Urbana Pulls off 9-6 Win Over Walsh
Blue Knights defeat Cavaliers for first time in program's history
By Jessica Fallen - Urbana University Sports Information Intern
URBANA, Ohio (October 6, 2007) –For the first time in Urbana’s football history the Blue Knights defeated Walsh University, 9-6, in a game that was a defensive standoff and every score counted big. Though defense provided the spark, history was set on the offensive side of the ball.

The Blue Knight defense was fierce and ferocious; limiting the MSFA’s leading running back Clinton Blossomgame to just 82 yards rushing and held the entire Walsh team to just 62 net yards. The defense racked up 10 sacks, the second time they’ve done so this season. On Walsh’s final drive of the game, with Urbana leading by three points, the D stepped up with three big back-to-back-to-back sacks by junior Brian Wetzler, senior Kyle Lockett and junior Shawn Lewis setting up a Cavalier fourth-and-29 with less than a minute on the clock. Walsh’s Marc Pullen threw a desperation pass but it fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs to the Blue Knights.

On the other side of the ball, Blue Knight senior quarterback Ryan Gehlert became Urbana's all-time passing completion leader in this game. He threw for 16 completions bringing his career total to 412, breaking Frank Carrico's (95-98) record of 409.

After a scoreless first quarter the Cavaliers struck first with a Eric Buchanan 25-yard field goal to put Walsh up 3-0 with 12:25 to play in the half.

Urbana came fighting back as the Blue Knight defense made a big play again, this time Chad Kinkead forced a fumble and Eriq McCorkle recovered it at the Walsh 13-yard line. Junior Kirk Hannah capped off the four-play drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown, but a failed extra point attempt kept Urbana’s lead to just, 6-3. Hannah’s TD run gives him seven on the season, one off tying the single-season Blue Knight record.

Walsh rallied back for yet another field goal from the 36-yard line to tie the score 6-6 before the half.

The second half of the game saw a lot of defensive action with Locket leading the team in sacks with three (3-13). Lots of Blue Knights got in on the action. Lewis added two (2-10), Robert Delahanty had two (2-11), Wetzler notched two (2-16) and Emmanuel Butters and Kinkead each added a sack.

The winning score came in the fourth quarter on a 22-yard field goal from freshman Jacob Harfman. Then it was all up to the defense with 2:53 left to play.

The Blue Knights will go up against No. 2 St. Xavier on Oct. 13 at Bruce Deaton Memorial Field in another huge MSFA game, and will be back at home at Ellis Field on Oct. 20 to face yet another ranked team in No. 18 Malone with a kickoff time of 12 p.m.

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