Gators Shut out Denison 14-0

Sep 29, 2007

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MEADVILLE, Pa. – Behind a strong defense, the Allegheny College Gators picked up their first shutout win since 2005, holding the Big Red of Denison University to just 150 yards of total offense and improving the team’s record to 3-1 on the season. The Gators forced three turnovers and held the visitors to just eight first downs (seven on the ground) in the 14-0 victory.

The game started slowly for both squads, as Denison only ran nine total plays in their three first-quarter possessions, although Allegheny could not do much better, totaling 21 plays and 66 yards heading into the second quarter. In all there were five first downs in the opening 15 minutes, all by Allegheny. After yet another three-and-out by Denison, and one by the Gators, the Big Red started on their first successful drive of the game, driving the ball to the Allegheny 36 yardline, but the offense stalled, forcing yet another punt by NCAA leader Caleb McFerren, who ended the contest with 11 punts for an average of 40.4 per kick.

Seeing the Big Red offense trek down the field lit a spark in the offense, as the offense, which was pinned at their own three yardline after the punt, used three consecutive first downs, passes from T.J. Salopek (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) to receivers James Jones (Ellington, N.Y./Falconer Central), Jim Lieb (Carrolltown, Pa./Northern Cambria) and Jones, in succession, before a toss to tight end B.J. Baran (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) spotted the ball on the Allegheny 46 yardline. On the next play Salopek broke free on a quarterback draw, scampering 54 yards for the touchdown, breaking up the zeros on the scoreboard.

Neither team would threaten for the remainder of the half, sending the Gators into the locker room with a 7-0 lead. In all, five of Denison’s seven drives were three-and-outs, and the two that were not saw a combined four first downs.

The second half started much as the first had ended, with neither team able to move the ball with success. Two of Denison’s first three drives of the third period resulted in three-and-outs, as the Gators had a similar lack of success, with the Gators gaining just 33 yards in the period. The Big Red threatened late in the third quarter, driving the ball to Allegheny’s 15 yardline, before the visitors fumbled, giving the Gators possession of the ball and ending the scoring threat.

After holding the Big Red without a first down on their next time with the ball, the Blue and Gold needed just three plays to cover 54 yards, with the largest portion of them coming when Salopek found Jake Vite (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) open down the middle of the field, racing the remaining distance into the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown pass. The contest was one of field position for the remainder of the contest, with neither team able to gain any success on the offensive end. The Big Red started their final drive to put points on the board, however Nick Jones (Blairsville, Pa./Homer-Center) picked up his second interception in as many games, securing the shutout for Allegheny with just over a minute remaining in the contest.

Salopek was the team’s leading rusher accruing 68 total yards and a touchdown, while Devin Raynor (Bemus Point, N.Y./Maple Grove) added 20 yards on six carries. Jon Berg put up a game-high 88 rushing yards, as the Big Red, who came into the game ranked 46th in Division III in rushing yards per game with an average of 206.3, were held to just 92 in the losing effort.

The Allegheny quarterback was once again efficient behind center, completing 18-of-30 passes for 171 yards and the touchdown, while the two quarterbacks that Denison lined up behind center, Mike Barnes and Tom Simeone, combined to go 9-of-19 for 58 yards and an interception.

Lieb, who moved into sole possession of third place in career receptions at Allegheny, hauled in a game-high five passes for 31 yards while Jones had four catches for 35 yards. Vite had a game-high 57 receiving yards, as five different receivers had two or more catches in the game – Shane Sullivan (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) (3 rec., 26 yards) and Raynor (2 rec., 14 yards) were the others. Nick Thompson led the Big Red with three catches for 22 yards, as the visitors had a long pass of 12 yards in the contest.

Jason Black (Warren, Ohio/Champion) punted eight times in the game, averaging 39.5, with the high total including one kick that was tipped by a defender as it was kicked, while also stopping three of his kicks inside of the Denison 20-yardline.

Defensively the Gators were led by Ross Simcoe (Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport), who picked up 13 tackles, all assisted, while Mateo Villa (Windsor, Ohio/Middlefield Cardinal) had nine stops. Craig Lawrence (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) had a team-best two tackles for loss, while the team picked up five quarterback sacks, giving them 16 on the season, an average of 4.0 per contest, after totaling just 10 for the entire season last year.

The Gators next take to the gridiron on Saturday, October 6 when the team plays host to the Little Giants of Wabash College in homecoming for Allegheny.

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