MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College football closed out their 2018 season with a decisive 47-14 victory over Oberlin College on Saturday (Nov. 10).
Before the game, the Gators honored their 16 senior players:
Tyler Balla,
Zach Bednarowicz,
Marcus Davenport,
Ethan Graubard,
Francisco Guzman,
Logan Lee,
Craye Nehler,
David Perez,
Jake Reidenbach,
Tristan Rhoades,
Brandon Sellers,
Tyler Stouffer,
Jonah Tanner,
Karol Vargas,
Seth Warburton and
Cody Wendt.
Balla led the way for the Gators with a career-high four touchdowns. He had his sixth 100-yard performance of the year, and pushed him over 1,000 yards for the season.
Lee completed 20-of-28 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown.
Alex Victor was his top target at nine catches for 87 yards a touchdown.
The Gator defense tallied five sacks on the afternoon, including two by
Chase Balla. His first sack put a safety on the board for the Gators.
The six wins on the season for the Gators marks their most since going 7-3 in 2010.
Oberlin was held to a three-and-out on their opening drive. After taking over, the Gators moved the ball down the field but the drive ended with a fumble at the Oberlin six-yard line.
On third-and-five for the Yeomen following the recovery, Balla sacked Thomas Jenkins in the endzone for a safety.
On the ensuing kickoff, Balla took the ball 56-yards downfield to the Oberlin 12-yard line. Three plays later,
Tyler Balla scored from five-yards out to push the lead to 9-0.
After scoreless drive from both sides, the Gators were driving down the field as the opening quarter ended. That drive spanned 79 yards on 13 plays, culminating with Balla's second touchdown of the afternoon, this time from six-yards out.
The Yeomen got on the board during their next play. Jenkins connected on a pass to Ryan Gleeson for the score from 21-yards out.
The Gators answered with yet another long scoring drive. The drive stalled out on a third-and-six sack, putting the Gators at the Oberlin 20. Bednarowicz hit a field goal from 37-yards out. The field goal was the 13
th of the season for the senior, putting him in sole possession of the second most in a season in Gator history.
The second half opened with the Gators receiving the ball. On the first play, Victor rushed down the sideline for a 59-yard gain, placing the ball at the Oberlin six after being pushed out of bounds. Once again,
Tyler Balla capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run.
After forcing another Oberlin punt, the Gators increased their lead to 33-7. A six-play, 45-yard drive ended on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Victor.
The next Oberlin drive ended on a failed fourth down conversion in Gator territory. Allegheny then drove down the field as Balla scored his fourth touchdown of the game, from five yards out, to make it 40-7.
The Yeomen were quick to answer, as Melvin Briggs scored on a 65-yard run on the opening play of the ensuing drive.
In the fourth,
Tonye Hamilton stepped in front of a Jenkins pass, picking it off at the Allegheny 36. Hamilton then took off, going the full 64-yards to the end zone for the defensive touchdown.
The Gator defense continued to rattle to the Yeomen offense throughout the fourth as they picked up the conference win.
Tyler Ball had four touchdowns and 103 yards on 30 carries.
In addition to his receiving stats, Victor had 91 yards on the ground.
Brandon Sellers rushed for 57 yards on six carries.
Ben Bachik caught five passes for 58 yards.
Austin Hoyt had
Charles Ross had five tackles apiece for the Gators. Two of Hoyt's were for a loss, including half a sack.
Francisco Guzman had a pair of tackles for a loss, including a sack.
Seth Warburton, Karol Gargas and
Emmanuel De la Noval had half a sack apiece.
In addition to Hamilton's pick-six, Perez also picked off an Oberlin pass in the fourth quarter.
Benarowicz was 6-for-6 on extra points in addition to his field goal.
Rhoades had 41 kick return yards while
Chase Balla had 56.
Briggs led the Yeomen on the ground with 133 yards. Gleeson caught five passes for 106 yards.
