Defiance wins on late kick return

9/18/2005

DEFIANCE - Gary Allen returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown with 49 seconds to play, lifting Defiance to a 29-26 win over Bethany (W.Va.) yesterday.

The Bison (1-2) had taken their first lead 12 seconds earlier on Dante Green's 13-yard touchdown run. Bethany turned a 22-12 deficit into a 26-22 lead on Brent Owens' 8-yard TD pass to Brad Zink with 6:26 remaining and Green's run with 1:01 left.

Allen took the ensuing kickoff down the sideline and into the end zone to give the Yellow Jackets (1-2) the victory.

Defiance managed only 89 yards rushing and 68 passing, but its defense was solid, with three interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Nate Fitton completed 5 of 11 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown for Defiance. He also had a 16-yard TD run.

Ohio Northern 30, Baldwin-Wallace 17

ADA, Ohio - Running back Derek Garrod threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Brian Lee for the go-ahead score as Ohio Northern rallied from 17 points down.

Garrod's option pass gave the Polar Bears (2-0, 1-0 Ohio Athletic Conference) a 22-17 lead with 11:54 remaining in the third quarter. R.J. Meadows added a 1-yard TD run about four minutes later and Lee caught a two-point conversion passes from Adam Quirk for the final margin.

The Yellow Jackets (1-1, 0-1) had a 17-0 lead with 9:52 left in the second quarter. But Ohio Northern scored the next 15 points to make it a two-point game at halftime. After a safety, Quirk had touchdown passes of 5 yards to Bryan Gasser and 1 yard to Kevin Shoup.

Quirk finished 15-of-27 for 134 yards. Garrod ran for 86 yards on 15 carries and Lee caught six passes for 94 yards.

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 42, FINDLAY 3

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Chris Dougherty threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns, including a 55-yard pass to Tony Awrey, to lead Saginaw Valley State, which is ranked 11th in the nation in Division II.

The Cardinals (3-0, 3-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate) finished with 602 yards of offense and held the Oilers (3-1, 2-1) to 133.

Michael Simpson led Findlay with 22 carries for 79 yards.

Thiel 42, Bluffton 0

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Steve Minton rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns for Thiel.

The Tomcats (2-0) held the Beavers to just 14 yards passing and 115 yards overall. Bluffton also committed three turnovers.

Ben Dodds rushed for 59 yards on 16 carries for the Beavers (1-2).

Marietta 46, Heidelberg 21

TIFFIN - Steven Wagner rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and caught a 40-yard pass for another score to help Marietta beat Heidelberg.

The Pioneers (2-0, 1-0 OAC), who finished with 313 yards on the ground.

Dawond Ruddy and Dale Rutledge each returned a fumble for a touchdown for Heidelberg (0-2, 0-1), which trailed 28-6 at halftime.

Marietta's defense had five interceptions and recovered a fumble. Heidelberg finished with 304 yards of offense.

Edinboro 42, Tiffin 7

EDINBORO, Pa. - Ulysee Davis rushed for three touchdowns for Edinboro.

Edinboro (2-1), ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division II, came within 11 seconds of posting its second consecutive shutout. Tiffin (1-3) scored its only points on a 20-yard pass from Matt Root to Sean Ostrowski.