Oct. 28, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, PA -- Freshman running back Aaron Harper rushed for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns and the Ursinus defense held Johns Hopkins to 133 yards of total offense as the Bears knocked off the visiting Blue Jays, 17-7, Saturday afternoon at Patterson Field. The win improves the Bears' record to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the Centennial Conference, while the Blue Jays fall to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the league. The loss officially eliminates the Blue Jays from contention for a fifth straight Centennial Conference title.

Playing on a sloppy field in windy conditions, the Bears contolled the flow early, but didn't break through until the final minutes of the second quarter. Pinned at their own 29 and faced with a third-and-six the Bears got the big play they needed when senior quarterback Ted Wallingford found junior Brandon Evans behind the defense for a 46-yard completion to the Blue Jay 25. Harper did the rest as he carried five straigth times and powered up the middle from two yards out to give Ursinus a 7-0 lead that stood into the fourth quarter.

The Blue Jays had the wind at their back in the third quarter and twice had possession inside Ursinus territory, but Ben Scott came up just short on a 51-yard field goal attempt and the Bears forced a punt on the other. Hopkins finally broke through early in the fourth quarter when they took advantage of a short field.

After Scott pinned the Bears at their own one-yard line for the second time the Blue Jay defense forced a quick punt and JHU took over at the Ursinus 26. Three plays later senior quarterback Shane Kibbe hit freshman runningback Andrew Kase with a short swing pass and Kase weaved his way to the sideline and eluded a defender inside the five for the first touchdown of his career.

Any momentum the Blue Jays had gained on their touchdown was quickly erased as Ursinus needed just five plays to move 72 yards on their ensuing drive with Evans' diving catch at the Blue Jay five-yard line fueling the drive. Harper bulled his way in two plays later to give Ursinus the lead for good and Justin Beres' 30-yard field goal with just over a minute to play sealed the Bears' second straight win over the Blue Jays.

Harper rushed 43 times for the career-high 196 yards and the Bears pounded out 211 yards on the ground. Wallingford was 4-of-9 for 112 yards and Evans had the two catches for 80 yards. Brian Hyrnczyszyn led the Ursinus defense with seven tackles, including one sack.

Kibbe, who didn't enter the game until midway through the third quarter, was 6-of-14 for 66 yards and the one touchdown, while senior Anthony Triplin had four receptions for 32 yards. Senior Evan Earnest accounted for 95 all-purpose yards and Matt Hagel had a game-high eight tackles for the Blue Jays.

Johns Hopkins will host Hampden-Sydney next Saturday, while Ursinus will play at Franklin & Marshall.