Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 35, Denison 25

Senior quarterback Zane Ries (Barberton) fired 3 touchdown passes as Ohio Wesleyan built a 21-7 lead and withstood a Denison comeback on the way to a North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Big Red on Saturday in Granville.

Ries connected with senior wide receiver Kofi Ansah-Tutu (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) on a 25-yard scoring play on the opening drive of the game, capping a 78-yard, 9-play march.

Later in the first period, Ries found junior wide receiver J.T. Dozier (Dayton/Huber Heights Wayne) on a 5-yard touchdown strike, and senior kicker Gabe Philhower (Reynoldsburg) increased the lead to 14-0.

Denison took advantage of a short field to get on the scoreboard, recovering a Bishop fumble at the OWU 23 and covering that distance in 8 plays, the last 5 runs by Trey Fabrocini.  Fabrocini's 2-yard plunge and Pat Kramer's point after made it 14-7 with 10:55 left in the first half.

Senior running back Trey Dixon (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards and a facemask penalty set up the Bishops at the Big Red 45, and 7 plays later, Ries and Dozier connected again, this time for 8 yards and a score.

Kramer hit a 36-yard field goal during the final minute of the first half, but the Bishops opened the second half with another touchdown march, this time with Dixon going over from 2 yards out to stretch the lead to 28-10.

The Big Red rallied with a pair of third-quarter scores, getting a 5-yard touchdown run from Andrew Blanchard and a 1-yard run from Fabrocini, and when Drew Dawkins found Mack Marston on a 2-point conversion, the hosts were within 28-25 with 3:20 left in the third quarter.

Ohio Wesleyan opened the fourth quarter with a 13-play, 89-yard drive that took more than 6 minutes off the clock.  Dixon broke loose on a 31-yard gain that provided a first down at the Denison 23, and on fourth-and-12 from the Big Red 25, Ries found Dozier for 18 yards to move the chains again.  Ries got the final 9 yards with a pass to freshman running back Jackson Gifford (Ross/Hamilton Ross).

Ries completed 23 of 39 passes for 241 yards and 4 touchdowns, tying for sixth place on the Bishop single-game list.  Dozier caught 7 passes for 75 yards and 2 TDs.  Dixon ran for 87 yards on 17 carries.  Senior linebacker Shane Quin (Chardon) led the Bishop defense with 10 tackles, including half a sack.

Dawkins completed 10 of 22 throws for 106 yards.  Marston made 3 catches for 39 yards and Josh Aiello had 3 receptions for 37 yards.  Fabrocini picked up 138 yards on 19 rushes.  Jeff Moore led Denison with 10 stops.

Box Score