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 Posted December 3rd, 2005 By Sam McCarthy, Assistant Sports Information Director Playoff Run for Capital Ends at Mount Union; Howes Has Record-Setting Day Mount Union 34, Capital 31 [Box Score] (ALLIANCE, Ohio)—Quarterback Mike Jorris hit Tony Antonucci on a two-yard pass with 3:41 left in the game to give No. 5 Mount Union College a 34-31 come from behind win over No. 12 Capital University in the North Region Final in the NCAA Division III Football Championship Saturday in Alliance, Ohio. Capital’s (10-3) run in the playoffs and season ends with a school-record 10 wins and the most points scored on Mount Union (12-1) so far this season. The Raiders advance to the national semifinals next weekend against Rowan (N.J.) University in Alliance. Rowan eliminated Mount Union from the playoffs in 1999. Mount Union engineered its game-winning drive after Capital took a 31-27 lead with seven minutes left in the game as quarterback Rocky Pentello (Columbus/Westerville South) tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Howes (Delaware/Principia Prep, Mo.). Three of Howes game-high 12 receptions went for touchdowns as part of a school-record 245 yard receiving performance. Pentello matched a season-high with four touchdown passes as he completed 18-of-28 passes for 312 yards. All against a Mount Union defense that entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation. Defensively, senior Joel Sickmeier (Pickerington/Pickerington Central) had a career-high and game-best 13 tackles, while senior Kyle Hausler (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) had a season-high 12 tackles and two fumbles recoveries. Mount Union generated 522 yards of offense as the nation’s No. 1 offense got 315 passing yards from Jorris and three touchdown passes. Aside from the game-winner, Jorris connected with sophomore wide receiver Pierre Garcon 11 times for 181 yards and a pair of scores, while freshman running back Nate Kmic had 38 rushes for 177 yards and a touchdown. Mike Gibbons had a team-high 11 tackles as the Raiders had four sacks, forced a fumble and had an interception. Mount Union got on the board first with 10:39 to go in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal from Mike Zimmerman to make it 3-0. After Capital was forced to punt on the next drive, defensive end Buddy Cox (Norwood/Norwood) forced a Mount Union fumble at the Raiders 28-yard line. The Crusaders got into the end zone five plays later on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rocky Pentello (Columbus/Westerville South) to Kive Kraft (Amanda/Amanda-Clearcreek) to give Capital a 7-3 edge with five minutes left in the first quarter. After both teams traded possessions, Mount Union struck with an 88-yard touchdown pass from Jorris to Garcon to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Capital tied the game with 8:45 in the second quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Matt Spitz (Xenia/Xenia), then took the lead again six minutes later when Pentello hooked up with Lewis Howes (Delaware/Principia Prep, Mo.) on the Crusaders longest play from scrimmage on the season, a 70-yard catch and run, to make it 17-10. Mount Union answered on the next drive going 75 yards on 11 plays capped off with Garcon’s second touchdown catch of the game, this time from three yards, to tie the game at 17-17 at the half. Pentello got Capital the lead back starting the second half with his third touchdown pass of the game, a 21-yard pass to Howes, to make it 24-17 with 12:58 to go in the third quarter. The Raiders came right back again five minutes later with a three-yard run to tie the game again at 24-24. Mount Union started the fourth quarter with a Zimmerman 24-yard field goal to retake the lead, 27-24 with 14:15 to go in the game. After Mount Union fumbled a punt, Pentello had his fourth touchdown pass of the game, third to Howes to make it 31-27 with 7:05 left in the game. After Mount Union reclaimed the lead, Capital got the ball back with 3:34 left in the game and failed to gain a first down, before the Raiders retook possession with two minutes to go and ran out the clock. |
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