Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 34, Hiram 17
Sophomore quarterback Kaden Buza (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) directed 3 scoring drives as Ohio Wesleyan took the lead for good, and the Bishop defense forced 3 turnovers during the fourth quarter to close out a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Hiram on Saturday at Selby Stadium.
Hiram had taken a 10-9 lead when Xavier Reyero connected with Raequan Davis-Hereford on a 73-yard scoring play on the opening possession of the third quarter.
Buza came on to open the second half and completed 6 consecutive passes to march the Bishops down the field, connecting with 5 different receivers for 61 yards before going back to senior wide receiver Kenny Streb (Willowick/Eastlake North) on a 9-yard touchdown pass that put the Bishops ahead to stay. Buza found Streb again on a 2-point conversion play that made it a 17-10 game.
After the Ohio Wesleyan defense forced a punt and Streb returned the ball to the Terrier 35, Buza moved the Bishops closer with completions of 9 yards to Streb and 5 yards to freshman running back Jackson Gifford (Roiss/Hamilton Ross). A Buza scramble for 8 yards on third-and-15 from the Hiram 22 set up senior kicker Gabe Philhower (Reynoldsburg) for a 31-yard field goal to increase the Bishop lead to 20-10.
Reyero answered for Hiram, moving the Terriers down the field with completions of 23 and 12 yards to Marcus Freeman before a 25-yard scoring strike to Davis-Hereford and Chris Miller's conversion kick brought the visitors within 20-17.
The Bishops responded with a drive that featured a 16-yard completion from Buza to junior wide receiver J.T. Dozier (Dayton/Huber Heights Wayne) before senior running back Trey Dixon (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) broke free for a 28-yard gain and followed that with 9 more yards. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Buza completed the drive with a 4-yard pass to Dozier and a 27-17 Bishop lead.
Junior cornerback Ian Riddle (Perrysburg) intercepted a Reyero pass to end Hiram's following possession, but the Terriers got the ball back when Tonvanta Revis dislodged the ball from Dozier and Dylan Baliker returned it 31 yards to the Ohio Wesleyan 27.
Junior cornerback Nick Cianciola (Massillon/Canton Central Catholic) picked off a Reyero pass at the Ohio Wesleyan 1-yard line to end that threat, but the Terriers came right back when a 32-yard completion from Reyero to Davis-Hereford gave Hiram a first down at the Bishop 1-yard line. On the next play, however, Gabriel Hoskins fumbled and sophomore defensive end Marquel Henry (Dayton/Chaminade Julienne) recovered to keep the Terriers out of the end zone.
The Bishop defense put an exclamation point on the afternoon on the ensuing Hiram drive, when senior safety Owen Albers (North Ridgeville/Lutheran West) picked off a Reyero pass and returned it 46 yards for a score.
Ohio Wesleyan had taken a 2-0 lead when a snap went over the head of Hiram punter Chris Miller and into the end zone, with Miller kicking the ball through the end zone for a safety. The Bishops took the ensuing free kick and drove 52 yards in 10 plays, with sophomore quarterback Austin Womack (Hurricane, W.Va.) completing all 4 of his throws for 53 yards and Gifford carrying 5 times, including a 1-yard scoring run on fourth-and-goal, for a 9-0 lead.
Hiram closed to within 9-3 on a 22-yard field goal by Miller with 4:31 left in the first half, setting up the third-quarter action.
Buza completed 15 of 19 passes for 130 yards and 2 scores during the second half. Womack completed 10 of 13 throws for 116 yards during the first half. Gifford led the Bishops with 6 catches for 35 yards. Dixon led all rushers with 51 yards on 9 carries. Senior linebacker Shane Quin (Chardon) had a team-high 14 tackles, including half a sack and 1 for loss, and added a pass breakup. Senior safety Braydon Chitty (Lewis Center/Olentangy) made 10 stops and broke up 3 passes. Senior defensive end K.D. Melton (Warner Robins, Ga./Houston County) finished with 8 tackles, including 2½ sacks and 4½ for loss.
Reyero completed 26 of 47 passes for 514 yards and 2 touchdowns. Davis-Hereford had 12 receptions for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hoskins ran for 49 yards on 21 carries. Delanoe Harris and Revis had 9 stops apiece for Hiram.
Box Score
