Sat., Nov. 22, 2008

For NAIA FCS Quarterfinal pairings, click here

   FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- If there were any doubts about the final outcome, University of Saint Francis junior Daniel Carter dashed them away in about 15 seconds starting the second half.
   No. 3 USF led No. 11 Union College (Barbourville, Ky.) 24-3 at halftime and Carter darted and dashed his way 85 yards to a quick six for the Cougars with the opening second half kickoff. Rhys Barnhart added the extra point kick and USF cruised to a 58-3 win in one of eight NAIA Football Championship Series opening round games on Saturday.
  In USF's 51st consecutive win at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium, Carter's kickoff return for a TD was the first of four Carter four third quarter TDs which helped earn him NAIA Offense Player of the Game, which is selected by members of the working media.
  The 11-0 Cougars will play host to the University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Ky.) this Saturday (Nov. 29) for a quarterfinal NAIA FCS game. Kickoff is at noon at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium. UC advanced with a 31-7 win at home against No. 12 Shorter College (GA). 
  Carter was named Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Player of the Year on Thursday and he showed why in the third quarter. His third kickoff return of the season broke a USF record for career KO returns, a scintilating ride where he either eluded or ran through at least five tacklers, a now-you-got-him, no-you-don't run to warm up a well-chilled crowd.
  "That just got us all warmed up," USF senior quarterback Jeff Wedding said about Carter's mad dash. "That run energized all of us for the second half."
  Carter's dash was one of an afternoon filled with efforts that warmed the Cougars coaching staff and more than 2,000 fans.
  Junior linebacker Carl Thomas led a wave of Cougars' to Bulldogs punter Chad Boyington on UC's first possession. Thomas rejected the punt mowing down Boyington in the process and after several different Cougars touched the ball, Knicholas Middleton finally collected the ball at the UC 4-yard line. Though the Bulldogs limited USF to a 29-yard Rhys Barnhart field goal, the Cougars had given notice they had come to play.
  Ross Bauman provided a play to remember with a little unknowing help from a Bulldog offensive lineman. UC QB Mike Brinkley attempted a screen pass bouncing it off the helmet of one his linemen.
   "I had it read, then it bounced off that lineman's helmet and I just got it before it hit the ground," Bauman said with a laugh. "I couldn't believe it, but I knew what to do with it once I secured it."
   Bauman sprinted to the scoreboard side of the south end zone inflating the USF lead to 24-0 after Barnhart's extra-point kick.
   The USF defense played 'who gets to the QB first wins' with Stephen Whited edging DE Tim Farrell and LB Mark Drobac for the top honor with three. Farrell and Whited shared the NAIA Defense Player of the Game honor. Farrell and Drobac had two sacks and the trio combined for 10 tackles-for-loss of 47 yards.
   Early in the game, the UC defense made it clear the Bulldogs weren't going to let USF run, so Wedding thread the needle to Brian Schultz for an 8-yard TD pass. Barnhart booted the PAT for a 10-0 USF lead with 5:15 to play in the first quarter.
   UC had bottled Daniel Carter up in the first half. DC had six carries for -6 yards rushing. And throughout the season, the Bulldogs had owned the third quarter yielding just 21 points. Carter scored 24 in just under 15 minutes. In addition to his KO return TD, he added a 10-yard TD scamper, a 2-yard plunge and a 40-yard sprint down the sideline.
  "I can't say enough about our line," Carter said about the turnaround. "They did another great job of giving me some openings."
   The Bulldogs had surrendered an average of just over 11 points in the second half this season and had outscored its opposition 107-21 in the third quarter. USF outscored UC 35-0 in the second half while collaring the UC offense for just 67 yards on 27 plays -- 2.5 yards per play.
  Jacob Appleby booted a 29-yard field goal for UC with 42 seconds to play in the first half, the only dent in the scoreboard for 9-3 UC, which was making its first appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series. UC back Terence Pollock did rush 20 times for 96 yards and Kyle Callahan caught five Brinkley passes for 108 yards.
  UC only had one other drive, besides the field goal, end in USF territory, and senior DB Paul Carter gladly ruined it by picking off his fourth pass of the year and 22nd career interception for a 9-yard return.

Photos: Aaron Souzzi

To view The Journal Gazette report and photos, click here

To view The News Sentinel coverage, click here

To view WANE-TV Channel 15 Coverage, click here