COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University football team struck an early season victory, in a 36-20 win against the Cardinals of Catholic University. The Comets victory was obtained through multiple defensive stands, mixed with explosive offense gains. On a sunny Saturday, in Bernlohr Stadium, the Comets showcased their new and exciting group this season.
The results carry Capital to an early-season 1-0, while Catholic falls to 1-1 overall this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first quarter, Catholic struck first, with a touchdown with 9:45 left on the clock. Though, Catholic left the door open as they missed the ensuing PAT try. Soon after, the defensive pressure of the Comets forced a safety, leading to Capital's first points of the game.
On the following possession, Capital quarterback
Tyler Love ran an 11-yard touchdown score into the end zone for the first Comet lead of the season. This was followed by a great stand by Capital defensively, which eventually led to the end of the first quarter with the Comets up 9-6.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Catholic found their way into the end zone once more, making the score 13-9. Though trailing again, the Comets got right back into the game as senior wide receiver
Nate Younker had a catch for a major gain, putting the Comets near the goal line with 9:49 left in the half. From the one-yard line, running back
Zion Solomon punched it home for the Comets, for a touchdown and extra point score by
Ty Boughman. The score put Capital back in front 16-13.
Catholic, on a fourth and short situation saw their quarterback Brady McBride run for a Cardinals touchdown, putting Catholic back up 20-16. That score would carry into halftime thanks to some strong defensive line work by the Comets to limit the Cardinal offense from generating any more offense before halftime.
The third quarter was marked early by the Comets intercepting a Cardinal pass, caught by Capital defensive back
Manny Keeling. That new found possession led to an electric drive that was polished off by a visit to the endzone. Love threw a dart down the middle to
Wesley Armstead to take the Comets up 22-20. The very next defensive drive by the Comets saw
Declan McAdams sack the Catholic quarterback and force a fumble that was recovered by
Cyrus Burden. That next possession was again polished off by a Capital score as senior tight end
Josh Kucker found the end zone on a fourth down pass from
Tyler Love.
Before the third quarter could end, Capital forced the Cardinals into a quick three-and-out before the Comet offense got back to work. Love threw his third touchdown of the quarter as he found
Nate Younker on a 37-yard score to make it 36-20 after the ensuing Boughman PAT.
The fourth quarter started hot for the Comets, as senior defensive back
Owen Beatty intercepted a pass, keeping the momentum rolling for Capital. With another big stop at 3:30 left in the game, the Comets couldn't be stopped. The Capital offense had the opportunity to close out the game by taking a knee as time expired, after yet another strong defensive effort on the last Catholic drive of the game. On the drive, Capital tallied up their 10th and 11th sacks of the game thanks to combinations of
Azel Lunsford,
Olaoluwa Obayemi and
Cyrus Burden.
THE NUMBERS
Capital did not allow a score in the second half of play as the Comet defense played quite the game. As a unit, the team recorded 11 sacks, thanks in combination to
Declan McAdams (2),
Cyrus Burden (0.5),
Marcus Young Jr. (1),
Azel Lunsford (1),
Robbie Hatcher (1.5),
Riley Fritts (1.5),
Landon Shutler (0.5),
Griffin McKinney (0.5),
Olaoluwa Obayemi (0.5),
Quincy Hains (1) and
Robbie Grieco (1). Additionally, the Comet defense forced Catholic into five fumbles, two of which were forced by McAdams and Hatcher, one of which was recovered by Burden, and another sailed into the endzone for a safety. If that wasn't enough, Capital recorded two interceptions, one each from
Manny Keeling and
Owen Beatty. The defensive safety also marked the first safety for the Comets since achieving the feat vs. Heidelberg in the 2007 season.
Jio Rodriguez and
Declan McAdams led the way with six tackles each, while
Diamonte Salley,
Bailey Johnson, Burden, Young Jr., Lunsford, and Hatcher all finished with five tackles each.
On offense,
Tyler Love finished for 202 yards and three touchdown passes on his Comet debut. He also added 36 yards on the ground for an additional touchdown.
In the running game,
Zion Solomon picked up 49 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while
Kassim Johnson netted nine yards on seven carries.
In receiving,
Nate Younker led the way with an even 100 yards and a score on three catches.
Wesley Armstead made four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Josh Kucker had one catch for 23 yards.
Kassim Johnson and
Trent Renz made two catches each for a combined 21 yards.
Ty Boughman was busy handling kicking and punting duties. In kicking, he was good on all four PATs as well as sending six kickoffs for 349 yards and two touchbacks. In punting, he sent seven punts for an average of 38.9 yards per punt which included a long of 50 yards.
Dameium Marcell took three kickoff returns for a combined 70 yards, including a long of 31 yards.
Bailey Johnson had the long punt return for 20 yards.
UP NEXT
The Comets will be preparing for another home game, as they welcome Baldwin Wallace to Bernlohr Stadium, and compete in conference play. The Comets will host the Yellow Jackets on September 20th, and expect another great turnout of fans dressed in purple for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
