Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006

Game stats

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Urbana University tried putting eight men in 'the box' to clamp down the University of Saint Francis running game. So the second-ranked Cougars gave the 18th-ranked Blue Knights the 'Hook,' as in Eric Hooks.

The USF senior, starting his fifth game for the Cougars, shredded the UU defense for 301 yards and four touchdown passes in USF's 46th consecutive win, a 35-12 decision over the upset-minded Blue Knights (4-2, 1-1 MSFA Mideast League).

USF never trailed, though UU battled back to within 7-6 and 14-12. Senior WR Bo Thompson gave USF the lead for good when he hauled in a 29-yard TD pass from Hooks and Cale Grzych's extra point made it 7-0 Cougars with 11:19 to play in the first quarter. The Blue Knights went 93 yards on 16 plays, Albert Floyd springing wide open to catch a 4-yard TD pass from true freshman QB C.J. Westler, who started in place of injured Ryan Gehlert. But USF d-lineman William Knepper blocked the extra-point try with 3:41 to play in the first quarter.

Doug Wasylk powered in from the 2-yard line increasing the USF lead to 13-6 and Grzych made it 14-6 with 14:57 to play in the first half. UU drew within two on a 9-yard Westler to Marc Burr TD, but Westler's pass for two-points was picked off by Cody VanDeursen. USF followed with a 73-yard, 9-play drive in 3:19 capped off when WR Brian Schultz stole a pass in the end zone from Hooks with 26 seconds to play in the half.

Hooks connected with junior WR Zach Rainey for a 20-yard TD early in the third quarter and Schultz added a 12-yard TD reception from Hooks to finish the scoring.

USF's defense blanked UU in the second half holding the Blue Knights to 100 yard total offense and defeated the Blue Knights for the ninth time in nine games.

USF visits Taylor University in Upland, Ind., next Saturday at 1 p.m.

STREAKS. . . .

> #2 Cougars win 46th consecutive regular season game
> USF has won 16 games in a row at home vs. NAIA Top 25 Ratings opponents
> USF defense holds #18 ranked Urbana to 100 y total offense 2^nd half
> USF SR QB Eric Hooks 301 y passing – 4 TD passes, 2 to Brian Schultz
> 83nd win in 8-plus year history of Cougars football program
> USF wins 34th consecutive home game
> 198th career win for head coach Kevin Donley
> 29^th consecutive MSFA Mideast League win
> 50^th win at home in program history
> 31 consecutive wins vs. Ohio opponents

>>Next: USF @ Taylor University, Upland, IN, 1 p.m. <<

                                                     -- GO USF --