DC Holds On to Beat Anderson on Homecoming

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  Freshman running back Demaria Washington (Miami, Fla./Dr. Phillips) scored whhat turned out to be the game-clinching touchdown as the Defiance College football team beat Anderson (Ind.) University, 20-13, in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Homecoming at Justin F. Coressel Stadium.

Defiance (4-3, 3-2 HCAC) scored 13 points in the first half, beginning with a 10-yard touchdown completion from junior quarterback Logan Scott (Curtice/Genoa) to fellow junior Tyler Gillig (Tiffin/Columbian) at the 1:55 mark of the first quarter as the Yellow Jackets lead, 6-0, after the first 15 minutes.

Scott tossed his second TD pass of the game on DC's second possession of the second quarter to go up, 12-0, with 9:32 to go in the half.  This time, Scott connected to freshman DeVonte Cravin (Ama, La./Hahnville) on a 12-yard pass play.  Sophomore Jordan Osborne (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) tacked on the extra point to extend the advantage to 13-0.  

Anderson (1-6, 1-4 HCAC) answered the Cravin TD with a score of its own on the ensuing possession on an 11-yard run to end a 12-play, 63-yard drive.  The extra point following the touchdown was missed, making the score 13-6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, DC took advantage of a poor punt attempt that gave the Yellow Jackets the ball on the Anderson side of the field.  Three plays later, Defiance found the endzone on back-to-back runs by Washington of 15 and four yards to give the Jackets some breathing room at 19-6.  Osborne converted her second extra-point attempt of the game, making the score 20-6 with 3:12 remaining in the period.  

Washington's TD would be the only points of the quarter, as DC headed into the final period with a 14-point lead.

Following a 14-play drive by Anderson that carried over into the fourth, but ended in no points, the Ravens got the ball back on a DC interception which led to seven points on a two-yard scamper making it a one-possession game, 20-13, with 12:42 to go.  

Anderson had one final chance at tying the game, or taking the lead, on a drive that began with 1:42 remaining in the contest.  The drive began with a sack by DC's Keandre Gilmer (Toledo/Rogers) and three plays later, the game was clinched for DC when sophomore Beau Barkley (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Churubusco) came with an interception on fourth down allowing the Jackets to run out the clock and go on to the 20-13 victory.

Washington led all rushers with a game-high 83 yards on 19 carries to go along with the TD.  He also caught two passes for 22 yards.  Scott finished the game completing 15-of-37 passes for 111 yards and a pair of TD.  Freshman Quenell Rutledge (Deltona, Fla./University High School) led the DC wideouts with four catches for 26 yards.  Gillig finished with three receptions for 13 yards in addition to the TD, while Cravin caught two passes for 23 yards and a score.

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by sophomore Jalin Nealy (Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield) who had a game and career-high 17 tackles (eight solo and nine assists).  He also had one of four team interceptions.  Juinor Kolton Davis (Toledo/Bowsher) also had a career-high in tackles with 12 (eight solo and three assists), including a tackle for loss.  Gilmer ended the game with 10 stops (five solo and five assists) and 1.5 sacks.

Defiance will have its "bye week" next week before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 when the Jackets travel to Hanover, Ind. for a HCAC game against Hanover (Ind.) College.  The game is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.