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The Saint Vincent football team fired on all cylinders in its 42-17 victory over Grove City College at Chuck Noll Field.
As a team, the Bearcats broke four different single-game records, including points (42), total offense (435 yards), total defense (241 yards), and passing touchdowns (four).
Saint Vincent got off to a fine start. After forcing the Wolverines to go three-and-out on the first series of the game, the Bearcat offense got to work. Quarterback Aaron Smetanka hooked up with wide receiver Tom Quirin on three straight plays, accounting for 57 yards, to set up a first-and-goal on the five-yardline. Mike Kale then capped off the quick drive by bowling into the end zone. The subsequent extra point attempt by Aaron Jones was good, putting the hosts up 7-0 just 2:38 into play.
Grove City bounced back to embark on a long 10-play, 42-yard drive, capped off with a 40-yard field goal by Craig Bicehouse to make the score 7-3, but Saint Vincent's offense bounced right back, again led by Smetanka, who went a perfect 4-for-4 through the air on the drive for 52 yards, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown throw down the sideline to Christian Sutton for SVC's second score in as many possessions. Again, Jones nailed the extra point, making the score 14-3 with 3:10 left in the first quarter.
The Bearcat defense was just impressive on the next drive, limiting Grove City to one yard on three plays, with the highlight a quarterback sack from John Jackson. On the ensuing punt, SVC's Bryan Santos gave the Bearcats excellent field position, taking the ball 35 yards to the Grove City 42 to close out the first quarter.
It didn't take long for SVC to add onto its lead. On third-and-two, Smetanka connected with Chace Ginyard over the middle for a 17-yard gain, before Kale bullied his way to the one-yardline with a seven yard run. Smetanka then found Sheldon Loughner wide open over the middle for the one-yard touchdown strike. After Jones' third extra point, the Bearcats found themselves up 21-3 with 13:10 left in the second quarter, which is how the score would remain heading into the intermission.
Over the first half, the Bearcats out-gained the Wolverines 253-91, with Smetanka completing 13 of 17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Neither team was able to find the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the Wolverines ended the frame driving, eventually cashing in on a 13-play, 49-yard drive that spanned 4:55 with a touchdown run by Blaine Miller that would make the score 21-10. As was the case throughout the game, the Bearcats answered right back, once again using the passing game.
Smetanka and Loughner hooked up for a nine-yard pass play to open the drive, before Chace Ginyard made his second catch of the day in traffic, gaining 26 yards and taking the ball to the SVC 46. Smetanka then unfurled the pass of the day, launching a bomb down the sideline that was caught in stride by Loughner for a 54-yard touchdown. Jones hit his fourth extra point in as many tries, putting SVC ahead 28-10.
The SVC defense then held on downs, and on SVC's ensuing drive, the Bearcats went to the ground, with Kale running three times for 20 yards to set up a third-and-two on the Grove City 20. Smetanka was then dropped for an 11-yard sack, but going for it on fourth down, he once again found Loughner in the end zone for the third time on the afternoon, this time from 30 yards out, making the score 35-10 with 5:55 left in regulation.
Saint Vincent wasted little time adding onto its lead, as on the first play of the ensuing Grove City drive, safety Terry Kernan stepped in front of a Brian Pell pass and returned the interception 24 yards untouched into the end zone, to close out the day's scoring for the Bearcats.
The Wolverines closed out the day's scoring with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mike McDonald to AJ Tapper with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
For the day, Smetanka completed 22 of 30 passes, establishing new team records with 336 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target of the day was Quirin, who broke his own single-game mark with eight catches, for 102 yards, while Loughner hauled in six receptions for 130 yards and a school-record three touchdowns. Kale led the way on the ground, running 15 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Smetanka now owns the school's single-season record for passing yards (1,337) and touchdowns (13), while Quirin is now the team's single-season record holder for single-season receptions (33) and receiving yards (479). Loughner added onto his season (7) and career (13) touchdown reception record.
Defensively, the Bearcats were led by linebacker Anthony Johnson, who made nine tackles, while Alex Rowan and Armando Fortunato making six stops apiece. The Bearcats also tied a school record with five quarterback sacks on the day, with Fortunato tallying 1.5, Rowan, John Jackson, and Jeff Graham one apiece, and Peter Trinko 0.5.
Offensively for Grove City, Miller ran for 63 yards on 17 tries, while quarterback Brian Pell completed 17 of 36 passes for 155 yards. Luke O'Hara was Pell's favorite target, finishing with four catches for 43 yards. Mark Rossol led the Wolverine defense with nine tackles, while Tim Irwin finished with eight.
With the victory, the Bearcats improve to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in Presidents' Athletic Conference play, while Grove City drops to 3-4/1-3. Saint Vincent returns to action next week, wrapping up the home portion of their 2010 schedule with a 1pm game against Waynesburg University at Chuck Noll Field.
