Blue Knights Rock Taylor in MSFA Mideast Opener
Urbana racks up 51 points in win; defense does not allow offensive TD
UPLAND, Ind. (Sept. 29, 2007) – It took a quarter to get warmed up but once the Blue Knight offense got going, it could not be stopped. Urbana scored 34 points in the second quarter en route to a 51-6 win over Taylor Saturday at Jim Wheeler Stadium in their Mid-States Football Association opener.

While neither team could find the end zone in the first stanza, the second was a scoring extravaganza. The Blue Knights created scoring opportunities several different ways: two rushing touchdowns, one on an interception return, a kickoff return for a score and one through the air.

Junior tailback Kirk Hannah, who rushed for 163 yards and two scores, started off the frenzy for Urbana, capping off a five-play drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone a little over a minute into the second quarter. Hannah has six rushing TDs on the season, two shy of tying the Urbana single season record of eight.

Then the Urbana defense, which created six Trojan turnovers (five fumbles and one interception) and did not allow a Taylor offensive score on the day, immediately gave the Blue Knights a 14-0 lead. Just two Trojan plays later sophomore Jason Conner zeroed in on a Trennan Kidder pass, intercepted it and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown.

Taylor attempted a field goal on its next possession but the Blue Knight defense came up big again as senior Kyle Lockett blocked its 23-yard field goal attempt. Senior quarterback Ryan Gehlert led the Urbana offense down the field on the ensuing possession, going 5-for-5 and 89 yards, culminating in a six-yard TD pass to fellow senior Barry Quinn. It marked the 15th receiving touchdown in Quinn’s career, one off tying the school record of 16 set by Howard Glover (1999-2001), and gave Urbana a 21-0 lead. In less than 10 minutes the Blue Knights piled up 21 points.

The only Taylor (2-3, 0-1 MSFA) score came on Urbana’s next drive as Paul Passiales returned an interception 73 yards for six points.

Urbana regained those six points in no time. Sophomore Rodney Holmes returned the kick off 87 yards and into the Taylor end zone. Freshman Jacob Harfman, who is 18-of-19 on PATs this season, drilled the extra point to put Urbana up 28-6.

The Blue Knights weren’t done there. Sophomore Eriq McCorkle forced a fumble, recovered it and returned it 11 yards to the Trojans’ 10-yard line. Gehlert made quick work hitting Holmes for a 10-yard completion and TD strike and a 34-6 lead at the half.

Hannah started off the second half with a huge play, rumbling 70 yards for a touchdown on the first play of an Urbana drive late in the third quarter. Harfman drilled a 32-yard field goal and senior Luther Henderson rushed for a two-yard score to give Urbana its final margin of victory, 51-6.

Gehlert completed 16 passes to five different receivers for 197 yards. Holmes (45 yards and a TD) and senior Larry McCartney (42 yards) each hauled in five passes each. Eddie Coard had three receptions for 55 yards, Quinn had two for 50 yards, including the six-yard TD), and Ian Iler caught one pass for five yards. Senior Kevin Weber led the Blue Knight defense with six tackles. Five different Urbana players had fumble recoveries: McCorkle, junior Chris Rutledge, Lockett, juniors Terry Lunser and Justin McClendon. Junior Shawn Lewis forced two fumbles.

Urbana (4-1, 1-0 MSFA) will host Walsh (3-2) which suffered a 13-10 loss to No. 3 St. Xavier in its MSFA opener, this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ellis Field. The game is part of Urbana’s homecoming festivities.

[Back to Urbana University Football]