Gators Win Nail Biter 27-20

Oct 20, 2007

Box Score

MEADVILLE, Pa. – After falling via last-second touchdowns in back-to-back years against Wooster, the Gators eliminated a repeat performance with an interception in the end zone as time expired in a 27-20 Allegheny victory. T.J. Salopek (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) completed 18-of-24 passes for a career-high 262 yards and two scores, helping the squad to victory. Salopek’s favorite target, Jim Lieb (Carrolltown, Pa./Northern Cambria), made his mark on the record books at Allegheny, tying Ronnie Anderson (1994-96) for second on the all-time reception list, while passing Chris Conrad (1993-96) for fourth in the record books in receiving yards over a career.

The Gators (5-2, 3-1 NCAC) started the game quickly, scoring on their first possession of the game when Rodney Still (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) scampered in from 23 yards away, capping an eight-play, 79-yard drive; however, a missed extra point kept the Allegheny lead at 6-0. With their first possession, the Fighting Scots (2-5, 2-2 NCAC) drove 50 yards to the Allegheny four-yardline, as the visitors attempted a 21-yard field goal that was blocked by Allegheny’s Nick Jones (Blairsville, Pa./Homer-Center), keeping Allegheny’s lead at 6-0.

After being held to a three-and-out on their next possession, the Scots got field position at the Allegheny 41-yardline after a punt into a stiff wind. Wooster needed just two plays, both passes from Austin Holter, the first a 10-yard pass to running back Dustin Sheppard and then a 31-yard pass to Jordan Ferns for the score, as the extra point gave the visitors a lead by the narrowest of margins, with Wooster leading 7-6 after the opening 15 minutes.

The Gators added to their point total on their second drive of the second quarter when Salopek found Jim Lieb (Carrolltown, Pa./Northern Cambria) from 36 yards out, with Josh Whiteside’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) extra point giving Allegheny a six-point 13-7 lead. The Blue and Gold added to their lead with 12 seconds left on the first-half clock when Salopek threw his second touchdown of the day, a 26-yard pass to Pete Obourn (Farmington, N.Y./Victor), with the extra point sending Allegheny into the locker room with a 20-7 lead.

Wooster got the first points of the second half when they made use of Allegheny’s only turnover of the day, a Salopek interception, driving 17 yards on six plays, scoring with an Andy Milligan 23-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 10 at 20-10. Five plays into the fourth quarter the Scots scored once again, this time when Sheppard dashed into the end zone from 12 yards away, cutting the deficit to three at 20-17.

Allegheny responded with a six-play, 60-yard drive, scoring on Still’s second rushing touchdown of the game, an 11-yard scamper, scoring the eventual game-winning points and taking the lead to 27-17. Not to leave the Gators with momentum, the Scots drove 37 yards on nine plays, scoring with Milligan’s second field goal of the game, this one narrowly scraping above the crossbar from 39 yards away, cutting the Gator lead to seven with 6:46 remaining on the game clock.

Looking to run out the clock, the Gators drove 20 yards on five plays, eating up 3:34 off of the clock, with Allegheny punter Jason Black (Warren, Ohio/Champion) pinning the Scots at the four yardline with his second successful coffin-corner punt of the game. Fifteen plays later, Wooster had the ball at the Allegheny 23 yardline, and thoughts went to last years’ Hail Mary pass to win the game for Wooster, but this time the Gators came out on the right side of the scoreboard, as senior Andy Toner (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) picked off this years’ version of the Hail Mary, sealing the win for the hosts.

The Gators totaled 348 yards on the day, averaging 6.0 yards per play, while holding Wooster to 311, an average of four yards per snap.

Still lead the Allegheny rushing attack with 64 yards on 15 carries with Matt Cellini (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph) chipping in 23 yards on six attempts. Sheppard ended the contest with a game-high 110 yards on 27 carries with Holter rushing 11 times for 18 yards in addition go completing 21 of his 36 passes for 182 yards and the solitary score.

Lieb had five catches to lead the Gators, gaining 80 yards, while Obourn hauled in four passes for a game-high 94 yards as Shane Sullivan (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) added four catches for 63 yards. Sheppard pulled in a team-best five passes for the Scots, gaining 31 yards while three others, Will Miska, Luke McCann and Ben Schrock each picked up a pass reception, gaining 37, 35 and 29 yards, respectively.

Ross Simcoe (Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport) picked up a game-high 16 tackles, with Mateo Villa (Windsor, Ohio/Middlefield Cardinal) and Toner picking up 13 and 11 tackles, each. Greg Schermbeck led the Scots with 13 tackles, as Jalam Cutting and Matt DeGrand each added 11 in the losing effort.

The Gators are next set to take to the gridiron on October 27, when they will travel to Delaware, Ohio, to take on the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan University, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.

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