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Football

Jackets Fall 47-35 to Notre Dame

Box Score       The Yellow Jackets could not find an answer to visiting Notre Dame's ground attack Saturday as the Falcons took home a 47-35 win.

      While WVSU (1-2) won in several statistical areas, including time of possession and total yards, the Falcons (2-1) rolled up 433 yards on the ground.

      The Jackets struck first taking the opening kickoff and driving 74 yards to take a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard pass from senior quarterback Matt Kinnick to freshman back Calil Wilkins. Kinnick hit all eight of his passing attempts on the drive for 58 yards and ran twice for 13.

      The Falcons responded immediately though going 80 yards  to pull to within 7-6 as the Jackets blocked the extra point attempt.

       The Jackets went up 14-6 but Notre Dame countered again to make it 14-13.

       Junior Aaron Ball hit a 31-yard field goal to make the WVSU lead 17-13.

        Notre Dame drove 68 yards to take the lead for the first time at 20-17.

        The ensuing kickoff proved to be a turning point in the contest. The Yellow Jackets returned the ball to their 33-yard line but fumbled. The Falcons recovered the live ball and returned it to the two. The Falcons punched it in on the next play to go ahead 26-17 after missing the point after. 

         Ball hit from 27 out to make the score 26-20 at halftime.

         "To beat a team like that you have to hold onto the ball," WVSU Head Coach John Pennington said.

          The visitors put together a big third period starting with the opening kickoff.

         Notre Dame returned the kick 23 yards to their 42 and then Falcons' running back D.J. Greene took off on a 58-yard scoring run to make the margin 33-20.

          A 19-yard punt by WVSU gave Notre Dame a short field and teh Falcons took advantage with a four play, 36 yard scoring drive to move ahead 40-20.

         The Yellow Jackets continued to fight though and put together an impressive 15-play, 80-yard drive to make it 40-27.

        But four plays later Greene broke free again going 65 yards this time to give Notre Dame a 47-27 lead entering the final quarter.

        "(Notre Dame) makes it tough," Pennington said. "If you load the box that quarterback makes it around the edge and if you don't they have that big back up the middle and their (offensive) line is huge."

        WVSU gave the home fans reason to stay hopeful with a quick score on a 25-yard hook-up from Kinnick to Quinton Gray just 70 seconds into the fourth period. A freak two-point conversion off of a blocked point after attempt pulled the Jackets to within 47-35.

        "I don't worry about the record," Pennington said. "I love the fact that this team is gritty, they battle."
              
          Neither team would score the rest of the way though as Kinnick's pass attempt to Gray on fourth and four with 3:05 remaining was knocked down ended the Yellow Jackets comeback dream.

         "I thought I could have done a better job on those last two drives on a couple of play calls," Pennington said. "We're right there, our mindset is great and that's step one, now step two is performing better on the feild."

         Kinnick finished the day with 38 completions in 52 attempts for 372 yards and two touchdowns. He tied a WVSU single game record with the 38 completions set by Kenneth Grier in 1992 and tied last season by Kinnick back-up Austin Hensley last season.
       
        Gray had 12 catches for 123 yards. Freshman running back Calil Wilkins was held below 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career but did  have 119 yards of total offense with 49 on 14 carries and 70 on eight receptions.
      
       Dionta Brown turned in a strong showing with 57 yards on just four carries and one catch for 15.

     Greene finished with 286 yards on 26 carries while Grove had 95 on the ground and 38 through the air.

    The Yellow Jackets travel to #7 Shepherd next Saturday with kickoff scheduled for noon.
 
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Players Mentioned

Austin Hensley

#12 Austin Hensley

QB
6' 1"
Junior
Calil Wilkins

#2 Calil Wilkins

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Aaron Ball

#41 Aaron Ball

K/P
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Austin Hensley

#12 Austin Hensley

6' 1"
Junior
QB
Calil Wilkins

#2 Calil Wilkins

5' 9"
Sophomore
RB
Aaron Ball

#41 Aaron Ball

5' 8"
Senior
K/P