No. 7 Capital 24, No. 11 Ohio Northern 6
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Another dominant second half effort propelled the No. 7 Capital University football team to its second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 11 Ohio Northern University 24-6 in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at Bernlohr Stadium.
Trailing 3-0 at halftime, junior quarterback Wade Bartholomew (Williamsport/Westfall) threw three second half touchdown passes and the defense and special teams came up with several big plays to take the win.
With Capital still down 6-3 late in the third, the Polar Bears mishandled a snap on a punt attempt, and the Crusaders took over on the ONU 10. Two plays later, Bartholomew connected with sophomore running back Matt Merritt (Cincinnati/Indian Hill) on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give Capital its first lead of the ballgame, 10-6.
Junior safety C.J. Steele (Hilliard/Bishop Watterson) than intercepted a Jeff Pankratz pass to set the Crusaders up at midfield. Bartholomew hooked up with freshman receiver Matt White (Mason/Mason) for a 21-yard gain, and found him running open down the sideline on the next play for a 23 yard touchdown to give Capital a 17-6 lead with 7:29 left in the game.
After Pankratz was intercepted again, this time by senior corner James Starks (Toledo/St. Francis), Bartholomew hit freshman receiver Ryan Gunnarson (Loveland/Loveland) in the back of the end zone for a 31 yard touchdown, putting Capital ahead by 18 with just over four minutes remaining.
The Crusaders defense, ranked second in the nation, held the Polar Bears to just 52 yards rushing on 36 carries and recorded three turnovers. Steele led the way with a team and season-high 11 tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup. Sophomore linebacker Matt Heagen (New Concord/John Glenn) recorded 10 tackles, Starks had nine and the interception, while junior Brett Welch (Marietta/Marietta), senior Nick Bucci (Hudson/Hudson) and sophomore Dustin Hendren (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) all recorded sacks.
Bartholomew finished 14-of-27 passing for 161 yards and an interception to go along with his three scores. Merritt had a career-high 28 carries for 63 yards, and White finished with a team-high 47 yards receiving.
Capital (6-0, 5-0 OAC) will play at crosstown rival Otterbein College at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Westerville.