(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Senior receiver
Derick Alexander (Grove City/Grove City) had two touchdown catches and junior safety
Brad Pickens (New London/Western Reserve) had a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown as Capital University's seventh-ranked football team rolled to a 34-14 victory over Adrian (Mich.) College Saturday at Bernlohr Stadium.
Following a scoreless first period, sophomore running back Dominic D'Andrea (Reynoldsburg/Bishop Hartley) ran for a 10-yard touchdown to put Capital (1-0) in front 7-0 just six seconds into the second quarter. The defense forced Adrian to punt on its next possession, and sophomore quarterback Marty Assmann (Columbus/Bishop Hartley) found Alexander in the end zone for a four-yard score.
The Bulldogs (0-1) then moved the ball down field, picking up 44 yards on its drive, before Pickens caught a deflected pass at Capital's 30-yard line and raced in for the touchdown, which put the Crusaders up 20-0 midway through the second quarter.
Capital's defense came up with a goal-line stand to end the first half, as Adrian had a first-and-goal from the Crusader two-yard line but could not punch it in, keeping the score at 20-0 at halftime.
The Crusaders tacked on another touchdown on their first drive in the third quarter, when Assmann connected with Alexander on a slant that the receiver took 39 yards into the end zone for the score to make it 27-0. Capital's final scoring drive came in the fourth quarter, when it took the team just four plays to move 71 yards, capped off by a touchdown reception by junior wideout Evan Blake (Kingston/Logan Elm) from sophomore quarterback Nick Alexander (Highland Heights/Mayfield).
Alexander finished with six catches for 113 yards and the two touchdowns, while Blake added 62 yards and fellow receiver Matt White (Mason/Mason) had three catches for 50 yards. D'Andrea paced the running game with 47 yards on just nine carries, and Assmann completed 10 of his 16 throws for 161 yards and the two touchdowns.
Capital's defense limited Adrian to just 2.5 yards per carry and 94 yards total rushing, while forcing the Bulldogs to punt 10 times and converting on just 3-of-15 third downs. Senior linebacker Pete Ankrom (Springfield/North) had nine tackles (three for loss) and a sack to pace the defense, while Pickens added eight tackles and senior defensive end Nick Sadler (Lima/Shawnee) had 1.5 sacks.
Troy Niblock had 44 yards rushing and 28 receiving to lead the Bulldogs, and Mike McGee completed 11-of-19 passes for 115 yard, a touchdown and an interception. Bobby Watson had a game-high 13 tackles and George Wilson added nine.
After a bye next week (Saturday, Sept. 13), the Crusaders start Ohio Athletic Conference play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at Heidelberg College. The game will be broadcast LIVE by WFCO 90.9 FM and simulcast over the internet at www.capitalcrusaders.net.