Pitzer, MSJ win season opener against Wilmington College
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
WILMINGTON — Making his first start as quarterback for the College of Mount St. Joseph Lions, McClain High School graduate Brian Pitzer and the rest of the MSJ team rallied after being down by 14 in the first quarter to defeat the Wilmington College Quakers 26-16, Saturday night at Williams Stadium in Wilmington.
The start under center was a first at the college level for Pitzer, a junior, as he was recently named the starting quarterback for the Lions for their season opener.
Pitzer used the passing game, but mostly put on a show for the 2,111 fans in attendance with his feet, rushing for 92 yards on 16 carries (5.8 ypc) for two touchdowns. In the air, he was 2-of-7 for 17 yards with one interception and was sacked once.
The Lions (1-0) trailed by 14 points after the first quarter, with WC touchdowns from Tyrell Richardson on a 9-yard run and a 7-yard pass from Brandon Arehart (a former Hillsboro Post 129 baseball player) to Kyle Blakeman for the 14-point advantage.
MSJ cut the Quaker lead in half with a 34-yard touchdown run (the longest run of the game) from James Clay, ending the three-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Clay finished with 141 yards rushing on 18 carries (7.8 ypc).
The second touchdown drive for the Lions was initially set up when, on a punt by WC, MSJ fumbled the return on the WC 20-yard line. After a few bounces and a scramble for the ball, the Lions ended up with possession on the Wilmington 2-yard line.
After two unsuccessful rushing attempts by MSJ, Pitzer got behind his offensive linemen and barreled his way into the end zone (third-and-goal from the one) on a quarterback keeper for the touchdown, with 2:00 left in the second quarter. The PAT tied the game at 14.
At the start of the third quarter, the Lions forced a Wilmington fumble, which led to more MSJ points from Pitzer.
The drive began on the Wilmington 14-yard line when Pitzer kept the ball on a QB keeper for 11 yards. Two plays later, the McClain grad took the ball into the end zone from five yards out, turning the corner on the Quaker defense for six points with 12:43 left in the third. The blocked PAT put the Lions up 20-14.
MSJ finished with 318 yards rushing and 335 total offensive yards. WC finished with 121 yards rushing and 98 passing yards from Arehart and Pat Redwine combined.
Pitzer made some plays with his rushing game throughout the season opener, including a 28-yard run on third down deep in MSJ territory. He followed that with an 11-yard keeper, but that MSJ dive was stopped in its tracks on a turnover (forced fumble) by the Quakers late in the third.
Wilmington caught Pitzer in the end zone on a passing attempt for a safety in the fourth quarter, making the score 20-16. The Lions took a 10-point lead with 3:00 left in the fourth with Sean Keller scoring on a 9-yard run.
MSJ is a Division III college in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Lions play again on Sept. 17 at Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. with a 7 p.m. start.
GAME NOTES: Pitzer had a following of McClain fans in the stands Saturday night … Former McClain starter Thorne Hester is a freshman for the WC quarters ... The Lynchburg-Clay Marching Mustangs performed at halftime … Pitzer's two completions went to Rob Blundred for 12 yards and Keller for five yards … MSJ averaged 5.9 ypc … MSJ had two sacks (WC 1) … There were six fumbles in the game … MSJ ran 61 plays on offense (WC 62) … Game time was 2:47 … Attendance was 2,111 … Game time temperature was 92 degrees … Wilmington won the toss (deferred).[[In-content Ad]]
The start under center was a first at the college level for Pitzer, a junior, as he was recently named the starting quarterback for the Lions for their season opener.
Pitzer used the passing game, but mostly put on a show for the 2,111 fans in attendance with his feet, rushing for 92 yards on 16 carries (5.8 ypc) for two touchdowns. In the air, he was 2-of-7 for 17 yards with one interception and was sacked once.
The Lions (1-0) trailed by 14 points after the first quarter, with WC touchdowns from Tyrell Richardson on a 9-yard run and a 7-yard pass from Brandon Arehart (a former Hillsboro Post 129 baseball player) to Kyle Blakeman for the 14-point advantage.
MSJ cut the Quaker lead in half with a 34-yard touchdown run (the longest run of the game) from James Clay, ending the three-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Clay finished with 141 yards rushing on 18 carries (7.8 ypc).
The second touchdown drive for the Lions was initially set up when, on a punt by WC, MSJ fumbled the return on the WC 20-yard line. After a few bounces and a scramble for the ball, the Lions ended up with possession on the Wilmington 2-yard line.
After two unsuccessful rushing attempts by MSJ, Pitzer got behind his offensive linemen and barreled his way into the end zone (third-and-goal from the one) on a quarterback keeper for the touchdown, with 2:00 left in the second quarter. The PAT tied the game at 14.
At the start of the third quarter, the Lions forced a Wilmington fumble, which led to more MSJ points from Pitzer.
The drive began on the Wilmington 14-yard line when Pitzer kept the ball on a QB keeper for 11 yards. Two plays later, the McClain grad took the ball into the end zone from five yards out, turning the corner on the Quaker defense for six points with 12:43 left in the third. The blocked PAT put the Lions up 20-14.
MSJ finished with 318 yards rushing and 335 total offensive yards. WC finished with 121 yards rushing and 98 passing yards from Arehart and Pat Redwine combined.
Pitzer made some plays with his rushing game throughout the season opener, including a 28-yard run on third down deep in MSJ territory. He followed that with an 11-yard keeper, but that MSJ dive was stopped in its tracks on a turnover (forced fumble) by the Quakers late in the third.
Wilmington caught Pitzer in the end zone on a passing attempt for a safety in the fourth quarter, making the score 20-16. The Lions took a 10-point lead with 3:00 left in the fourth with Sean Keller scoring on a 9-yard run.
MSJ is a Division III college in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Lions play again on Sept. 17 at Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. with a 7 p.m. start.
GAME NOTES: Pitzer had a following of McClain fans in the stands Saturday night … Former McClain starter Thorne Hester is a freshman for the WC quarters ... The Lynchburg-Clay Marching Mustangs performed at halftime … Pitzer's two completions went to Rob Blundred for 12 yards and Keller for five yards … MSJ averaged 5.9 ypc … MSJ had two sacks (WC 1) … There were six fumbles in the game … MSJ ran 61 plays on offense (WC 62) … Game time was 2:47 … Attendance was 2,111 … Game time temperature was 92 degrees … Wilmington won the toss (deferred).[[In-content Ad]]