The Saint Vincent College football opened the 2020-21 season at Grove City College. The Wolverines used explosive plays to grab an early lead and defeat the Bearcats, 37-14.

Saint Vincent (0-1, 0-1) opened the game by receiving the opening kickoff and the first play from scrimmage, Mike Stasko rushed for 14 yards. Unfortunately, the Bearcats proceeded by going four-and-out.

Grove City (1-0, 1-0) got the ball at the 13:09 mark of the first but faced a fourth and one after the Wolverines did not convert on the third. Quarterback Josh Ehst picked up the first down to keep the drive going.

After a two-yard run on first down, Ehst connected with Cody Gustafson for the first score of the game. A 64-yard touchdown and a successful point after gave GCC an early 7-0 lead.

SVC began its second drive of the game on its own 14-yard line. The Bearcats began to drive into Grove City territory but a Brady Walker interception at the Wolverine 39 gave the hosts the ball.

After a five-yard run on first down, Ehst and Gustafson linked up for another touchdown, this time for 65 yards. Another successful PAT doubled the GCC lead (14-0).

The Bearcats' third drive started to show promise with first downs picked up by Stasko and a Walker pass to Molayo Irefin put SVC near midfield at the end of the first. After switching sides, the Bearcats were not able to convert a third and two and punted away the ball.

Both squads exchanged drives until Grove City got the ball back with 5:35 to go in the half at its own 15. First down passes by Ehst and rushes by Zach Trusky eventually placed the Wolverines on the SVC 13-yard line. Ehst threw his third touchdown of the half, this time to Cameron Drake for 13 yards as GCC led 21-0 with 2:18 remaining.

Saint Vincent got the ball back with 2:10 on clock and began to put together a drive and found its way into Grove City territory with 32 seconds to go in the half. After an incompletion and a sack, the Bearcats attempted a hail mary but another interception ended the half as the Wolverines led 21-0.

To begin the third quarter, Grove City began with the ball and wasted no time. The Wolverines used three plays to find the endzone with a 63-yard pass from Ehst to Nick Gustafson leading the way. After a fumbled snap on the PAT, GCC led 27-0 with 13:37 on the clock.

Saint Vincent got the ball for its first drive of the second half with 13:32 to go in the third. The Bearcats started to move the ball with the help of Stasko and David Marshall Jr. then Walker took over.

Walker found Keith Kalp and Phil Harding for consecutive first downs. Walker then threw an endzone fade across the field to find Andre Dixon for the 14-yard score. The Jared Gonzalez point after was good to cut the deficit to 20 (27-7).
GCC wasted no time to answer after recovering an onside kick. The Wolverines used five plays to go 44 yards in 2:34 capped off by another Ehst to Cody Gustafson touchdown. Grove City regain the 27-point advantage.

After a first down rush by Marshall, Walker completed a 44-yard pass down the left numbers to Harding to put SVC at the Grove City 25. After a third and three conversion from Stasko, the Bearcats faced a third and four from the Wolverine nine.

On a slant, Irefin reeled in the Walker pass and dove his way into the endzone. The Wolverines still led 34-14 with 3:33 left in the third.

GCC looked to respond and found its way into Saint Vincent territory after a 34-yard pass. Despite the big gain, the Bearcats held the Wolverines to a missed field goal and regained possession with 57 seconds left in the quarter.

SVC held the ball and faced a third and one to start the fourth. A three-yard run by Stasko gave the Bearcats new life. Later in the drive, Stasko picked up another third down, this time with a 14-yard gain. However, Saint Vincent failed on a fourth and short and gave the ball back to the Wolverines.

Grove City tallied four plays of seven-plus yards on its next drive. GCC took 4:16 off the clock going 48 yards in 12 plays capped off by a 28-yard field goal. The hosts led 37-14 with 7:10 to go in regulation.

The Bearcats opened their next possession with a 14-yard pass from Walker to Harding but SVC advanced no further. Saint Vincent turned over the ball on downs to the Wolverines.

Grove City picked up a quick first down as well but gave the ball right back on downs. However, the drive was short lived as Lorenzo Cota checked in for Walker but threw and interception on his third pass. The Wolverines closed out the game and won 37-14.

Walker finished the evening going 26-43 with 246 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Stasko led the team with 66 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Irefin ended the game with 10 receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown.

SVC finished with 336 total yards, 254 through the air and 82 on the ground. GCC ran for 200 yards while passing for 325 for a total of 525.

Saint Vincent travels to West Virginia on Friday, March 26 for the annual Green Game with the Bethany Bison. Kickoff is 7 p.m.