BEREA, OHIO -- Senior quarterback Rocky Pentello threw three touchdown passes, including two to senior wide receiver Mike Niedzwiecki, as the Capital University Crusaders defeated Baldwin-Wallace College, 19-7, today (Saturday, November 11) in an Ohio Athletic Conference game at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea.
With its victory, Capital improves to 9-1 overall and 8-1 in the OAC and should clinch the Crusaders second straight berth in next week's NCAA Division III Playoffs. B-W ends its season at 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the OAC. It is the 39th winning season in the last 40 years for the Yellow Jackets.
Capital led 13-7 after one quarter and 19-7 at halftime. There was no second half scoring
The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring at the 12:17 mark of the first quarter when senior running back Brandon Hedges (Oregon/Clay) ran 11 yards around left end for a touchdown and junior placekicker Adam Wilburn's (Bucyrus/Wynford) point-after-touchdown kick gave B-W its only lead of the half at 7-0.
Capital scored its first touchdown at the 8:33 mark when Pentello threw his first of two first quarter TD passes to Niedzwiecki from five yards. The PAT kick failed and B-W still led, 7-6. Following a B-W fumble and Capital recovery, the Crusaders gained the lead at 13-7 at the 5:08 mark when Pentello threw a 22-yard scoring strike to Niedzwiecki and junior PK Matt Spitz tacked on the PAT. The second TD pass to Niedzwiecki also was the 100th in Pentello's career. Capital then extended its lead to 19-7 at the 13:30 mark of the second stanza when Pentello threw a six-yard TD pass to senior tight end Dylan Kelly but Spitz's PAT kick was blocked.
Offensively for Capital, Pentello completed 21-of-31 passes for 205 yards and the three TD. Niedzwiecki led all receivers with a career-high nine catches for 108 yards and the two TD. In addition, senior running back Charlie Smith ran for a game-high 114 yards in 32 attempts and caught five passes for 47 more yards. Offensively for B-W, junior quarterback Mickey Mental (North Olmsted) completed 18-of-33 passes for 153 yards with a TD and an interception. Senior WR Tom Murphy Richfield/Revere) and junior flanker Vinny Latessa (Wickliffe) each caught five passes to top the team. Hedges led the B-W ground game with 62 yards in 16 attempts and ends his career as B-W's second all-time leading rusher with 2,503 yards. Sophomore linebacker Paul Burger (Mentor)led all tacklers with 13, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery.
Capital will find out tomorrow where it will play and who it will play in its first playoff game.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach John Snell, please call him in the office at 440-826-2069 or you can reach him via e-mail at jsnell@bw.edu.
