NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Capital University football team traveled to Manchester University on Saturday afternoon for a mid-season non-conference game, where they exploded for 575 yards of total offense in a 52-27 win. The result boosts the Comets' record to 2-3 on the season, marking their best record at the midway point of the season since being 3-2 in 2016. Manchester drops to 0-5 this season. 

The afternoon proved to be a memorable one for the Comets' offense. Capital's 52-point output marked the most points scored by the Purple and White since beating Marietta 56-42 on November 15, 2014. Additionally, the 575 yards of total offense marked the most in a game by Capital since recording 658 yards on September 8, 2018 at Marietta. The team's 340 yards of rushing was the most in that department since running for 500 yards at Ohio Northern on October 17, 2015. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Capital wasted little time on their very first offensive drive of the game getting to the end zone. The Comets went 76 yards for their first score on three plays and just 1:08 of game time as the punctuating play was a 73-yard pass from Tyler Love to Nate Younker to make it 6-0. Ty Boughman's PAT was good to make it 7-0 early. 

Later in the first quarter, a similar connection occurred for the Comets who this time went 71 yards in three plays and 1:11 of game time. The scoring play was another pass from Love to Younker, this time from 23 yards. After Boughman's PAT, Capital led 14-0. 

After Manchester opened the second quarter with a score of their own, the Comets responded well. Kassim Johnson really started to insert himself on the game on this drive, picking up a 56-yard rush, followed by two short runs to get into the end zone on a one-yard score. The ensuing PAT from Boughman brought the score to 21-7, Cap. 

After the Comets' defense forced a turnover on downs, thanks to a tackle for a loss from Bryson Roberts and AJ Conti on fourth down, the Capital offense got to work again. This time, Johnson showed his versatility and took a screen pass from Tyler Love that he ran 57-yards to paydirt, bringing the score to 27-7. Boughman's PAT made it 28-7, all but sealing the end result for Capital. 

The Spartans scored again on their next drive, but the Comets would find the end zone again on their own next drive as Zion Solomon took on some of the running to spell Johnson. Solomon had a big 21-yard run that added on a 15-yard facemask penalty before Solomon eventually punched in a one-yard touchdown rush later in the drive. Boughman's PAT made it 35-14, Cap. 

Before the break, Manchester added another score, but missed the PAT thanks to Griffin McKinney's block, making it 35-20 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, it took a little bit of time for Capital to find the end zone, but they eventually did thanks to Johnson's third TD of the game and second on the ground. This time Johnson punched in a six-yard score, and after Boughman's PAT, the score became 42-20. 

After forcing another turnover on downs, Capital go the ball back and was able to tack on another three points thanks to a 24-yard field goal from Ty Boughman. the big play of the drive to set up the field goal was a 39-yard pass from Nate Younker to Wesley Armstead to move the ball down the field. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Capital's defense again halted the Spartans' offense, this time on an Owen Beatty interception. 

After getting the ball back on a Capital punt, Manchester again coughed up the ball on their next offensive possession. This time, Robbie Hatcher came up with the interception and returned the ball 28 yards to the seven yard line after Olaoluwa Obayemi had a big pass break-up in the secondary, sending the ball into the awaiting arms of Hatcher. 

With the short field, Capital used just one play to score as Donovan Duncan's pass to Finn Devine resulted in a score. This time, Ethan Graham took the PAT, connecting on his first collegiate point as a kicker. 

After the defense forced another turnover on downs, thanks to a big sack by Quincy Hains and Jayden Carter, the Comets moved the ball down the field past the two-minute warning to eventually kneel out the clock with Capital in front 52-27. The big play of the drive to help in this effort was a 52-yard rush by Mar Harris. 

THE NUMBERS
Tyler Love threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns on eight completions, while Donovan Duncan had one touchdown for seven yards. Love also rushed seven times for 58 yards. 

In the run game, Kassim Johnson led the way with 165 yards on 13 rushes, also scoring twice. Mar Harris picked up 55 yards on three runs – his first action in a college game. Zion Solomon added 40 yards and a score on six carries. Brandon Hambric Jr. tacked on 28 yards with his eight carries. Cobi Stevens added three yards on two carries. 

In receiving, Nate Younker reeled in three catches for 108 yards and two scores. Kassim Johnson added one catch for a 57 yard touchdown. Wesley Armstead had three catches for 54 yards while Finn Devine added two catches for 16 yards and one touchdown. 

In defense, Diamonte Salley had a career day with 11 tackles, including one TFL and one pass breakup. Marcus Young Jr. added seven tackles with three TFLs and a sack. Griffin McKinney added seven tackles, a QB hurry and a PAT block. 

Owen Beatty and Robbie Hatcher each had an interception. Beatty added four tackles, while Hatcher added one tackle and three QB hurries. 

Ty Boughman added three punts for an average of 36.3 yards per punt. He also tacked on one field goal, and was 6-for-6 on PATs. On kickoffs, he took seven for an average of 56.1 yards per kick. Ethan Graham saw his first action of his career and took two kickoffs for an average of 58 yards per kick and he was 1-for-1 on his PAT tries. 

UP NEXT
Capital will stay on the road for their next game, traveling to Ohio Northern on Saturday, October 18th for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.