COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore quarterback Nick Alexander (Mayfield, Ohio/Mayfield HS) threw five touchdown passes, three to senior receiver Derick Alexander (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City HS), as Capital University’s football team snapped a three-game losing skid with a 42-10 victory over Muskingum College Saturday at Bernlohr Stadium.
Nick Alexander completed 16-of-21 passes for 288 yards, and his five touchdowns were the most by a Capital quarterback since Rocky Pentello’s five touchdown performance against North Central (Ill.) College in the playoffs Nov. 25, 2006. Derick Alexander’s three touchdowns tied a school record, and he was also the last receiver to haul in three scores, which came against Marietta College Sept. 30, 2006.
The Crusaders (5-3, 4-3 Ohio Athletic Conference) took a 6-3 lead in the first quarter when Nick Alexander found junior wideout Evan Blake (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm HS) for a 21-yard touchdown. The lone scoring in the second quarter came via a Nick Van Meter (Marion, Ohio /Pleasant HS) 40-yard field goal and Capital led 9-3 at intermission.
The Alexanders connected on a 34-yard touchdown on Capital’s opening possession of the second half, and a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore back Dominic D’Andrea (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley HS) gave the Crusaders a 21-3 lead less than five minutes into the third quarter.
Later in the third, the Alexander combination connected on a 77-yard scoring strike, which was the fifth-longest passing play in school history and a career-long reception for Derick Alexander. A 12-yard touchdown grab by junior receiver Michael Zag (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready HS), the first of his career, and a 30-yard touchdown pass to Derick Alexander later in the fourth rounded out the scoring for Capital.
Derick Alexander finished with a season-high 161 yards on six catches. D’Andrea tallied 17 carries for 88 yards, both of which were career-highs. Sophomore receiver Matt White (Mason, Ohio/Mason HS) added 72 yards receiving, as Capital gained 338 yards in the second half.
Senior Nick Sadler (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee HS) recorded two sacks and four and a half tackles for loss to lead the defense. Fellow seniors in safety C.J. Steele (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson HS) and linebacker Pete Ankrom (Springfield, Ohio/North HS) both tallied a team-high eight tackles. Capital had 14 tackles for loss and held Muskingum (2-6, 1-6 OAC) to just 2.8 yards per rush.
Capital continues OAC play when the Crusaders take on rival Ohio Northern University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ada.