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Gators Prepare for First Home Night Game
October 26, 2006
Football Game Notes (PDF)
Gators of the Week
MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College Gators know where Ohio Wesleyan has been. They know the feeling. 0-6 is a horrible monster to look at in the mirror. Like the Gators last season, the Bishops started their promising season with a half dozen consecutive losses. Of those losses, three came via a last second-play, one a failed two-point conversion in overtime, one a touchdown pass with a second left, and the other a field goal with six seconds left.
Last season, which seems an eternity away after starting this season 4-3, the Gators lost their first six games, with only one coming by more than a touchdown. Two games were lost in overtime, and another on a field goal with two seconds left in the game. The next two losses saw the Gators driving for the game winning or tying score, only to be stopped less than five yards away from paydirt.
Ohio Wesleyan brings to the game a unique offense – the Wing-T – from which 71% of its plays come via the running game. The Wing-T is more than a formation – it’s a philosophy of attack. It is based on the anticipation of adjustments forced upon the defense due to the position of the wingback. The offense readily uses each of the four backs in the offense (quarterback, fullback and two halfbacks), while also forcing defensive backs to be fully aware of deep receiving threats. Originally run by the University of Delaware, the offense has seven basic principles for its functionality, as written by Ted Kempski, formerly an assistant football coach at Delaware. The primary function being that the system is designed for consistency, strength, and is ball control oriented.
This season the Battling Bishops have averaged 180.5 yards on the ground, rushing for 4.3 yards per carry, scoring 19 times on the ground. Nick Rice, who is second in the country in all purpose yardage, is the team leader in rushing with 651 yards while quarterback Steve Hymes is second on the team in rushing yards and attempts, rushing 102 times for 385 yards.
Hymes has also made his mark on the passing attack, completing 75-of-117 passes (64.1%) on the year, for 958 yards and six touchdowns. Receiver Zach Dennis is the squad leader in receptions and receiving yards with 27 catches for 476 yards, while Rice is second in both with 21 receptions for 292 yards.
The Gators, in opposition of the slow-down Wing-T style of offense will look to put their high-paced, fast-moving offense back into full gear after a difficult loss to the Fighting Scots of the College of Wooster a week ago, in which they moved the ball for just 318 yards, their lowest offensive output of the season.
The attack, which churns out an average of 424.3 yards per game, 13th best in Division III, is led by the senior trio of Jimmy Savage, Mario Tarquinio and Dallas Robinson. Savage has thrown for 1,870 yards on 154-of-259 passing with 16 touchdowns. 39 of those completions have been to Robinson, who is the team leader in receptions, yardage (516) and touchdowns (4). Helping to balance the attack is Tarquinio, who has ground out 121.4 yards per game with seven touchdowns. He is just 162 yards shy of becoming just the fourth player in school history to eclipse the 3,000-yard rushing mark for a career.
Kickoff for the game is at 6:00 p.m., the first night game featuring two NCAC teams in the conference’s 22-year history.