WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Capital University football team traveled to Wilmington College for their only night game of the season, falling 49-24.
With the result, Wilmington improves to 3-1 overall, but Capital drops to 0-4 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got on the board first as their opening drive ended in a 20 yard field goal off the foot of
Tyler Terrell. The field goal was Terrell's second of the year and second in as many games.
Despite taking the lead, Capital surrendered the game's next 14 points to the Quakers, falling into a 14-3 hole.
The Comets kept their heads up and responded with another scoring drive, this time with
Ben Everson connecting with
Mike Elmore for 44 yards and a touchdown. The score capped off a four-play, 62-yard drive for the Comets, making the score 14-10.
Unlucky for Capital, Wilmington scored the next 14 points, moving ahead 28-10.
Despite the setback, Capital kept pressing for more points, eventually scoring just before the halftime break. Capital ran 11 plays and went 58 yards, eventually scoring on a 4th-and-goal play, thanks to Everson connecting with
Eddie Thomas in the corner of the endzone – the duo's fourth TD connection in the past two games.
The Quakers received the second half kickoff and tacked on another touchdown right away, putting the eventual result out of reach for the Comets.
The best drive for Cap in the second half came near the end of the third quarter as the offense found themselves at the Quaker one-yard line, but an unfortunate fumble left the Comets with nothing to show.
After the turnover, Wilmington scored two more touchdowns, going ahead 49-17 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Comets defense nabbed their first interception of the season, thanks to
James Curtis who picked off a pass from Quaker quarterback Derek Larimer.
With 4:21 left in the fourth, Capital did find the endzone again, thanks to a 28-yard connection from Everson to
Jamal Wiggins. Wiggins made a leaping grab and was hit in the air, but still managed to hang on to complete the catch despite the contact.
After the Comet score, the Quakers rushed out the clock, securing the 49-24 win.
THE NUMBERS
Ben Everson completed 15-of-29 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw two interceptions as well.
In the receiving game,
Mike Elmore was the top-choice receiver, hauling in five catches for 99 yards and a score. He was followed closely by
Eddie Thomas with four catches for 67 yards and a TD.
Jamal Wiggins,
Drew Engle and
Nate Younker also caught passes for the receiving group.
On the ground, Everson rushed for a team-best 76 yards. He was followed by
Troi McClary with a career-high 57 yards on 10 rushes.
Drew Engle toted the ball 12 times for 52 yards as well.
Kassim Johnson and
Albree Grose also got in with rushes as well.
Defensively,
Griffin McKinney led the way with 10 tackles.
Tyson Shutler made nine stops, while
Nick Fisanick and
Cyrus Burden each made eight tackles.
James Curtis added five tackles to his interception in the game.
In special teams,
Tyler Terrell was 1-for-1 on field goals, 3-for-3 on PATs and sent two punts for an average of 36 yards per punt.
Bennett Zerby and
Dominic Marquette split the return job tonight as the Quakers sent a number of their kickoffs to one of the middle lines.
UP NEXT
Capital will return home to Bernlohr Stadium to host the Battle for the Oar vs. Otterbein next Saturday, September 30th at 1:30 p.m. That game will also serve as Capital's Homecoming and Hall of Fame Game. The university will have a tailgate taking place in the S1 lot, as well as games and activities outside the stadium prior to kickoff. As a courtesy to fans looking to access their usual parking, East Mound Street will be closed from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., thus parking lots will need to be accessed via Pleasant Ridge Ave.
