BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

by Mike Hustava
The Saint Vincent football team defeated Bethany College in the annual “Green Game” at Chuck Noll Field by a final score of 20-14. With the win, Saint Vincent finishes second in the Presidents' Athletic Conference with a 5-3 record (6-4 overall). 

The victory marks the first time the Bearcats finished the season with at least six wins since the Tangerine Bowl season in 1949.  It is also the first winning season for the program since 1961.
 
Prior to the game, Saint Vincent honored the 29 seniors who have played a vital role in the rebirth of the Bearcat football program.
 
The opening half of the game was a defensive battle, as both offense failed to produce a touchdown. The only scoring in the first half came on back-to-back plays.
 
With 6:30 remaining in the first quarter, linebacker David Ribero picked off Bethany quarterback Matt Grimard and returned it 38 yards to give the Bearcats the early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Bethany returner Ed Holmes dashed 82 yards for the score to tie the game at seven.
 
The score would remain tied heading into the half as neither offense was able to finish-off a drive. Senior linebacker Anthony Johnson finished the half with 10 tackles (1.5 for loss), including the 300^th of his career, while Armando Fortunato added six stops.
 
Bethany held the ball for 18:22 in the opening half, compared to the 9:48 time of possession for Saint Vincent. The Bison were 3-of-8 on third down and 2-of-3 on fourth down, while the Bearcats finished 0-of-5 on third down. The only red-zone trip in the half was for Bethany, which failed to produce any points as the Bearcats forced a turnover on downs.
 
The Saint Vincent offense finally found its stride near the end of the third quarter. On third-and-five from their own 39-yard line, quarterback Aaron Smetanka connected with Andre Rogers for a 44-yard completion that set the Bearcats up with a fresh set of downs at the Bethany 17-yard line. On the next play, Huey Ehredt broke free over the left side and scampered into the end zone to give Saint Vincent the 14-7 lead.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Bethany's offense got on the board when Grimard found Daryl Powell for a 51-yard catch-and-run that tied the score at 14.
 
The Bearcats answered right back, though. After Zach Mihalko returned the ensuing kickoff to the Saint Vincent 41-yard line, the Bearcats needed only three plays to go back in front. Ehredt rushed three times for 59 yards on the drive, the final one a 13-yard run that put Saint Vincent ahead 20-14. The extra point attempt missed wide-right and the Bearcats were clinging to a six point lead with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation.
 
With 4:40 remaining, the Bison embarked on a potential game-winning drive. Bethany managed to get the ball down to the Bearcats' 15-yard line, but Dan Wirkowski intercepted Grimard's pass attempt in the end zone.
 
With only a minute left, Smetanka and the Bearcats' ran out the clock and secured the Senior Day Victory.
 
Smetanka finished the day 5-of-12 for 84 yards. Ehredt rushed 13 times for 116 yards and two scores, while Mike Kale ran nine times for 36 yards. Rogers led the receivers with three catches for 62 yards.
 
Kale was also integral in the special teams game, punting nine times and averaging almost 40 yards per attempt.
 
Defensively, Johnson and Fortunato finished the game with 15 and 14 tackles, respectively. The Bearcats recorded nine tackles for a loss of 39 yards and three sacks for a loss of 20 yards.
 
With the win, the Bearcats finish the season 6-4, 5-3 in the PAC and will now await word from the ECAC on a possible postseason bowl bid.