Oct. 14, 2006

Box Score

GETTYSBURG, PA -- On a day when Johns Hopkins senior Ben Scott hit a school-record four field goals, when freshman running back Andrew Kase broke out with a career-high 113 yards and freshman quarterback Michael Murray threw for a career-high 243 yards, it was a fourth-quarter rally by host Gettysburg that stole the show as the Bullets knocked off the Blue Jays, 23-18, before a Homecoming crowd of 3,837 at Musselman Stadium. The Bullets improve to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Centennial Conference while snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Blue Jays. Hopkins slips to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Centennial.

The Bullets needed just over four minutes in the fourth quarter to turn a 12-9 deficit into a 23-12 advantage. Freshman quarterback Matt Flynn capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to junior Matt Welsh and Josh Huson's extra point gave the Bullets a 16-9 lead they would never relinquish, but add to on their next possession after a special teams miscue by the Blue Jays.

After being forced into a fourth-and-long the Blue Jays set up to punt at their own 28, but the snap from center sailed over Scott's head inside the five yard line. Scott scrambled and completed a pass to Ryan Johnstin, but he was tackled short of the first down and Gettysburg took over at the Blue Jay 32. Four plays later junior Tom Sturges swept to the right, cut back inside and sprinted into the end zone to push the lead to 23-12.

Pinned at their own two yard line on the ensuing kickoff, the Blue Jays marched 98 yards on 15 plays to pull within 23-18 on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Murray to senior Evan Earnest. The Blue Jays converted a pair of third downs and a fourth-and-eight on the drive, which culminated with Earnest's touchdown catch with 2:25 remaining.

An unsuccessful onsides kick attempt followed Earnest's touchdown and Gettysburg ran out all but the final 1.9 seconds before turning the ball over on downs at the Blue Jay 34. Murray's final attempt got the Blue Jays to midfield before time expired.

The Bullets carried a 9-6 lead into halftime as a Josh Huson 26-yard field goal with 11:13 remaining in the second quarter answered Scott's 36-yard field goal that had give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Hopkins' 98-yard touchdown drive late in the game wasn't the only 90-plus yard scoring drive in the game as a 43-yard touchdown pass from Flynn to Dusty Green with 4:51 remaining in the second quarter polished off a nifty eight-play, 96-yard drive to give the Bullets their first lead at 9-3. Green took a backside screen pass and weaved his way through traffic to the far sideline and sprinted untouched down the sideline for the go-ahead score.

Scott took over from there with field goals on three straight possessions to give the Blue Jays their final lead at 12-9. An 18-yarder as time expired in the second quarter made it 9-6 at the half and a 23-yarder capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive to open the second half and tie the game.

Hopkins had a golden opportunity to take more than a three-point lead on their next possession, but Phil Roberts was stopped for a three-yard loss on third-and-goal at the one and Scott drilled a 21-yard field goal to give the Blue Jays the 12-9 lead. That lead stood until early in the fourth quarter, when Murray was sacked from the blind side at the Gettysburg 23 and fumbled the ball away. Eight plays later Flynn found Welsh for the touchdown that gave the Bullets the lead for good.

Flynn led a Bullet offense that rolled up 398 yards in the victory. He was 13-of-22 for 225 yards and the two scores and Sturges rushed for 109 yards and the one touchdown. Welsh and Green both had five receptions with Welsh topping the 100-yard mark (103).

Murray came off the bench and was 16-of-25 for a career-high 243 yards and the one score to Earnest. Kase's 113-yard effort is the best by a Johns Hopkins freshman since T.J. Lyons rushed for a career-high 174 yards in a 23-21 win over Gettysburg in 2002. Junior Corey Sattler added four receptions for a career-high 101 yards and Earnest had seven catches for a personal-best 69 yards and the one score.

Scott's four field goals break the previous Johns Hopkins single-game record of three, which had been set five times previously (including twice by Scott). His four field goals also improved his career total to 39, good for seventh place on the all-time NCAA Division III list.