Injury inspires come-from-behind win
by Adam Tobin
Last Saturday’s game against the Denison Big Red was a historic day for the Quaker football team. The Quakers defeated the Big Red 21-17, posting an overall season record of 5-5. They defied the preseason coach’s poll rank of ninth for the squad and achieved their best record in the nine years since a 6-4 overall finish in 2000.
“This is huge for our program,” said Head Coach Gerry Keesling. With next year’s move to the HCAC, Keesling pointed out that “this is a positive, intangible way for us to recruit. In the last few years we were 3-7, then 4-6, and now a 5-5 proves that we are showing signs of building and growth.”
Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Ripperger also stressed the importance of the team’s record to the program.
“To be a .500 team, it means a lot, not just to the football team, but to the college,” he said. “Our team has had a losing record for the past couple of years, and to come out and get the victory during the last game to put us at .500 — I think set a tone for the team next year. It gives us the confidence that we need when heading into the offseason.”
The team’s battle for a win against Denison was not unlike the recent Colts vs. Patriots game, in which the noticeably rattled Colts offense gained extraordinary ground in the fourth quarter of the game to surpass the Patriots. In the fourth quarter, the Quakers were down 17-0 with an offense that was faltering and a defense that continued working to prevent Denison from scoring. However, unlike the Colts vs. Patriots game the Quakers comeback was sparked by an injury.
At 11:42 in the fourth, freshman quarterback James Mees threw to Ripperger for the Quakers’ first touchdown. However, immediately afterwards on a punt return, junior wide receiver Bryant Foreman went down and was taken to the hospital with a vertebra injury. As he was being escorted off the field he uttered, “just win” to his teammates.
“Bryant’s injury was a catalyst for rallying back,” said Keesling. The players came together and responded to the injury by setting a fiery tone for the rest of the game. The Quakers had possession of the ball and used a six-play, 81-yard drive to the red zone, which was completed by Mees who threw to senior Chris Owens for the team’s second touchdown within seven minutes of play.
Owens remarked, “After the injury we just stepped it up. Our weekly goal has always been to win the fourth quarter, and we hadn’t successfully done it until now; we did it for Foreman.”
With the score at 17-14, the Quakers needed just one more touchdown to best the Big Red and solidify a major comeback. Again, it was Owens on the drive, as he and Mees connected for 29-yard pass to score the third and winning touchdown for the Quakers with only 30 seconds on the clock.
Mees finished the game went 17 for 27 passing, with 177 yards and three touchdowns. Junior running back Nick Cummings rushed for 127 yards on 14 carries, which marked the first time that a Quaker rushed over 100 yards since alum Ben Marschand achieved the feat last season. Junior Cale Gulliford led the Quakers’ defensive line with 14 tackles.
Ripperger said on the team’s move to the HCAC next fall:
“I hope that entering into a new conference next year starts a new trend for Earlham football,” he said. “It gives us a chance to come in and play new teams, teams that don’t look at us as an easy win. Going in to the HCAC conference I hope that as a team we come out and play like I know we can.”
Keesling said that, “every team that’s been at the top of the HCAC has also been at the bottom. Our resources can help us get to the top of the league.” Manchester College, who the Quakers beat earlier in the season, tied for second in the conference this year. However, the Quakers also fell to Rose-Hulman, who finished fourth in the HCAC.
Keesling also praised this year’s senior class for their major contributions to the program and has expectations for the future classes to fill those missing spots.
“The success we’ve had in our program is directly related to the seniors, they were outstanding this year,” he said. “It’s tough to gauge next year’s senior leadership until you reach the off season. When the younger guys look at them and follow, that’s when you know the seniors will lead.”
Owens reflected on the senior class’ contribution to the program:
“This senior class leaves a legacy because this is the best we’ve done in all of our time here,” he said. “We all came together and instilled passion into the younger players. The conference change is good for the program because we can now contend for a conference title.”
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