Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 28, Allegheny 19
Senior safety Braydon Chitty (Lewis Center/Olentangy), senior wide receiver Kenny Streb (Willowick/Eastlake North), and senior running back Trey Dixon (Atlanta, Ga./Westlake) scored touchdowns as Ohio Wesleyan reeled off 20 consecutive points on the way to a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Allegheny on Saturday in Meadville, Pa.
Ohio Wesleyan took an early lead on a 20-yard field goal by senior kicker Gabe Philhower (Reynoldsburg), but the Gators responded with a pair of touchdowns later in the quarter, first on a 10-yard pass from Jack Johnson to Mark Torsello, then on a 75-yard gallop by Tre Worship.
It became a one-score game early in the second quarter when the Gators lined up to punt from their own 25-yard line, but the snap sailed over the head of punter Marcus Wolf to bring the Bishops within 13-5.
Special teams brought the Bishops closer midway through the period when Allegheny lined up for a 34-yard field goal try, but sophomore defensive end Marquel Henry (Dayton/Chaminade Julienne) blocked the kick and Chitty picked up the loose ball and returned it 71 yards for a score. Ohio Wesleyan went for a game-tying 2-point conversion, but sophomore quarterback Austin Womack (Hurricane, W.Va.) could not connect with sophomore tight end Hunter Swetokos (East Lake, Fla.) and the score remained 13-11.
The Bishops opened the second half with a 73-yard drive for the go-ahead score, highlighted by a 23-yard strike from sophomore quarterback Kaden Buza (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) to Streb on fourth-and-2 from the Allegheny 39. Sophomore running back T.J. Weems (Inverness, Fla./Citrus) carried 4 times for 22 yards before Buza and Streb connected again, this time for 3 yards and a touchdown. Philhower's point-after gave Ohio Wesleyan an 18-13 lead with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan was just as efficient on its next drive, with Dixon starting things off with a 22-yard gain and later a 26-yard reception from Buza that resulted in a first down at the Allegheny 2-yard line. Two plays later, Dixon finished the drive with a 1-yard run.
Allegheny closed to within 25-19 when Johnson and Shane Cafardi connected on a 79-yard scoring play on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the score remained 25-19 when the Gators' 2-point try was unsuccessful.
Philhower provided some insurance with a 31-yard field goal with 5:01 remaining, and junior cornerback Ian Riddle (Perrysburg) picked off a Johnson pass at midfield, allowing the Bishops to run out the clock.
Buza completed 8 of 12 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Womack was 6-for-12 for 35 yards. Streb caught 4 passes for 33 yards. Dixon led the Bishops with 69 yards on 13 rushes. Chitty led the Bishops with 9 tackles and forced a Gator fumble, and senior safety Owen Albers (North Ridgeville/Lutheran West) and senior linebacker Cody Streit (Griffin, Ga.) added 8 stops apiece.
Jackson completed 24 of 40 passes for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns, with Torsello making 6 catches for 53 yards. Worship ran for 111 yards on 13 carries. Austin Ferguson had a game-high 12 tackles.
Box Score
