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Football Comeback Gives Quakers Overtime Victory For Immediate Release: ANDERSON, Ind. — Overtime has never been good for the Earlham College football team until Saturday’s 26-23 victory over Anderson University. Since the inception of the overtime rules created by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the mid-1990s, Earlham had lost both of its ventures in extra sessions. Kenyon College has needed overtime the last two years to defeat the Quakers. After holding Anderson to a field goal on its initial possession of the extra period, the Quakers had their chance at history. “The big part of it was just winning the coin toss,” Earlham Head Coach Gerry Keesling said. “We ended up going second, so we knew what we would need to do after Anderson had the ball.” Junior Randy Kerns (West Manchester, OH/National Trail) had two incomplete passes to begin Earlham’s drive in overtime. Kerns (West Manchester, OH/National Trail) then found first-year Bryant Foreman (Mechanicsburg, OH/Northeastern) for a completion at the 10-yard line, which was good for a first down. One play later, the duo hooked up again for a 10-yard touchdown pass and the game-winning score. “Our players fought hard,” Keesling said. “Even when we lost a little of the momentum in the fourth quarter we came back to tie it up to send it to overtime.” End of regulation The last scoring drive was the only critical series for the Quakers. Earlham led 13-6 after sophomore Alexander Cogbill booted a 19-yard field goal with 13:11 left in regulation, but the lead vanished as Anderson scored twice to go ahead 20-13. Trailing by seven points, the Quakers got a 36-yard kickoff return by senior Manny Myers (Fairmount, IN/Madison-Grant) to give Earlham offense a chance to send the contest to overtime. “The offense didn’t capitalize on some opportunities in the first half, but that last drive was impressive,” Keesling said. Earlham needed to go 55 yards in 3:39 and the Quakers made it with 33 seconds to spare. Kerns tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Myers to end the 13-play drive. Cogbill added to extra point and the Quakers were headed to overtime. Key moments in the first half Anderson got on the scoreboard first with a touchdown in the second period. Earlham sophomore John Metcalf (Galveston, IN/Lewis Cass) blocked the extra point, which proved to be important later in the contest. Earlham’s first score came on a 32-yard interception return by junior Tilmon Clark (Winchester, IN/Winchester) with 6:31 remaining in the second quarter. Cogbill added the point after and the Quakers led 7-6 at intermission. A 37-yard field goal by Cogbill was the only score in the third quarter as the Quakers built a 10-6 advantage to set the stage for their comeback and eventual victory. Stat totals Kerns completed 18 of his 36 passing attempts for 207 yards and the two critical touchdowns. Senior Joe White (Richmond, IN/Richmond) led the Quakers with five receptions for 72 yards. Foreman finished with four grabs for 45 yards. Myers led the Quakers in rushing with 57 yards on 22 carries. Defensively, sophomore Adam LaFollette (Riverview, FL/Riverview) led the Quakers defensively with 9½ tackles, while junior Drew Hosier (Gas City, IN/Mississenewa) added nine tackles and an interception. Sophomore Cale Gulliford (Marion, IN/Marion) finished with eight tackles. After a bye next week, Earlham (1-2) begins its North Coast Athletic Conference schedule at Wabash College on Sept. 29. The conference contest is at 2 p.m. Box score. —EC — Contact: |
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Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |