Wolverines Rally on Senior Day

Box Score

DOVER, Del. - Running back Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) and quarterback Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) combined for 235 yards rushing as Wesley came from behind for a 32-28 win on over Ohio Dominican.

The Panthers (7-3) got rushing touchdowns from Austin Wallace and Mark Nichols in the second half to take a 28-17 lead with 14:56 left in the game, but the Wolverines (10-0) clawed their way back. 

With 10:56 left in the game, the Wesley forced Ohio Dominican to punt.  The snap came in high and Mitch Croy made a nice play to prevent a turnover.  In an effort to beat the Wolverine rush, however, his punt went just 19 yards and Wesley regained possession at the Panther 49.

 After three run plays moved the ball to the 38 yard line, McSweeny went deep to Sean McAndrew (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township), who hauled in the 38 yard score for his fifth touchdown in the past three games.  The Wolverines went for two and McSweeny found Ellis Krout (Dallas, Texas/Roosevelt) in the end zone to pull to 28-25.

Ohio Dominican had a second and three on their next possession, but Chris Mayes (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) brought down the ball carrier in the backfield and the Panthers had to punt.  This time Croy boomed a 44-yard punt that started the Wolverines at their own 29 with 6:55 left. 

 
Wesley slowly but steadily moved down the field and after a 12-yard run by McSweeny moved the Wolverines to the four yardline, the quarterback kept it again and just got over the goal line for the go-ahead score with 2:09 left in the game.

A short kick and a 29-yard return by Nichols set up the Panthers at their own 47 yardline.  A pair of passes from Billy Griffin to Mike Noffsinger moved the ball to the Wesley 37, but Mayes came through with a sack of Griffin on the next play for an 11 yard loss.  After an incomplete pass, the Panthers faced third and 21 and Griffin went long over the middle only to have Marcus Wilson (Pennsauken, N.J./Camden Catholic) jump the route and return the interception all the way to the ODU 34 to ice the game.

On the game's first play, Griffin threw the first of his three interceptions, as Dakevis Howard (Wilmington, Del./Concord) picked off a pass and returned it to midfield.

A 17-yard run by McSweeny on the ensuing drive set up a 12-yard score by Jackson as Wesley went ahead 7-0 just 3:25 into the game. 

The first quarter ended with the Panthers on the move and Griffin completed passes on the first three plays of the second period followed by a nine-yard rush by Wallace to tie the game with 13:02 left in the game.

The two teams battled back and forth for the rest of the half.  On the next Wesley series, McSweeny hit DeAndre Fowlkes (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) for a 42-yard gain to move the Wolverines to the ODU 14.  Two plays later, it was McSweeny to Krout on the fade for a 14-7 lead.

Later in the period, Griffin hooked up with Brandon Robinson on a 44-yard score to tie the game with 3:47 to go. 

A 28-yard kickoff by Vince Furby (Columbia, Md./Long Reach) set up Wesley with good field position and the Wolverines moved down to the Panther two yardline with four seconds left.  Colin Blugis (Odenton, Md./Arundel) connected on a 19-yard field goal as time expired to give the Wolverines a 17-14 lead at the half.

Jackson rushed 21 times in the game for 121 yards and the Wolverines opening score.  McSweeny ran 22 times for 114 times and the winning touchdown.  The junior also completed 13-of-24 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

McAndrew hauled in three catches for 67 yards to lead the Wesley receiving corps.

Mike Asiedu (Yonkers, N.Y./Gorton) made 10 tackles for the Wolverines and sacked Griffin once.  Mayes made three of his five tackles in the Panther backfield.  Howard intercepted two passes in the game.

Griffin connected on 20-of-33 passes for 222 yards and two scores, completing passes to 10-different receivers. 

The Panthers used six different ball carriers to rush 30 times for 101 yards.

Rashawn Newell led the defense with eight tackles, 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Wesley now awaits word on a Pool B bid to the NCAA Championships.  The selections will be announced between 3:00 and 3:30 PM on ESPNews on Sunday, November 15.

Notes:

• Before the game, Wesley honored its senior class, playing their final regular season home game.  Players honored were Abeeb Badmus, Matt Beym, Matt Ferguson, Tom Fox, Aaron Jackson, Carlos James, Zach Johnson, Greg Luke, Evan Pritchett, Yvenel Sainsume, Maxx Townsend, Mike Ward and Austin Zeleski.
• The win sealed Wesley's second undefeated regular season since moving to Division III (2006).
• Jackson turned in his fourth straight game of at least 120 yards.
• McSweeny's 100-yard rushing game was the first of his career.
• Krout's receiving touchdown gave him 15 on the season, one short of Michael Clarke's school record (2006).
• Chris Mayes entered Wesley's top 10 in career tackles for loss with 28.
• His 25.5 on the season are just three short of Bryan Robinson's single season mark of 28.5 (2006).
• Ohio Dominican is just the second team to top 100 yards rushing against Wesley this season.
• McSweeny passed Rick Renshaw for fourth place in career touchdown passes at Wesley and now has 44.
• Wesley's two-point conversion as the team's first since October 23, 2004, a span of 65 games.