Crusaders dump AC Bulldogs 34-14
Bickel gets first win as CU head coach
Garrett Crane, Cody Leist
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports
After watching the scrimmage against Malone College, Capital head coach Jim Bickel anticipated the offense to start off slowly.
Once his first game as head football coach against Adrian College ended and the scoreboard read 34-14 in favor of the Crusaders, his tone changed.
"Our guys did the biggest thing we asked of them," Bickel said. "They played hard. I thought they exhibited a lot of toughness. I think they bounced back from adverse situations. Those were the three things we were focused on and I told them they did that very well."
Both teams showed early season rust when the opening stanza was scoreless. Sophomore Dominic D'Andrea changed that when he took the first play of the second quarter and scored on a ten-yard run to give the Crusaders (1-0) a 7-0 lead.
On Capital's next possession, junior quarterback Marty Assmann hooked up with senior wide receiver Derrick Alexander for a four yard strike to put the lead up to 14-0. Alexander and Assmann hooked up again in the game on a 39-yard touchdown toss.
"Our first couple of snaps, trying go get used to the offense, was shaky," Alexander said. "Come the second quarter, we understood that we had to take it slow."
Six plays later, Capital senior linebacker Eric Andriacco tipped Adrian sophomore quarterback Mike McGee?s pass and junior defensive back Brad Pickens grabbed the ball out of the air at the Capital 30 and scampered 70 yards to give the Crusaders a 20-0 advantage.
"That was a huge play," Bickel said. "That was the first time they had a little something going. To take that, not just from a stop, but to take it back for a touchdown was good."
"It's a complete excitement," Pickens said. "Once you get it, you're just running scared."
After the touchdown, Capital was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing freshman placekicker Garrett Bennington to attempt a 25-yard extra point instead of a normal 10-yard attempt. Bulldogs junior defensive lineman Gino Panza took advantage of the situation and blocked the kick to keep the score at 20-0.?
The Bulldogs (0-1) scored their first touchdown of the game when Capital junior wide receiver Evan Blake fumbled the ball and sophomore linebacker Justin Judd scooped it up and scampered the remaining 15 yards for the score.
Blake redeemed himself on the next series when sophomore quarterback Nick Alexander connected with Blake for a 20-yard score.
The Crusaders have a week before the team opens up their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule next Saturday with a trip to Tiffin to take on the Heidelberg Student Princes (1-0).
"Heidelberg is a darn good football team," Bickel said. "They might be the most improved team in this conference. What we have to do is take care of Capital for the next two weeks. Luckily, we'll have some time to prepare for what we think is a fine Heidelberg team."
gcrane@capital.edu
Once his first game as head football coach against Adrian College ended and the scoreboard read 34-14 in favor of the Crusaders, his tone changed.
"Our guys did the biggest thing we asked of them," Bickel said. "They played hard. I thought they exhibited a lot of toughness. I think they bounced back from adverse situations. Those were the three things we were focused on and I told them they did that very well."
Both teams showed early season rust when the opening stanza was scoreless. Sophomore Dominic D'Andrea changed that when he took the first play of the second quarter and scored on a ten-yard run to give the Crusaders (1-0) a 7-0 lead.
On Capital's next possession, junior quarterback Marty Assmann hooked up with senior wide receiver Derrick Alexander for a four yard strike to put the lead up to 14-0. Alexander and Assmann hooked up again in the game on a 39-yard touchdown toss.
"Our first couple of snaps, trying go get used to the offense, was shaky," Alexander said. "Come the second quarter, we understood that we had to take it slow."
Six plays later, Capital senior linebacker Eric Andriacco tipped Adrian sophomore quarterback Mike McGee?s pass and junior defensive back Brad Pickens grabbed the ball out of the air at the Capital 30 and scampered 70 yards to give the Crusaders a 20-0 advantage.
"That was a huge play," Bickel said. "That was the first time they had a little something going. To take that, not just from a stop, but to take it back for a touchdown was good."
"It's a complete excitement," Pickens said. "Once you get it, you're just running scared."
After the touchdown, Capital was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing freshman placekicker Garrett Bennington to attempt a 25-yard extra point instead of a normal 10-yard attempt. Bulldogs junior defensive lineman Gino Panza took advantage of the situation and blocked the kick to keep the score at 20-0.?
The Bulldogs (0-1) scored their first touchdown of the game when Capital junior wide receiver Evan Blake fumbled the ball and sophomore linebacker Justin Judd scooped it up and scampered the remaining 15 yards for the score.
Blake redeemed himself on the next series when sophomore quarterback Nick Alexander connected with Blake for a 20-yard score.
The Crusaders have a week before the team opens up their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule next Saturday with a trip to Tiffin to take on the Heidelberg Student Princes (1-0).
"Heidelberg is a darn good football team," Bickel said. "They might be the most improved team in this conference. What we have to do is take care of Capital for the next two weeks. Luckily, we'll have some time to prepare for what we think is a fine Heidelberg team."
gcrane@capital.edu
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