CINCINNATI, OH - Junior quarterback Brandon Arehart (Wilmington/Wilmington) threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns as Wilmington opened the 2012 season with a 37-14 loss to the College of Mount St. Joseph Saturday at Schueler Field.

Arehart first score came with 2:12 remaining in the second quarter, an eight-yard strike to junior Kyle Blakeman (Wilmington/Wilmington), pulling the Quakers to within 23-8. It was just the second drive in which the Quakers didn't go three-and-out in the first half.

With the offense struggling to gain any traction, the Wilmington defense seemingly spent the entire half with its back against the wall. The Lions ran 17 of their 19 first quarter plays in Wilmington territory, and they took advantage of the short fields to score 16 points.

Additionally, the WC defense simply couldn't get off the field on third down as MSJ was 7-of-16 on third down conversions.

Wilmington wrapped up the scoring with a 63-yard scoring strike from Arehart to freshman Jeremy Duncan (Cincinnati/Moeller).

Blakeman finished with 85 yards on eight catches and a touchdown, while Duncan had two receptions for 72 yards.

Defensively, sophomore Gunnar Calhoun (Wilmington/Clinton-Massie) led the Quakers with 10 tackles. Sophomore Joe Joe Knecht (Lancaster/Lancaster) added seven tackles and three pass break-ups.

After a bye week, the Quakers will start Ohio Athletic Conference action 7 p.m. Saturday September 15 against Otterbein at Williams Stadium.