Defiance Celebrates Senior Day

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College football team celebrated senior day as they welcomed Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Rose-Hulman to Justin F. Coressel Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the teams final home stanza of the season. The Yellow Jackets also celebrated Hero Appreciation Day.

Defiance (0-8 overall, 0-6 HCAC) fell in the contest 35-6, led on the day by senior Cody Brown (Grass Lake, Mich.)with a team-high 14 tackles including two tackles for loss. On the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver Junior Jacob Vorce (Paw Paw, Mich.) paced the way with 52 yards on five targets. 

Rose-Hulman struck first in the contest as they traveled 23 yards on eight plays for the games first touchdown at the 7:39 mark in the opening period. The Fightin' Engineers opened the drive from the Defiance 45 where quarterback Andrew Dion found Bryce Dobbs for a 15 yard completion to the Defiance 30. Rose-Hulman continued to move the ball as a 13 yard pick-up placed the Engineers inside the DC 20 yard line before a seven yard completion on third down gave Rose the 7-0 advantage.

The Purple and Gold looked to get something going on the next possession as sophomore Logan Mico (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) came out firing with a nine yard completion to senior Nate Roberts (St. Petersburg, Fla./Boca Ciega) that placed the DC offense on its own 40 yard line. Mico would find Roberts once more on the drive for a seven yard pick-up before a Rose-Hulman interception at their on 45 yard line would set the stage for another Engineer score.

Rose-Hulman would take over the ball with 3:39 remaining in the opening period traveling 82 yards on 16 plays for another Engineer score. Rose used a 13 yard pass and catch on third and nine to break into DC territory. The Engineers closed out the first quarter with a four yard rush placing them at the Defiance 28, setting the stage for the second quarter score. Rose-Hulman would use a three yard scamper on third and goal to claim the 14-0 lead. 

The offensive struggles continued for the Yellow Jackets as Mico was picked off on the following possession setting up another Rose-Hulman score. The Fightin' Engineers took the ball 62 yards on eight plays en route to the 21-0 advantage with 10:40 remaining till half.

The Defiance bright spot came on the following drive as the Purple and Gold took the ball 73 yards on 12 plays including a two yard rush by Mico for the touchdown, 21-6. DC opened the drive from its own 27 yard line before a seven yard rush by senior Corey Bennett (Tampa, Fla./Blake) placed the Yellow Jackets at the 34 yard line. The big play came moments later on first and ten as Mico connected with Vorce for a 23 yard hook-up placing Defiance inside Rose territory at the 28 yard line. The offense continued to click as Bennet rushed for three yards on fourth and two to keep the drive alive. Mico would score on the following play rushing for the touchdown. 

The Yellow Jackets got the ball to open the second half but was unable to make anything happen as Rose-Hulman took over on downs. The Fightin' Engineers punched in its fourth touchdown of the game midway through the third quarter as they traveled 47 yards on two plays for the 28-6 advantage.

Rose tacked on its final score of the contest with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter going 58 yards on 10 plays. The Engineers opened the drive at its own 42 yard line using a 10 yard completion on third and two to break into DC territory. The Engineers continued to churn the offense as another 10 yard completion late in the drive set-up the one yard rush and score, 35-6. 

The Defiance defense forced four turnovers in the contest with three interceptions, led by sophomore Cody Drumm-Turner (Homer, Mich.).

 The Purple and Gold return to action on Saturday, Nov. 3 as they travel to Richmond, Ind. to face off with Earlham. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.