(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - Quakers Fall Short to Ohio Northern 41-35 Saturday afternoon.

Wilmington won the coin toss and decided to receive first. The Quakers responded with a four-play touchdown drive. Darryl Story caught a 28-yard pass, and Joseph Spann caught a 23-yard reception before Kai Smith ran in for a 19-yard touchdown rush. The Polar Bears answered with their own four-play touchdown drive, tying the game 7-7 just three minutes into the first quarter.

Ohio Northern forced a turnover on downs after pressuring Isaac Ross on 4th and 5. The Polar Bears took advantage of the field position and ran down the field, taking a 14-7 lead. The Quakers went three-and-out on their next drive and Ohio Northern capitalized on a 58-yard touchdown rush to lead 21-7.

Isaac Ross scrambled for 21 yards to start the Quakers' next drive. Two plays later, he found Keion Brown for a 44-yard touchdown pass, putting Wilmington down by a score, 21-14. 

The Polar Bears marched down the field and attempted a 27-yard field goal, which was missed, but Wilmington jumped offsides. Ohio Northern went for it on 4th and 3 at Wilmington's 5-yard line, but the Quakers stuffed their rush. Kai Smith ran for 20 yards to open the Quakers' drive until Isaac Ross found Jaliq Wilson way downfield, who ran it in for an 83-yard touchdown catch. 

Tied 21-21, the Polar Bears' offense was able to drive down the field again for a short touchdown rush, retaking the lead 28-21 in the second quarter. Wilmington's offensive line would not hold up the next drive as Isaac Ross was sacked and then picked off on third and long. Ohio Northern took advantage of the field position once again and scored in three plays to take a 34-21 lead with five minutes left in the second quarter.

On a pivotal 3rd and 6, Ross reached back and lobbed up a jump ball for De'Anta Sanon, who came down with it for a 28-yard first down reception. Kai Smith scored just two plays later on a 27-yard touchdown rush, putting Wilmington down by six, 34-28. The Polar Bears moved down the field but with eight seconds to go missed a 33-yard field goal attempt, ending the half leading 34-28. 

Ohio Northern's kicking struggles continued in the second half. A 12-play drive ended with a 26-yard field goal attempt wide right. The defenses for both teams settled down in the second half. Wilmington attempted a fake punt, but Avery Ernst was stopped short of the line to gain. 

The Polar Bears relied on their potent running game and converted a short touchdown pass to take a 41-28 lead in the third quarter. The Quakers responded with a 15-play drive, and on 4th and 3 Isaac Ross found Joseph Spann across the middle in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. 

Leading 41-35, the Polar Bears drove down the field again, but a missed 27-yard field goal gave the Quakers the ball back with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Wilmington moved down the field alternating passes and rushes to reach the red zone. On third and long, Isaac Ross scrambled out of the pocket but fumbled, turning it over to the Polar Bears with three minutes to go.

Wilmington needed a stop and was able to force Ohio Northern into a third-and-long, leading to a punt from the Polar Bears. With 54 seconds to go, the Quakers had a chance to score. Isaac Ross found Jaliq Wilson for a 14-yard gain and then Joseph Spann for a 21-yard gain to reach Ohio Northern's 28-yard line. Ross scrambled on the next play but lost his helmet in the tackle, forcing backup quarterback Isaiah Henderson into the game. Henderson threw an interception on the next play as the Polar Bears sealed the game, winning 41-35. 

Notables

• Isaac Ross was 21/38 on pass attempts. He threw for 417 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His longest completion was for 83 yards.

• Kai Smith ran for 85 yards on 16 attempts. He scored 2 touchdowns and his longest rush was for 27 yards.

• Bryce Stout had six carrier for 30 yards. 

• Demarco Owens also rushed six times for 29 yards.

• Jaliq Wilson had three receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown. 

• Joseph Spann caught five passes for 102 yards and one touchdown.

• De'Anta Sanon made four catches for 80 yards.

• Keion Brown caught one pass for 44 yards and a touchdown. 

• Nathan Nemeth led Wilmington with 12 total tackles (eight solo, four assists). He had one tackle for loss.

• Luke Wroten had nine total tackles (five solo, four assists). He had half a tackle for loss.

• Samuel Brooks also had nine tackles (six solo, three assists) with half a tackle for loss.

• Wilmington had 570 total yards of offense. 

What's Up Next

The Quakers return home to host Mount Union on Saturday, October 11, at 1:30 pm.