WILMINGTON, OH - For an 11-minute stretch, anything that could go wrong, went wrong for the Wilmington College football team Saturday as the Quakers ended the season with a 40-21 loss to Capital at Williams Stadium.
The 21 points marks the most points Wilmington have scored all season long, and the most since week 5 of the 2010 season, when they scored 28.
With the loss, WC wraps up the 2012 season at 1-9 overall, 1-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while Capital improves to 2-8 overall, 2-7 in the OAC.
"Everything went wrong," said head coach Jay Niswonger. "It was 14-7 and we gave them short fields, and all the momentum switched. When you are not very proficient, momentum is something you can't beat."
Capital took advantage of a short punt to take to get three points and increase its lead to 17-7 with 3:06 left in the second half. But Wilmington's misfortunes were just beginning. On its first play after the field goal, senior running Tyrell Richardson (Columbus, OH/Centennial) fumbled on what would be his final career run. The senior back suffered a lower leg injury on the play.
The Crusaders scored on the ensuing play, a 21-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 24-7. They added another touchdown before the end of the half, which was set up by a 28-yard punt.
"Our defense wasn't the reason for the points," said Niswonger. "Our kicking units; we had special team break downs."
Four of Capital's five first-half scores were set up by their special teams. They took advantage of a blocked punt, a punt return to the 18-yardline and two punts of under 30 yards to secure short scoring drives. The Crusaders amassed just 119 first-half yards in scoring their 31 points.
In addition, the Crusaders used two good punts to pin Wilmington deep in their own territory forced the Quakers to start one drive on the six yardline and another drive on the one yardline.
Facing a 38-7 deficit, the Quakers fought back.
Junior quarterback Brandon Arehart (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington) capped off an eight-play, 80 yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to classmate Kyle Akers (Sabina, OH/East Clinton). With a two-point conversion pass from junior Brandon Minor (Reading, OH/Reading) to freshman Jeremy Duncan (Cincinnati, OH/Archbishop Moeller), it was 38-15.
Wilmington put together a 60-yard drive that Arehart capped with a 12-yard pass to junior Antonio Turner (Gahanna, OH/Lincoln) with 3:38 remaining. But, a two-point conversion pass was intercepted and taken back for a conversion and the score was 40-21.
The Quakers forced its fourth turnover of the game to put them in position to draw even closer. However, an interception in the endzone brought the comeback attempt to a screaching halt.
Freshman Nick Williams (Cleveland, OH/Fairview) led WC with seven tackles, three for loss, and an interception. It was the first time in four starts that Williams didn't reach double-figure tackles. Junior Trevor Hooker (New Port Richey, FL/River Ridge) added seven tackles for Wilmington.
Arehart finished the game 17-of-32 for 154 yards, three touchdowns and interception. Akers and Turner each had two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Alex Koyfis (Kristianstad, Sweden/Soderportgymnasiet) led the team with 15 carries for 58 yards.