Despite rushing for 232 yards, the Wilmington College football team fell to Otterbein Saturday, 49-21, at Williams Stadium in Ohio Athletic Conference action.
For the second consecutive game, sophomore running back Chase Manica (Shelbyville, KY/Shelby County) rushed for over 100 yards. He gained a career-high a career-high 137 yards on 20 carries. It marks the first time since 2008, an individual player has eclipsed the 100-yard barrier in back-to-back games.
Freshman Tahj Sho-Johnson (Princeton, WV/Princeton) added 40 yards on eight carries.
"We rushed for over 200 yards again, and I am positive about that," said Wilmington head coach Stacey Hairston. "But at the end of the day, we only scored 21 points. We have to put the ball in the end zone and sustain drives. You see all of the yards rushing, but we don't have enough points. I have a problem with that."
Sophomore quarterback Austin Jarbo (Gratis, OH/Preble Shawnee) was 17-of-25 for 133 yards and two touchdowns. He added 51 yards rushing on 26 carries and one rushing score, but had two fumbles – including one at the goal line.
"That's unacceptable," Hairston said of the offensive imbalance. "That is something that will be addressed; we have no other choice. We can't be successful unless we are balanced. Teams will allow you to run the ball as long as you are not throwing the ball. We have to be more balanced, and we will address that."
Seven of Jarbo's completions went to junior Justin Lee (Middletown, OH/Madison), who finished with 48 yards and a touchdown. Freshman P.J. Meyer (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) added 41 yards on four receptions, and senior Matt Stooksbury (Centerburg, OH/Highland) had a touchdown reception.
Otterbein scored on their first three drives, eating chunks of yards on the ground. Eleven of their 16 plays on those three drives were running attempts. For the game, Otterbein recorded 189 yards on 35 carries and four rushing scores.
"They had a pretty good game plan, which we kind of anticipated ahead of time," said Hairston. "Unfortunately, we had guys defensively … we lost the one-on-one battles. They got a body on a body and we couldn't get off blocks. By the time they did, they were 10, 15 yards down the field; and when we did have guys in position to make the plays – we didn't. "
After scoring on their first two drives, Wilmington had an answer. The Fightin' Quakers drove 70 yards in eight plays to find paydirt as Jarbo scored from five-yards out.
However, the Cardinals had a lightning quick rebuttal. On the first play following the kickoff – Otterbein scored on a 72-yard touchdown pass.
After the teams punted on its next drives, Wilmington quickly returned any momentum the defense may have gained from their first stop of the game when Jarbo fumbled at the 21. Five straight runs, and OC led 28-7. The Cardinals added a touchdown late in the half to take a 35-7 lead into half.
Wilmington scored on its first drive of the season half as WC went 42 yards on nine plays to pull to within 35-14. The drive was set up by a 48 yard kick-off return by freshman Tyrik Burns (Newport News, VA/Denbign).
Junior Nick Williams (Cleveland, OH/Fairview), the league's leading tackler, finished with 13 tackles, one sack and a pass break-up. Senior Cody Reigelsperger (Trenton, OH/Edgewood) added eight tackles, while junior Tarrell Starckey (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) had seven tackles and a forced fumble.
Wilmington (0-3 overall, 0-2 OAC) travels to Marietta (1-2 overall, 0-2 OAC) 6 p.m. Saturday, October 4 for an OAC meeting.
