The Malone University football team wrapped up its 2014 campaign on Saturday afternoon with a 41-17 defeat in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Northwood (MI) University.
The Pioneers (1-10 overall, 1-9 GLIAC) opened the afternoon with a five-play, 65-yard scoring drive, pulling ahead 7-0 just over two minutes into the game on a five-yard rushing touchdown by wide receiver
Jordan Phillips. The early score was set up by a 47-yard pass from quarterback
Brandyn Eckhart to wide receiver
Eian Elsass.
Each defense then came up with fourth-down stops – the Pioneers halted a Northwood (5-6 overall, 4-6 GLIAC) drive at the Malone 33-yard line and the Timberwolves took over on downs at their own 46.
Still trailing 7-0 with just under seven minutes to play in the first quarter, Northwood quickly took command of the game by rattling off 28 straight points over the next 13 minutes of action. A pair of costly Pioneer turnovers aided the Timberwolves' surge as Northwood intercepted a screen pass and returned it four yards for a touchdown while also recovering a fumble deep in MU territory to set up another score.
Despite the barrage of points, Malone refused to surrender, answering back with a 10-play drive that cut the deficit to 28-14 at the 4:22 mark of the second quarter. Freshman running back
Matt Blasiole, who took several snaps in a "wildcat" formation throughout the day, capped off the possession with a three-yard touchdown plunge.
After a 26-yard Northwood field goal made the score 31-14 at halftime, the Pioneer defense recovered a Timberwolves fumble on the third quarter's first play from scrimmage. Following the turnover, Malone kicker
Marcus Moeller booted a 24-yard field goal to bring the Pioneers back within two scores at 31-17.
The Malone offense would move the ball deep into Northwood territory on its next two drives, but the hosts managed to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard, forcing an incompletion on fourth down near the end of the third quarter and picking off a deflected pass in the end zone at the beginning of the fourth stanza.
After the two stops on defense, the Timberwolves sealed the victory by adding a late touchdown run and a field goal.
Blasiole finished the afternoon with a career-high 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Senior
Tyler Wentz played a majority of the game at quarterback and completed five passes, totaling 60 yards. Elsass posted two catches for 69 yards.
Senior safety
Demarco Donaldson posted 88 yards on five kickoff returns. Linebacker
Fred Baker Jr. paced the defense with seven total tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Safety
Lucas Haupt added five tackles while linebacker
Ryan Weber made four solo tackles with one sack.
For Northwood, quarterback Mark Morris completed 10 of 16 passes for 203 yards and a score. Vashon Nutt rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Linebacker Michael Fisher led the defense with 10 tackles, a fumble recovery and the interception return for a TD.
Notes/Record Book: Donaldson wrapped up his career as Malone's all-time leader in forced fumbles with 16…He is also second in career fumble recoveries with eight and second in career tackles with 370…In addition, Donaldson tied Pioneer single-season records this year with six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries…DL
Colton Hale posted four blocked kicks this season, one shy of Moses Sherman's single-season record.
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