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Wesley Beats Elements, Johns Hopkins
DOVER, Del. - No. 3 Wesley College defeated Johns Hopkins 12-0 in snow, wind, and rain in the Division III South Region Championship.
The weather made life difficult on both squads, but the Wolverines took advantage of what opportunities they were given to pull out the win and advance to the NCAA Semifinals. Wesley basically turned things into a game of keep away, holding the ball for an astounding 40:07 in the game, limiting Johns Hopkins chances.
The Wolverines got on the board after a scoreless first quarter. The Blue Jays tried to fake a punt, but the play broke down and Abeeb Badmus (Sharon Hill, Pa./Interboro) and Denzel Bridges (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) jumped on Michael Murray at the Hopkins 28. Wesley then fed the Blue Jays a steady diet of Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick), who ran five straight times, capping the drive with a five yard scamper around the right side, bouncing off several defenders and into the end zone. The point after failed and the Wolverines led 6-0 with 9:07 to go in the half.
Later in the period, Wesley was forced to punt and Dakevis Howard (Wilmington, Del./Concord) forced a fumble recovered by Justin Strickland (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) at the JHU 28. The Wolverines were faced with a third and 23 and Sam Eagleson intercepted a pass at the Wesley three to end the threat.
The Blue Jays started to move the ball, but Aaron Benson (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) picked off his seventh pass of the season and Wesley led 6-0 at the break.
Early in the third quarter, Mike Mahon recovered a Wolverine and the Blue Jays took over inside Wesley territory. Wesley defense did not bend, and Benson blocked a punt that Leonard Stevenson (Nanjemoy, Md./Lackey) returned to the Hopkins 28. Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) rushed 17 yards on the drive's first play and three plays later a wall of blockers guided him around the left side untouched for a three yard touchdown. The Wolverines came up empty on a two-point conversion for a 12-0 lead.
Wesley as on the move as the fourth quarter began but Collin Wixted came up with an interception that breathed life back into the Blue Jays. Hewitt Tomlin hit Tucker Michels on a 38-yard strike to move down to the Wesley 19. Hopkins later faced fourth and one at the Wesley 10, but a penalty backed the team up five yards and Tomlin's pass to Dan Crowley on fourth down was high.
On the ensuing possession, Barry Garrard (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) bounced things outside for a 19-yard gain on first down as the Wolverines started a 12-play drive that sapped 6:38 off the clock and the Blue Jays did not get the ball back until just over two minutes remained in the contest. The Wolverine defense turned away four straight passes, then ran out the clock for the win.
Wesley held the Blue Jays to just 138 yards of total offense and 47 on the ground, both season lows. The team held Andrew Kase, 13th in Division III in rushing, to a season low 53 yards on 13 carries. Tomlin finished 9-of-26 for 83 yards.
The Wolverine offense, meanwhile, churned out 155 yards on the ground. Jackson led the way with 72 on 20 carries, while Garrard and McSweeny each topped 50. McSweeny finished 10-of-17 passing for 167 yards, including four passes to C.J. Bacote (Burlington, N.J./Lenape Regional) for a season-best 73 yards.
Jeffery Dorsey (Baltimore, Md./Woodlawn) and Carlos James (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) led the Wolverines with six tackles apiece. Chris Mayes (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) had a sack, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss.
Mike Milano had a game-high 12 stops for the Blue Jays. Ryan Piatek added 10 stops. Wixted finished with nine tackles, a sack and an interception.
With weather playing a factor, the two teams combined for eight fumbles.
Wesley now advances to face Mount Union in the national semifinals on December 12 at noon in Alliance, Ohio.
Notes
- Both quarterbacks entered the game one touchdown pass short their school's single season records, but neither threw a touchdown pass in the game.
- Johns Hopkins was shut out for the first time since the 1998 season finale.
- It was Wesley's lowest point total since it's last appearance in the South Region Championship, when they fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor 27-10.
- Aaron Jackson topped the 1,000-yard mark on the season, his second career 1,000-yard season.
- He also topped 3,500 for his career, making him just the third running back in school history to top that mark.
- The shutout was Wesley's third of the season, the first time since 2004 the Wolverines have shut out three opponents.
- Jackson tied Fred Edwards for third all-time at Wesley with 31 rushing touchdowns and for eighth with 192 career points.
- Kase totaled 62 all-purpose yards to become the sixth player in Centennial Conference history to reach 5,000 all-purpose yards. He ends his career with 5,025 career all-purpose yards.
- Tomlin set single season marks for completions (238), attempts (390), passing yards (2642) and total offense (2685).
- Tucker Michels moved into fourth at Johns Hopkins in career receptions (141).
- Wesley has won three of the past five South Region Championships and are 3-1 in regional championship games.
Quotes
Johns Hopkins Head Coach Jim Margraff
- On the 2009 season: "We went farther than any Hopkins football team in school history. I'm proud of the defense."
- On the defense: "They've been great all year. We built the team around it."
- On the defense: "I thought our defense was spectacular today. But we needed a clean game today and we made some mistakes on offense and on special teams. At the same time, Wesley has an outstanding team. You can't give them short fields and they made us pay for it twice."
- On the offense: "We never really were able to get on track offensively. We didn't have a clean game on offense."
- On the fake punt: "We were playing into a strong wind in the second quarter and even if we punt it there they are probably in four-down territory and we thought we would try to catch them."
Johns Hopkins quarterback Hewett Tomlin
- On the weather: "It really made it tough on both teams."
- On a delay of game penalty at the Wesley 10: "We got to the line on time, but there were some mental mistakes."
Johns Hopkins' Collin Wixted
- On the defense: "We play more pumped up when our backs are against the wall.
- On the 2009 season: "We all got to play for the best football team in Johns Hopkins history."
Wesley College Head Coach Mike Drass
- On winning the South Region: "We're excited about the win, but we want to congratulate Johns Hopkins. They are extremely well-coached.
- On the weather: "Both teams played really hard, especially considering the weather. Our athletic trainers were actually worried about hypothermia towards the end of the game. On a day like today, the team who makes the fewest mistakes is going to win."
- On what he told the team about playing in bad weather: "Just move the chains. Focus on keeping a hold on the ball and moving the chains."
- On the offensive line: "They helped us to control the ball and control the time of possession. They are the reason we won the game today."
- On advancing to the semifinals: "When you get to the final four, you have to ask the seniors, 'What's going to be your legacy?'"
- On upcoming opponent Mount Union: "Mount Union has the best team. But to be the best team, you have to beat the best team."
Wesley College offensive lineman Matt Ferguson
- On the weather conditions: "We had to be ready to run the ball."
- On the playoff run: "We're not ready for our season to end. I'm looking forward to playing the best teams and beating the best teams."
Wesley College quarterback Shane McSweeny
- On handling the ball in the weather: "We couldn't take any deep shots down the field. You just have to run the ball. You can't turn the ball over. You really just have to hold on in this kind of game."
- On Aaron Benson's blocked punt: "You have to take advantage of those kid of opportunitites."
Wesley College defensive back Aaron Benson
- On reaching the semifinals: "It just means we have to go back to work. It's time to get ready for Mount Union."
