Box Score
Denison 38, Ohio Wesleyan 37
Junior kicker Gabe Philhower (Reynoldsburg) drilled a 43-yard field goal to give Ohio Wesleyan a 37-35 lead, but Denison kicked a field goal with :23 left in regulation time to escape with a win over the Bishops on Friday at Selby Stadium.
The Big Red had taken a 35-27 lead on an 8-yard pass from Drew Dawkins to Josh Aiello early in the fourth quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with a 54-yard, 7-play drive that included a 37-yard strike from junior quarterback Zane Ries (Barberton) to senior wide receiver Michael Craider (Parma/Padua Franciscan) that gave the Bishops a first down at the Denison 25- yard line. Two carries by freshman running back T.J. Weems (Inverness, Fla./Citrus) moved the ball to the 8, and one play later, Ries found senior wide receiver Nick Soika (Seville/Lodi Cloverleaf) for a touchdown to make it 35-33 with 7:50 left in the game. Bishop head coach Tom Watts sent Philhower out for the conversion kick, and Philhower delivered to bring Ohio Wesleyan within 35-34.
Watts' strategy played out to perfection when the Bishop defense stepped up and forced a 3-and-out. Denison punter Thomas Gelorme's punt went 9 yards and Ohio Wesleyan took over on the Big Red 42-yard line.
A personal foul penalty moved the ball to the Denison 28, and a Ries-to-Soika connection picked up 2 more yards. The drive stalled there, however, and Philhower came on and drilled a line drive through the uprights for a 37-35 Ohio Wesleyan lead with 5:21 remaining.
The Bishop defense forced another punt, and this time the snap sailed over Gelorme's head, but the Denison punter chased the ball down at the 10-yard line and booted the ball to midfield.
Denison held the Bishops and forced a punt, and the Big Red took over on their own 22-yard line with 2:10 on the clock and a single timeout available. Dawkins hit D.J. Johnson for 19 yards on the first play, followed with a 12-yard connection to Peyton Vining, and then ran for 11 yards for a first down. After a Dawkins-to-Vining completion moved the ball to the Ohio Wesleyan 18, the Bishop defense held, setting up fourth-and-3 from the OWU 11. Pat Kramer came on and connected on a 28-yard field goal try for a 38-37 Denison lead with :23 left.
On the Bishops' final drive Ries moved the chains 13 yards with a strike to Craider, and a pass interference penalty moved the ball just over midfield. Ries was sacked on the next play, with Ohio Wesleyan recovering the fumble to set up a final chance with :01.6 remaining, but Ries' pass was knocked down in the end zone to end the game.
After a first quarter in which neither team could generate sustained offensive success, the Bishops struck first when Ries connected with junior wide receiver Kenny Streb (Willowick/Eastlake North) over the middle, and Streb broke free for a 50-yard scoring play. On the next play from scrimmage, Dawkins' attempted handoff went awry and sophomore defensive end Walker James (Hurricane, W.Va.) picked up the ball and rumbled 14 yards for a score and a 14-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.
Running back Andrew Blanchard helped the Big Red respond with a score, carrying 6 times for 42 yards during a march that culminated in a 4-yard pass from Dawkins to Peyton Vining.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with a 72-yard, 9-play drive that saw Ries find Craider for a 20-yard scoring play that gave the Bishops a 21-7 lead.
Trey Fabrocini scored on a 4-yard run to bring the Big Red within 21-14 at the half, then Denison opened the second half with a 40-yard TD pass from Dawkins to Vining and a 3-yard run from Hunter Biddle to go up, 28-21.
Streb returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to the Denison 27, and after a 10-yard pass from Ries to senior running back Trey Dixon (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) set up first-and-goal, Ries took off for the goal line but lost the handle on the ball just before breaking the plane. Craider fell on the ball in the end zone for a score that made it 28-27, but Philhower's kick for the tie was wide left.
Ries completed 18 of 31 passes for 245 yards and 3 scores. Streb caught 5 passes for 106 yards and a TD, and Craider had 5 receptions for 92 yards and a score. Dixon led Bishop rushers with 30 yards on 11 attempts. Senior linebacker Shane Quin (Chardon) led Ohio Wesleyan with 17 tackles.
Dawkins completed 19 of 29 throws for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns. Vining made 6 catches for 90 yards and 2 scores. Blanchard rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries. Chris Negrete and Ryan Hallinan had 9 stops apiece for Denison.
Box Score
