BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University football team hosted the Alma College Scots for the 48th Annual Lee Tressel Shriner Classic this afternoon at Tressel Field at George Finnie Stadium, earning a convincing 42-17 victory over the Scots.
With the win, Baldwin Wallace improves to 2-0 on the season before opening Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play next week.
Game Recap
Alma, a 2025 NCAA Division III playoff team, entered Saturday's contest 0-2 but had competed closely against Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a team receiving votes in the AFCA Division III Coaches Poll, the previous week.
The Scots received the opening kickoff, but the Baldwin Wallace defense immediately set the tone, forcing a three-and-out. The offense answered with a 15-play, 71-yard drive that lasted 7:08 and ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from OAC Offensive Player of the Week
Charlie Bubonics to
Seandelle Gardner.
After another defensive stop, the offense put together another scoring drive, with Bubonics finding
Jimmy Timonere for a touchdown to give the Yellow Jackets a 14-0 advantage.
Following back-to-back three-and-outs by both teams, Alma took advantage of favorable field position and marched 40 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Baldwin Wallace answered with a 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown run up the middle from
Boston Mulinix to extend the lead to 21-7. Alma added a 30-yard field goal just before halftime, sending the teams to the locker room with the score at 21-10.
The offense came out firing in the third quarter, as Bubonics connected with Gardner for a 23-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 28-10.
Later in the quarter, Alma drove to the Baldwin Wallace 39-yard line before electing to punt on fourth-and-six.
Blayze Myers came off the line with a perfect jump and blocked the punt, with the ball rolling out of bounds at the Alma 36.
The offense capitalized on the special teams play, as Bubonics found Gardner for another touchdown. The score marked Gardner's third receiving touchdown of the afternoon and gave BW a 35-10 lead.
Alma added one more touchdown later in the quarter, but the Baldwin Wallace defense shut down the Scots the rest of the way.
In the fourth quarter,
Donnie Oesch put the finishing touches on the victory, intercepting Alma quarterback Jason Boge and returning the pick 52 yards for a touchdown to make it 42-17.
Bubonics turned in another efficient performance, completing 20-of-27 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns.
George Linberger led the rushing attack with 79 yards on 15 carries.
Gardner hauled in six passes for 75 yards and three touchdowns, earning Most Valuable Player honors for the Lee Tressel Shriner Classic.
Myers led a standout defensive and special teams effort, recording five tackles, two sacks, two tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, and a quarterback hurry in addition to his blocked punt.
The Matchup
With the victory, Baldwin Wallace improves to 3-0 all-time against Alma and records its second-highest point total in the all-time series.
Looking Ahead
Baldwin Wallace returns to Tressel Field at George Finnie Stadium next Saturday to open OAC play against Capital University on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
