COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus College broke out to the early lead in the Centennial Conference opener with Gettysburg College, but the visiting Bullets caught fire amidst the heat and raced past the Bears for a 42-17 victory Saturday afternoon.
Playing in temperatures well into the mid-90s, Ursinus (0-2, 0-1 CC) seemed to have the momentum with two scores 17 seconds apart in the first quarter. The advantage wouldn't last long as five different receivers hauled in passes of at least 29 yards and Gettysburg (1-1, 1-0 CC) out-scored the hosts 42-3 over the final 54 minutes.
Senior Danny Thompson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and junior Justin Davidov (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) combined for 360 yards passing and five touchdowns. Thompson went 10-of-15 for 200 yards and a pair of scores, while Davidov threw three scoring passes on just five completions. Davidov also rushed for 38 yards and another score.
Sophomore Justin Walsh (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) carried the ball 21 times for 77 yards. Junior Ryan Thompson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) hauled in four catches for 94 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Freshman Kevin Benavente (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) and sophomore Matt McFadden (Morristown, N.J./Morristown Beard) posted 73 and 66 receiving yards, respectively.
The defense racked up eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Sophomore Mike McKnight (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) posted 95 yards combined on a fumble recovery and an interception. Sophomore Jake Skinner (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) totaled nine tackles and a sack.
Ursinus opened strong, posting 79 yards on a 14-play drive that lasted nearly six minutes. Thomas Garlick found Carmen Fortino for an 18-yard pass to put the Bears on the board with 9:17 left in the first quarter.
Just 17 seconds later on Gettysburg's opening drive, the Bullets fumbled and Prince Patterson grabbed the pigskin and dashed 32 yards for the score to make it 14-0.
Gettysburg recovered quickly on its next possession as Danny Thompson completed a pair of passes to McFadden during a nine-play drive, including a 31-yard strike into the end zone to cut the lead to 14-6.
Ursinus turned the ball over on downs and the Bullets came back with a 64-yard pass from Davidov to Ryan Thompson on third down. Freshman Justin Geisel's (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) extra point split the uprights to make it 14-13.
A 34-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter finished the Bears' scoring for the day. Gettysburg scored on each of its next two possessions, first on a 33-yard pass from Davidov to 6-7 junior tight end Andrew Major (St. Davids, Pa./Radnor) and then on a 32-yard pass from Danny Thompson to sophomore wide receiver Johnny Davis (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah). The scores were the first career tallies for the two receivers as Gettysburg jumped in front 26-17.
Gettysburg's defense came up big when Ursinus drove deep into the red zone later in the second quarter. On second and goal from the five yard-line, sophomore Jake Fioretti (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) punched the ball out of the hands of Garlick and McKnight scooped up the fumble and ran it up the field 42 yards.
The Bullets turned the miscue into points as Davidov ran into the end zone from 16 yards out to give the visitors a 32-17 edge going into the half.
The momentum stayed with the Orange and Blue at the start of the second half. Walsh and Davidov rushed the Bullets up the field and the drive ended with a 29-yard touchdown toss to junior Ty Abdul-Karim (Washington, D.C./Woodberry Forest (Va.)). Geisel's PAT made it 39-17.
The score remained the same early in the fourth quarter when McKnight stole the rest of the wind out of Ursinus' sails. Garlick's pass on fourth down was stolen by McKnight who ran it back 53 yards deep into Bear territory. Gettysburg was unable to convert on the turnover, but the Bullets added a 22-yard field goal by Geisel later in the period to set the final score.
Gettysburg out-gained Ursinsu 476-309 in total offense. The Bullets averaged 24 yards per completion and the kicking game was strong as well with sophomore Tyler Frazee (Hopewell, N.J./South Hunterdon) averaging 44.7 yards on three punts and Geisel turning in 54.5 yards per kickoff.
Seniors John Gutowski (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) and Chris Miller (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) and junior Frank Olmo (Eatontown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) each posted eight tackles. Sophomore Nolan Skirtich (Mars, Pa./Mars) picked up five tackles, one tackle for a loss, and three pass break-ups in his first career start at cornerback.
Garlick finished 25-of-43 for 173 yards and a touchdown. Corey Kelly led the Bears' rushing attack with 73 yards on 13 carries, while Fortino hauled in seven catches for 47 yards. Robert Glanville posted a dozen tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and one sack.
Gettysburg returns home to face Juniata College (2-0, 1-0 CC) next Saturday at 1 p.m.