Sat., Oct. 25, 2008

   FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Walsh University showed third-ranked University of Saint Francis what a little hope can do. 
   But that was about all USF gave the Cavaliers in what turned into the Cougars 49th consecutive win at home, 52-12, and a 4-0 record in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League on Saturday afternoon.
   After taking a 7-0 lead on its second possession, WU's Jason Stiel picked off a Jeff Wedding pass and returned it 28 yards to the USF 10. On second and seven, Jeff Tallman powered seven yards for the TD -- the first points yielded by USF in the first half this season.
  A tie loomed, the first time USF has even been tied all season, but Tim Farrell swatted that hope away blocking Eric Buchanan's point-after attempt with 5:33 to play in the first quarter.
  USF still led 7-6 and it was just a matter of time before the Cougars would shake off some rust from a bye week and take total control. 
  By the time it was over, USF DB Paul Carter III has established a new MSFA record for career interceptions for TDs, a new career MSFA interception record, place-kicker Rhys Barnhart had added seven more PATs for 91 straight and added a record-setting sixth career field goal, and USF finished with a new high for points scored against Walsh in the Cougars 11th consecutive win in 12 meeting with WU.We
  USF's defense coralled the WU offense holding the Cavaliers (2-6, 0-3 MSFA MEL) to 97 yards total offense on just 53 plays. The Cougars' offense finished with 524 yards total offense with Wedding accounting for four TDs -- two rushing and two passing.
   After WU scored pulling within 7-6, the Cougars quickly made it 14-6 with the aid of a WU 15-yard infraction. USF scored in three plays, just 2:21 off the clock. After a three-and-out, Barnhart added three for USF with his third field goal this season from 33 yards out.
   The Cavs bounced back with a six-play, 59-yard drive capped by a Tallman sprint 25-yards through the heart of the USF defense. QB Marc Pullen's pass for two points was incomplete, but only trailed 17-12 with 5:05 to play in the first half. USF retaliated with two TDs in the final five minutes -- one on a 1-yard Wedding plunge and the other on a 5-yard Wedding to TE Miah Wood -- to lead 24-12 at the half.
   "We haven't faced much adversity on the field this season, so I liked the way we answered the challenge," USF coach Kevin Donley said on a cloudy, chilly Saturday afternoon. "We get smacked, we're gonna smack back."
   USF got a 23-yard Wedding to Brian Schultz TD, Carter's 40-yard interception return and a 3-yard run by Shaine Tierney to complete the scoring.
  Carter's return broke the MSFA record for career interceptions for TDs, his sixth of his career and second this season as well as the last two games. His 20th career interception is also a new MSFA record and he pushed his career return yards to 584 yards adding to the NAIA record he set two weeks ago against Marian. Carter's INT was the 27th against WU in 12 games and gives USF at least one INT in 10 of the last 11 games.
   Wedding finished 19-for-34 passing for 298 yards and he added 60 yards rushing. Daniel Carter led USF rushing with 65 yards and with his 154 all-purpose yards, Carter climbed to No. 8 on the MSFA career list with 4,783 and passing former Cougar Michael Ledo (4,724) in the process.
  Schultz finished with 64 yards receiving, Kyle Peabody added 59 yards, Eric Rhodes 53 and Jared Clodfelter 46 with 10 different Cougars catching one pass.
  USF travels to Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio next Saturday for a noon kickoff. It is a non-conference game.