Box Score
Box Score
A 28-point second quarter by Birmingham-Southern doomed the Sewanee football team this afternoon, as the host Panthers ran away with the win, 50-10. The Tigers turned in a sharper offensive performance than what they've had most of the season, but Birmingham-Southern was able to capitalize on several Sewanee miscues to seal up the victory. The Tigers fall to 1-7 on the season, while the Panthers improve to 5-2.
Things started off slow in Birmingham, as Sewanee was held to a three and out on their first drive of the day. Birmingham-Southern responded with a 30-yard field goal from Ryan Laughlin on their first turn to make it 3-0 in favor of the hosts.
But the Tigers responded with a field goal of their own to even it at three apiece. Ben Cleveland (Ft. Worth, Tex., Trinity Valley School) returned the kick off 17 yards to set Sewanee up at their own 20-yard line. The Tigers put together a 52-yard drive, amassing four first downs along the way, and eating up six minutes of clock, before senior Geoffrey Marolda (Houston, Tex., Houston Episcopal) set up for the Tiger field goal. Marolda nailed the 46-yarder and with just 1:08 left in the first quarter, things were tied.
Unfortunately for the Tigers though, it wouldn't remain that way for long. Just one minute and 14 seconds into the second quarter, Birmingham-Southern was posted up at the Sewanee 26-yard line and driving. The Panthers pulled out a little bit of trickery and after two reverses, Panther wide receiver Eric Nordgren connected with wide receiver Aaron Sherrill for the BSC touchdown. Laughlin's point after made it 10-3 Birmingham-Southern.
Sewanee was forced to punt on their next drive, and Birmingham-Southern took over on their own 46-yard line after a 21-yard return by John Lawroski. Panther tailback Walter Arrington broke free for a 38-yard run on the first play of the drive and three plays later quarterback Jimmy Stainbeck found the end zone. Stainbeck's four-yard run, followed by Laughlin's good extra point, made it 17-3 in favor of the Panthers.
Cleveland returned Grant Talbert's kickoff 18 yards on the following drive, but the Tigers were forced to punt again after just four plays. Marolda booted the punt 42 yards to the Birmingham-Southern 23-yard line where Lawroski hauled it in. Lawroski then scampered 74 yards to the Sewanee three-yard line where Marolda's touchdown-saving tackle prevented him from scoring. But the Panthers needed just one play and 11 seconds to find the end zone, as Arrington scooted into the end zone for the three-yard score, making it 24-3 Birmingham-Southern.
The second quarter didn't get much better for the Tigers. Following the Arrington touchdown, sophomore Michael Poarch (Chattanooga, Tenn., Tyner Academy) returned Talbert's kickoff 18 yards, and with a penalty against the Panthers, Sewanee started their drive at their own 28-yard line. After a Zeke Wilson (Snellville, Ga., George Walton Academy) rush for no gain, freshman quarterback Lee Schurlknight (Darlington, S.C., The Byrnes School) was picked off by Birmingham-Southern's Jeffery Steele, who returned the pick 35 yards for the Panther score. Steele's touchdown and Laughlin's point after made it 31-3 in favor of the hosts with 5:23 left in the half. Both teams held on for the rest of the quarter, trading punts before heading into the locker room with Birmingham-Southern up by 28.
Both teams came out swinging in the second half. Birmingham-Southern opened the half with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Stainbeck to Nordgren to put the Panthers ahead 38-3 early in the third quarter.
Sewanee followed up the Panther drive with a quick drive of their own. Jase Brooks (Powder Springs, Ga., Harrison) returned Talbert's kickoff 23 yards to set the Tigers up at their own 29-yard line. Wilson rushed for a 19-yard gain on the first play of the drive and then came the Tigers biggest play of the afternoon. Schurlknight, dropped back and connected with a sprinting John Ugorji (Washington, D.C., Friendship Collegiate Academy)for a 52-yard touchdown pass for the Tigers. The touchdown, along with Marolda's extra point, made it 38-10 Birmingham-Southern.
Birmingham-Southern was forced to punt on their next drive and Sewanee followed that up with a three and out of their own. Marolda set up to punt it away for the Tigers but the punt was blocked by Panther Zac Napier, who scooped the ball up and ran it in for a six-yard touchdown score. After a missed extra point, Birmingham-Southern led Sewanee 44-10.
The Panthers would add one more with 4:48 left in the third quarter when Chase Childers hooked up with Edward Robinson for a nine-yard touchdown reception. The extra point would fail and the Panthers walked away with the 50-10 win.
Statistically, the Tigers were much improved this week. Sewanee totaled 265 yards of offense, while the Panthers tallied 353. The Tigers gained 128 yards on the ground and 137 in the air. Birmingham-Southern held the edge in first downs, 18-15. Schurlknight finished the day 10 for 17 passing with two interceptions. Cleveland led the Tigers' receiving corps with 56 yards on five catches. He gained 123 all-purpose yards after running for 32 yards and returning kickoffs 35 yards as well. Wilson led the Sewanee rushing attack with 99 yards on 20 attempts. Marolda punted five times for 194 yards.
Defensively, the Tigers Will Law (Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville Episcopal) and J.D. Crabtree (Tullahoma, Tenn., Tullahoma) paced the Tigers with nine tackles apiece. Zac Atkins (Dallas, Tex., Lake Highlands) added eight tackles and a sack.
The Tigers head to Jackson, Mississippi next week to take on the Millsaps Majors. Millsaps is 5-3 on the season and 4-1 in SCAC play after defeating Centre College 30-18 this afternoon.
