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Scots win first round Release Date:
Nov. 22, 2008
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
The Fighting Scots enjoyed hosting their first-ever
NCAA playoff football game so much that they’re going to do it again
next week. With both gridiron teams looking for their first-ever NCAA
playoff win, Monmouth defeated Aurora on the strength of five touchdown passes
by Alex Tanney and a defense that forced four turnovers from a
Spartan team that led the nation in turnover margin entering the game.
The Scots were up 35-0 at one point, but if a second-quarter play had
gone the Spartans’ way, the game could have been close for a lot longer.
Monmouth had opened the scoring by going 66 yards on 14 plays on its
second drive. A 4-yard pass from Tanney to Mike Blodgett gave the
Scots a 6-0 lead with 4:31 left in the first quarter. Aurora responded
with a solid drive and had moved just outside the red zone early in the
second quarter when a pass by Nate Peterson was tipped by linebacker
Danny Weiden and intercepted by Kyle Harmon, who returned it
34 yards. The Scots then drove 62 yards for a touchdown, with Blodgett
catching two balls for 49 yards, including a 17-yard scoring strike on a
fourth-down play. The Spartans’ fumbled the ensuing kickoff and, after
the teams traded punts, Monmouth scored again on an 11-yard slant from
Tanney to Kyle Weyeneth for a 20-0 lead with 4:02 left in the
first half. The Scots received the kickoff to start the second half and
were at their absolute peak efficiency, taking just four pass plays to
four different receivers to complete a 60-yard scoring drive. The final
15 were covered by Steve Zidow, who topped Monmouth with 107 receiving
yards. On Aurora’s first drive of the half, Anthony Goranson
sacked Peterson and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Marc
Wozniak in the Spartans’ territory. A 39-yard pass to Zidow put the
ball on the 1-yard line, and Caleb Pratt punched it in for a 35-0
lead. Peterson had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter and a 4-yard
scoring pass to Cory Cowan in the fourth. In between was Blodgett’s
third TD catch of the day from Tanney, who completed a collegiate-best
31 passes in 45 attempts for 366 yards. Matt Shepherd caught
eight balls for 74 yards and Blodgett added six catches for 68. Marc
Artozqui had a team-high 12 stops and Weiden added 10. Both of
Goranson’s tackles came in the backfield.
Football
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