BETHANY, W.V. (Oct. 11)- The Saint Vincent College football team earned a 57-35 win at Bethany in a Presidents Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday night in West Virginia.
It was a huge night offensively for the Bearcats (2-4, 1-3 PAC) as they totaled over 530 yards of total offense in the victory. Saint Vincent was led by a 19 point opening quarter and 33-0 lead at the half. Bethany outscored the Bearcats 35-24 in the high scoring second half, but the Bearcats were still able to hold on for their first PAC win of the season.
Saint Vincent quarterback
Jake Phillips threw for 300 total yards and four touchdowns for the Bearcats. Three of Phillips four touchdowns went to
Chris Downs, who is now the single season program record holder in touchdown receptions. Downs recorded 166 receiving yards to continue his prowl as one of the top receivers in the entire country.
Keegan O'Brien caught Phillips other touchdown in the victory for SVC. O'Brien caught four passes for 104 yards, including the touchdown reception. The SVC run game got going as well as
Julian Walker rushed 21 times for 140 yards and two scores.
Matthew Davis also rushed 10 times for 91 yards and a score.
Defensively, Saint Vincent was able to force four Bethany turnovers over the course of the game.
Devon Dean-Coles,
Patrick Connolly, and
Robbie Labuda all had interceptions for SVC in the win. Labuda and
Nathan Parker led Saint Vincent with nine total tackles.
Jonathan Puddie picked up a tackle for loss for the Bearcats as well.
It was a quick start to the high scoring affair for the Bearcats as they scored two touchdowns less than three minutes into the game. On their opening drive, Phillips found Downs for 30-yard touchdown and
Justin Emeigh added the extra point to put the Bearcats up 7-0.
After recovering a fumble, SVC found the endzone just 50 seconds later. Phillips found Downs once again, this one a 16-yard score. Emeigh added the extra point and SVC was up 14-0 early in the first quarter.
After short pause in the scoring, SVC forced a Bethany punt, which they blocked out of the back of the end zone for a safety to put them up 16-0 still in the opening quarter. Emeigh added a 26-yard field goal to close out the offensive outburst in the first quarter that gave SVC a 19-0 lead going into the second quarter.
It was much of the same story in the second quarter. SVC capitalized and scored off of a couple of interceptions in the quarter. With just over six minutes to go in the quarter, Walker scored from a yard out to increase the Saint Vincent lead to 26-0. The Bearcats weren't done in the half just yet. Phillips found O'Brien for a 32-yard touchdown to give the Bearcats a 33-0 lead going into the half.
Out of the half, Geneva outscored the Bearcats by a slight 21-14 margin in the third quarter to cut the Saint Vincent lead to 40-21 late in the quarter. Phillips found Downs for a 44-yard touchdown and Walker scored from 26 yards out for Saint Vincent's two scores in the quarter.
The Bearcats iced the game in fourth. Emeight added his second field goal of the game, this one a 27-yarder and Davis scored a seven yard rushing touchdown to round out the scoring for the Bearcats.
Saint Vincent will return home next Saturday, October 18 when they play host to Washington and Jefferson. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Chuck Noll Field next Saturday.
