Box Score
Denison 29, Ohio Wesleyan 26
Sophomore running back Devon Haley (Granville) scored on a 1-yard run to give Ohio Wesleyan the lead early in the third quarter, but Denison rallied to take the lead, then held off a potential game-winning drive to take a North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Bishops on Saturday in Granville.
Senior quarterback Kaden Buza (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) connected with sophomore wide receiver Josh Hurst (Port Clinton) on a 13-yard scoring play to cap a 75-yard drive on the opening possession of the game, but freshman kicker Sean Putt (Mansfield/Senior) had his point-after kick blocked, with Denison's Jaylin Epps returning the kick for a defensive PAT to make the score 6-2.
The Big Red followed with a 59-yard drive, resulting in a 28-yard field goal by Dan Cunningham to make it a 6-5 game, and on the first play of the second quarter, the Big Red took the lead on a 60-yard pass from Jimmy Stines to Billy Guzzo.
Senior wide receiver Jakii Alston (Pickerington/Central) returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a score to give the lead back to Ohio Wesleyan. It was the second consecutive game in which Alston returned a kick for a touchdown, following a 99-yard burst last week.
Denison answered with a 65-yard, 9-play drive that saw a 37-yard completion from Stines to Tommy Asleson set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Trey Fabrocini that gave the Big Red a 19-13 lead with 9:53 left in the first half.
Late in the half, Haley rumbled for 15 yards to move the chains, and a pair of completions from Buza to Alston picked up 30 yards before another 15-yard burst by Haley gave the Bishops a first-and-goal. On the next play, Buza found Hurst for 6 yards and a score, and Putt booted the point after to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead, 20-19, with :45 to play.
The Big Red responded with completions ot 15 yards from Stines to Josh Aiello and 16 yards from Stines to Fabrocini. Junior defensive end Tyler Yanka (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) sacked Stines to move the ball back to the Bishop 34, but Cunningham came on to kick a 51-yard goal on the final play of the half for a 22-20 Denison lead.
Junior linebacker Seth Anderson (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) picked off a Stines pass and returned it to the Big Red 15 to open the second half, and on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Haley found paydirt. The Bishops went for 2 to try to open up a 6-point lead, but Buza's pass was incomplete and the score remained 26-22, Ohio Wesleyan.
Denison countered with a 75-yard, 13-play march that included runs of 10 and 12 yards by Fabrocini, setting up a 4-yard scoring run that gave the hosts a 29-26 lead.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with a drive of its own, getting a 17-yard strike from Buza to Hurst before Buza hit sophomore wide receiver Tyler Webb (Port Clinton) for gains of 25 and 15 yards, the latter giving the Bishops a first down at the Denison 15. On fourth down from the 7, Putt came on for a 22-yard field goal attempt, but Denison's Collin Hill blocked the kick and the Big Red took over at the 5-yard line.
Still down, 29-26, the Bishops sacked Stines on a fourth-and-2 call from the OWU 29 to get the ball back with 2:24 left in regulation time. Two Buza-to-Hurst completions moved the ball into Denison territory, and a strike from Buza to Webb picked up 18 more yards before a 16-yard run by Buza resulted in a first down at the 15-yard line. An 8-yard completion to Hurst moved the ball to the 9, but on fourth-and-4, the Bishops went for the win, and Buza's pass fell incomplete with :49 to play.
Buza completed 20 of 39 passes for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hurst led the Bishops with 11 catches for 140 yards and 2 scores, with the 11 receptions raising his season total to 75, breaking the mark of 66 set by Calvin Cagney in 2012 and 2013.
Haley led the Bishops with 78 yards on 12 rushes. Anderson had a team-high 11 tackles, including 1 for loss, and intercepted a pass. Junior free safety Drew Thornton (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) recorded 10 stops.
Box Score
