove 79 yards on 16 plays on their next possession, scoring when Sean Kaminski found the end zone from two yards away, ending the shutout bid for the Blue and Gold.
Tarquinio, left, averaged 8.5 yards per rush, as the Gator offense averaged 7.7 yards per carry as a team. Hiram was led by Agnew, who rushed 16 times for 81 yards, a career high in yardage, while Kaminski rushed five times for 29 yards and the score.
Savage was picked off once in the game on a tipped ball in the first quarter. He threw for 182 of his 302 yards in the third quarter, as he didn’t attempt a pass in the final stanza. Nic Borling, who came into the week as a wide receiver but had to switch to quarterback due to injuries, was 5-for-15 through the air for 53 yards, throwing two interceptions, while Matt Pratt was 3-for-6 for 32 yards and also throwing two picks.
Robinson, who had set career highs in receiving yards in his first two games of the season, continued the trend by hauling in six passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Lieb had four catches for 67 yards while Devin Fackenthal (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) hauled in three passes in the game for 34 yards. Hiram was led by Agnew, who caught three passes for 17 yards, and ended up with 147 all-purpose yards, also returning three kicks for 49 yards.
Defensively Allegheny was led by Mateo Villa (Windsor, Ohio/Middlefield Cardinal), who had nine stops, all assisted, while Toner had six stops in addition to his three interceptions. Tony Canitia picked up nine stops for the Terriers, including a sack, the team’s only tackle for loss. Frank Liscio and Steven Furlow-Munn ended the game with eight and seven tackles, respectively.
The Gators take a week off before starting their NCAC season with a trip to Granville, Ohio to face off against the Big Red of Denison University with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.