Nov. 1, 2003

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Senior quarterback George Merrell (Bloomsburg, PA/Central Columbia) threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Johns Hopkins football team improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the Centennial Conference with a 49-10 victory over visiting Ursinus Saturday afternoon at Homewood Field. The Blue Jays outscored the Bears, 35-0 in the second and third quarters combined and scored touchdowns on four straight possessions midway through the game.

After Ursinus (3-5, 0-4 CC) pulled within 7-3 on a 30-yard field goal by Matt Baney (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) in the final minute of the first quarter, Hopkins scored the next 42 points to put the game away. Merrell jump-started the scoring surge with a one-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter to give JHU a 14-3 lead. The Blue Jay defense quickly forced a three-and-out and Merrell then threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to junior Brian Wolcott (Harding, PA/Wyoming Area) on JHU's next possession to extend the lead to 21-3.

Hopkins scored touchdowns on all three of its possessions in the third quarter as junior fullback Nate Readal (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive to open the second half with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 28-3. Again the Blue Jay defense forced a quick Ursinus punt and Merrell wasted no time getting the Blue Jays back in the end zone as he connected with freshman wide receiver Anthony Triplin (Baltimore, MD/Gilman) on a 41-yard touchdown pass on Hopkins' first play to push the lead to 35-3.

Wolcott added a 24-yard touchdown pass from Merrell in the last three minutes of the third quarter and freshman Jake Wittenberg (Scarsdale, NY/Edgemont) scored his first career touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to account for JHU's final points. Ursinus got a 31-yard touchdown pass from Adam Parcell (Norwood, PA/Interboro) to Riley Gilbert (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) with just under three minutes to play to close the scoring.

Johns Hopkins dominated the stat sheet as junior Adam Cook (New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) rushed for a game-high 110 yards on 15 carries and had 147 all-purpose yards. Merrell was 11-of-22 for the 195 yards with the three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed six times for 18 yards and the one score. Wolcott had three receptions for 80 yards and the two scores, while Triplin had two receptions for 43 yards and the one score. Sophomore T.J. Lyons (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) also rushed 13 times for 76 yards to help lead a Blue Jay attack that churned out 258 yards on the ground and 230 yards passing.

The Blue Jay defense did an excellent job against Ursinus senior running back Gary Sheffield (Glenolden, PA/Interboro), who entered the game as the Centennial Conference's leading rusher. Sheffield managed just 18 yards on nine carries, while sophomore quarterback Dave Kupstow (Philadelphia, PA/Peddie School) was 13-of-24 for 75 yards with two interceptions. He was also sacked four times by a JHU defense that had two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Senior DE Colin Slemenda (Beaver, PA/Beaver Area) also scored the first touchdown of the game as he scooped up a fumble and raced four yards into the end zone to give JHU a7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Cook's 115 yards rushing give him 920 on the season, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Triplin's two receptions and one touchdown give him 37 receptions and five touchdowns on the season, both are Centennial Conference freshmen records. Senior LB Paul Longo (Kensington, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) led the Blue Jay defense with six tackles and one interception, while senior NG Paul Smith (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) added five tackles, including 1.5 sacks and two tackles for losses.

Johns Hopkins can claim a share of its second straight Centennial Conference title with a win at McDaniel on November 15 (JHU is idle next week). Ursinus will host Franklin & Marshall next Saturday before closing the season at Dickinson in two weeks.

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