Box Score A 14-point second quarter and some solid clock management down the stretch would be enough to send Denison to a 24-21 victory over Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. on Saturday afternoon.
This week's matchup featured two teams that have been traveling in opposite directions in the conference standings for much of the year. One thing that the two squads did share was a sense of desperation. For Denison, a victory would assure the Big Red of its first winning season since 2008. It would also mark their first win at Allegheny since 1986. Allegheny checked into the game still searching for its first win of 2013. With a week 10 contest looming against No. 16 Wittenberg, this week's home finale with Denison had a bit of a "now or never" feel to it.
After a sluggish start that saw the Big Red fumble away its opening two possessions, DU would break through with the game's first touchdown when junior quarterback Brandon Sklenar found freshman wide receiver Richie Wehman III on a 10-yard TD pass on third down. Matt Puracchio's PAT was good, giving Denison a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
After three-and-out possessions by both teams, Allegheny took over on its own 27-yard line. A pass interference penalty got the Gators to its own 46 and Derrick Emigh broke free for a 50-yard rush before being pushed out of bounds by Andrew Baird at the Denison 4-yard line. Allegheny would get three yards on first down setting up a 2nd and goal from the one. This is where the DU defense got stout as Dylan Hinde posted a tackle for a loss on second down. Jon Nigro's pass would be broken up by Baird on third down. On fourth down, needing two yards, Nigro's pass to Andrew Niklaus would be completed but stopped just shy of the goal line by Patrick Foley and Emerson Thacker.
Denison took over in the shadows of its own end zone and Skelnar got some space on first down with a 3-yard rush. That small bit of breathing room would allow the Denison offense to go to work. Eleven plays later, after four pass completions of over 10-yards, Colin Morris went up the middle from 2-yards out, giving Denison a 14-0 lead. The 12-play 99-yard drive took 4:40 off the clock and with only 20 seconds left in the half it appeared as if DU would take all of the momentum into the locker room.
That idea went out the window on the ensuing kickoff when Allegheny's Jonathon Opet zoomed 85-yards to the house in eight seconds. Despite being outgained 248-97 in the first half, Allegheny had a reason to believe as the third quarter loomed.
After the Gators' opening possession of the half resulted in a punt, Denison was looking to regain the momentum. Facing a 4th and 2 from midfield, Denison's fake punt attempt was snuffed out by Allegheny from the onset, resulting in a 9-yard loss that gave the home team the ball on the Big Red's 40-yard line.
Seven plays later, Nick Deichler reached pay dirt from 2-yards, making the score 14-13. The point-after attempt by Ryan Mong was blocked by Pat Foley, preserving a narrow DU lead.
Denison's next possession involved a steady diet of Colin Morris who accounted for 40 of the 64 yards on the drive. After a 17-yard pass by Sklenar to John Wilson got Denison deep into Gator territory, Morris punched it in on first down, giving his team a 21-13 lead with one minute left in the third quarter.
The defense would respond with a key stop, putting the ball back in the hands of Sklenar and the offense. That's when he went to work on one of Denison's patented clock-killing drives. This one was especially back breaking as Sklenar and Morris kept the chains moving and the clock ticking. After 11-plays and over six minutes had elapsed, Matt Purrachio completed the drive with a 19-yard field goal, making it a two-possession contest.
What Denison could not afford to do was give up a quick score to a Gator offense that had struggled to move the football consistently all afternoon. On 3rd and 11 from just across midfield, Nigro found Lucas Morton on the outside who turned what looked as if it would be 10-yard gain into a 43-yard touchdown reception. Allegheny now trailed by just three points, and with only 4:06 left in the game head coach Mark Matlack opted to kickoff and look to his defense for a stop rather than attempt an onside kick.
Denison took over on its own 26-yard line and Sklenar quickly connected with Wilson for a 16-yard gain. With just under three minutes to go, and facing a 3rd and 12 from its own 40-yard line, the duo of Sklenar-to-Wilson struck again by popping off a 17-yard gain and a first down. This forced Allegheny to use its two remaining time outs. A 14-yard rush by Colin Morris on second down with just over a minute to play would allow Denison to run out the clock.
Statistically, Denison controlled the game, outgaining Allegheny 458-226. The offense nearly doubled up the Gators in terms of total plays, running 78 to Allegheny's 43. Sklenar was extra-efficient, going 28-for-34 for a career-high 342 yards and one TD pass. He got help on the ground from Morris who toted the ball 26 times for 114 yards and two scores. His favorite target through the air was Wilson who set career-highs in receptions (12), and yards receiving (173). His 12 catch, 173-yard day marked the best day by a Denison receiver since Ryan Hite and Josh Jirgens both posted 12-catch performances at Waynesburg in the 2001 season opener. His 173 yards receiving is also the most by a Big Red receiver since 2001.
Baird led the defense with nine tackles, two TFL's and one break-up. Joel Elliott followed with eight tackles.
Allegheny got 101 yards passing from Nigro and 69 yards rushing from Deichler off 18 carries. Raysean Glenn led the defense with 11 tackles.
Denison (6-3) will return to action next Saturday (Nov. 16) when they host Kenyon College at 1 p.m. A victory would give the Big Red its first season with seven wins since 1986.
