COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University football team played from in front for much of the game and scored a season-high 41 points, but ultimately fell just short as they lost to visiting Ohio Northern University on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 42-41.
The result pushes Capital back to 0-6 while ONU is now 4-2 on the year.
Prior to the game and throughout, Capital Athletics and the football program partnered with the Capital University Army ROTC and the Ohio National Guard to host Military and First Responders Appreciation Day. Highlighting the day's activities were the recognition of senior ROTC Cadets, an Oath of Enlistment ceremony, a live National Anthem performance by ROTC cadets and brothers Nick and Blake Rose, a UH60M Black Hawk helicopter flyover and ROTC giveaways.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The thrilling affair got started right away as the Comet defense halted a promising ONU drive to open the game by forcing a fourth down turnover.
On their first possession of the game,
Ben Owens connected with
Nate Younker for 12 yards to move the chains. Just two plays later, Owens threw an excellent over the top pass to
Kassim Johnson who took the ball down the sideline for a 63-yard score. The PAT from
Tyler Terrell made it 7-0 to start.
On the next ONU drive, Capital's defense again showed up. As the Polar Bears appeared to get their shot at the end zone on Jordan Pettaway's 22-yard rush, Cap's
Bailey Johnson caught Pettaway and ripped the ball free, sending it through the back of the end zone for a Comet touchback, keeping Cap in front 7-0.
Cap's next offensive possession fizzled out, but the defense again had their backs. This time, it was
Marlon Paige who forced Pettaway into another fumble. But instead of a touchback, Capital's
Manny Keeling scooped up the loose ball and returned it 94 yards for the touchdown, making it 14-0. The fumble return for a touchdown marked the first time a Capital player had done that since Bryant Bokovitz did so against Earlham on an eight-yard scoop and score on September 13, 2014.
The Polar Bears responded well to the Cap score, by scoring two plays into their next drive, bringing the score to 14-7.
After the quarter break, Capital worked a nice drive of their own, but had to settle for a 35-yard field goal from
Tyler Terrell to go up 17-7.
The ensuing kickoff was returned 93 yards by Jordan Pettaway, trimming the spread to 17-14.
Cap's next offensive drive again ended in pay dirt as
Kassim Johnson hauled in his second receiving score of the day, this time on a 38-yard pass from
Ben Owens. The two-score day was the first multi-score performance from Johnson.
Capital tacked on three more points before the half on a 34-yard field goal from Terrell, a near carbon copy of the first, settling the halftime score at 27-21.
In the third quarter, ONU scored first to take their first lead of the game at 28-27. However, Capital quickly responded as Owens passed 53 yards to
Nate Younker over the top, sending Cap back in front 34-28.
The Comets added another touchdown before the end of the third thanks to a trick play as Younker turned provider, sending a 65-yard pass over the top to
Preston Hannika for an electric touchdown score.
That 41-28 score would hold through the end of the quarter.
Unfortunately for Capital, the Polar Bears would score two fourth quarter touchdowns to secure the 42-41 win in Columbus.
THE NUMBERS
Ben Owens passed for 244 yards and three TDs on 17 completions. Nate Youker threw one pass for a 65-yard touchdown.
The Comets gained 136 yards on the ground, led by
Kassim Johnson with 71 yards and
Ben Owens with 43 yards.
Aaron Gilbert tacked on 15 yards and
Tyler Terrell rushed for seven on a fake punt attempt.
Kassim Johnson hauled in 107 yards of receiving on three catches and two scores.
Nate Younker had five catches for 86 yards and a TD, while
Preston Hannika had four catches for 80 yards and a score.
Steven Alaniz,
Finn Devine,
Jake Fitzpatrick and
Aaron Gilbert also had receptions.
AJ Conti led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles.
Marlon Paige also had a career best with eight stops.
Manny Keeling had six stops, while
Jesse Foster,
Khristian Nelson,
Owen Beatty and
Cyrus Burden each finished with five tackles.
Marlon Paige and
Bailey Johnson each forced fumbles, while
Manny Keeling had one fumble recovery which he returned for a 94-yard touchdown.
Tyler Terrell had three punts for an average of 44.3 yards per punt. He was true on his two field goals and all five PATs as well. His 35-yard field goal matched a career long. On kickoffs, he sent seven boots for an average of 50.9 yards per kick.
Nate Younker had 138 yards of kickoff returns while
Miles Miesse had two returns as well.
FLYOVER APPRECIATION
The Capital University Athletic Department and ROTC program would like to extend an additional appreciation to the flight crew who provided the UH60M Black Hawk helicopter flyover as well as Brigadier General Jeff Watkins who administered today's Oath of Enlistment. The flight crew was provided by the 1-137 Aviation Regiment based out of Columbus, Ohio. The crew was piloted by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Johnson, Pilot in Command, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Noah Nelson, Pilot and Sergeant Phillip Holmes, Crew Chief.
UP NEXT
Capital will make a short trip to Westerville next weekend for a noon kickoff at Otterbein University in the annual Battle for the Oar game. The Comets will look to retain control of the oar for the second consecutive season.
