Big plays and Ohio Northern's ground attack were the difference as the Polar Bears posted a 51-15 win over Wilmington College in Ohio Athletic Conference play on Senior Day at Williams Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Quakers are now 0-8 in the OAC, 0-9 overall. Ohio Northern moves to 5-3 in the conference, 6-3 for the season.

The game marked the final home appearance for Ryan Krugh (South Vienna/Northeastern), Brett McEvoy (Pickerington/Pickerington North), Darian McGee (Dallas, Texas/Duncanville), Antwoine Shelton (Dallas, Texas/Duncanville) and Nate Stierhoff (Rushsylvania/Benjamin Logan).

"It's always a bittersweet moment when the seniors are playing their last game on the home turf. I will always remember how these men have helped me during my first two years here at Wilmington College," head coach Ken Minor said. "We have gone through some rough times, but they have always given it all they had and persevered."

For a second straight week, the Quakers brought an upset-driven mindset to the field. Down 7-0 late in the first quarter, Wilmington drove 80 yards and pulled within a point on a 1-yard Brandon Arehart (Wilmington) touchdown run.

The snap from center was low on the ensuing point-after try and Stierhoff improvised and tossed a conversion pass to Malcolm Heard (Wilmington) to put the Quakers up, 8-7.

"I think the big thing our young players learned was how to approach a game," Minor said. "There were a couple games this year that we didn't approach very well, didn't come in ready to play. I think being ahead, 8-7, at the end of the first quarter showed that we had the right approach for this game."

Ohio Northern's running game went to work in the second quarter as the Polar Bears scored on 49- and 58-yard drives to take a 21-8 lead.

The game's sharpest dagger, though, was thrust by the ONU defense when the Polar Bears sacked Arehart, who fumbled the ball at the WC 6-yard line. Mike Prokopovich scooped up the ball and raced into the Quakers' end zone as ONU extended its lead to 28-8 at the break.

Wilmington's comeback thoughts took a broadside shot when DeMarqus Payne opened the third quarter with a 75-yard kickoff return to give Ohio Northern a 35-8 lead.

Payne later scored on a 4-yard run and on a 79-yard kickoff runback.

Wilmington's lone points of the second half were provided by a 22-yard scoring strike from Arehart to Heard.
Ohio Northern rushed for 281 yards to Wilmington's 35.

"They are a good running team. I didn't realize how big their offensive line is. I think their offensive line was the most impressive that we have seen all year. It's understandable how well they run the ball," Minor said.

Arehart completed 15 of 24 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore spread the wealth, completing passes to seven receivers. Stephen Donoghue (Liberty Township/Lakota East) led the Quakers with five receptions.

Wilmington's leading tacklers for the season were the leading tacklers Saturday as Matt McFadden (Sabina/East Clinton) and Shelton had nine stops apiece.

Steth Jackson (Kenton) had a big game from his defensive end position with eight tackles, two quarterback sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

The Quakers will close the season Nov. 12 at Otterbein.