Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 45, Hiram 18
Sophomore quarterback Zane Ries (Barberton) found sophomore wide receiver Kenny Streb (Willowick/Eastlake North) for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, senior running back Curtis Duren (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) ran for 3 scores, and Ohio Wesleyan had 5 scoring drives of 1, 2, or 3 plays as the Bishops recorded a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Hiram on Saturday in Hiram.
The Ohio Wesleyan win, combined with Denison's 24-14 win over Wittenberg and Wabash's 38-3 win over Oberlin, leaves Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, and Wabash tied for the league lead at 5-1 in conference play.
Junior running back Trey Dixon (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) fielded the opening kickoff and raced 71 yards to the Hiram 17-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Ries connected with Streb on a 17-yard touchdown pass, and the conversion by senior kicker Anthony Sanfillipo (Delaware/Hayes) made it 7-0.
After forcing a Hiram punt, the Bishops took over at the Terrier 45, and on third-and-5, Duren broke loose for a 40-yard scoring jaunt that put the Bishops go up, 14-0.
The Bishops forced a 3-and-out, and Ries connected with senior wide receiver Justin Lowry (Litchfield/Buckeye) for 44 yards and a first down at the Hiram 18, setting up a 31-yard Sanfillipo field goal that increased the margin to 17-0 with 5:45 left in the first quarter.
Hiram's Horace Johnson picked off a Ries pass on the Bishops' ensuing possession, setting up the hosts at the OWU 23, and after a 13-yard connection from Collin McNamara to Myles Hymes on fourth-and-3 from the 16, David Cummings covered the final 3 yards to put Hiram on the scoreboard. Senior defensive end Kyle Hogan (Centerburg) blocked the point-after to keep the game at 17-6.
Early in the second quarter, senior wide receiver Gabriel Miller (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) returned a Terrier punt 40 yards to the Hiram 30-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Duren was off to the races for a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Terriers countered when Delanoe Harris recovered a Dixon fumble at the Bishop 15-yard line, and on second down, Bryson Butler broke free for the score. Hiram's 2-point conversion try failed, and the score remained 24-12 midway through the period.
Later in the half, Ohio Wesleyan took over on the Hiram 20 after a punt, and after Ries found Duren for 17 yards on first down, sophomore running back Marty Sesma (San Diego, Calif./Sweetwater) picked up the final 3 yards for a 31-12 Ohio Wesleyan lead with 1:10 left in the half.
Senior safety Mario DeJoy (North Olmsted) blocked a Terrier punt, and freshman cornerback Ian Riddle (Perrysburg) scooped up the ball and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown for a 38-12 Bishop lead in the final seconds of the period.
On the opening possession of the second half, the Bishop defense forced another 3-and-out, and Miller returned the ensuing punt 26 yards to the Hiram 42. A personal foul moved the ball to the Hiram 23, and on second down, Duren took the ball to the end zone.
Ries completed 6 of 16 passes for 86 yards and a score. Lowry had 2 catches for 42 yards. Duren led the Bishops with 119 yards on 10 carries, including TD runs of 40, 30, and 23 yards. He is the first Bishop player to run for 3 scores in a game since Oct. 22, 2016, when Dominick Orsini ran for 3 touchdowns at DePauw.
Junior linebacker Lucas Cooper (Hurricane, W.Va.) led the Bishops with 13 tackles, including 1½ sacks and 2½ for loss. Junior linebacker Shane Quin (Chardon) made 10 tackles, and Hogan had 8 stops, including half a sack and 2 for loss.
Xavier Reyero completed 17 of 36 passes for 140 yards. Tahj Lorthridge and Jaris Foreman each had 6 catches. Malcolm Rogers led the Terriers with 72 yards on 10 carries. Tyler Swearingen had a team-high 10 tackles, including 3 for loss.
Box Score
