SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College produced several explosive plays on offense and a pair of standout defensive performances Saturday afternoon, but Madonna University capitalized on turnovers to pull away for a 79-20 victory over the Pomeroys in SMWC's Homecoming game at McMahon Field.
SMWC (0-4) struck first and needed just two plays to travel 73 yards on its opening possession.
Zy'Eiar White ripped off a 66-yard run down the sideline to the Madonna 7-yard line, and
Derron Hazzard finished the drive on the next snap with a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Pomeroys a 6-0 advantage less than three minutes into the contest.
White finished with 61 rushing yards on four carries and a touchdown despite losing nine yards on one attempt. Hazzard led the Pomeroys on the ground with 75 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while adding a 20-yard reception.
Madonna answered SMWC's opening score with a 12-play, 81-yard touchdown drive before turnovers quickly shifted the momentum. The Crusaders returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for another score as part of a 21-point opening quarter.
The Pomeroy defense generated several stops during the second quarter.
Adonimi Parker dropped Madonna quarterback Kolter Smith for a 10-yard sack, and SMWC twice turned the Crusaders over on downs during the period. Parker finished with five tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup.
SMWC continued to create explosive plays after halftime.
Quarterback
Carter Hall connected with
Patrick Perea for a 51-yard completion to the Madonna 6-yard line early in the third quarter. A pass-interference penalty moved the Pomeroys to the 3 before White powered into the end zone. White then ran in the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 38-14 with 11:13 remaining in the quarter.
Perea's 51-yard reception was SMWC's longest completion of the afternoon.
The Pomeroys found the end zone again later in the third following another big play from Hazzard. The SMWC back broke loose for a 45-yard run to the Madonna 20, and Hall capped the five-play, 65-yard march with an 18-yard touchdown pass to
Kadin Witvoet.
Witvoet led SMWC with four receptions for 37 yards and the touchdown. Hall completed six passes for 94 yards and a score.
SMWC's defense provided one of the game's final highlights when
Caelen Bell intercepted Smith deep in Pomeroy territory and raced 62 yards on the return to the Madonna 33. It was SMWC's lone takeaway of the game.
Logan Metzger led the Pomeroy defense with a game-high 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops and a tackle for loss.
Karver Queen added four tackles, while Parker recorded five.
Holtman Doades also continued his strong season in the punting game, averaging 42.8 yards on four punts with a long of 55 yards. Three of his four punts traveled at least 35 yards.
SMWC finished with 256 yards of total offense, including 131 on the ground. The Pomeroys generated three touchdowns on their three trips inside the red zone but were hurt by seven turnovers, including six interceptions.
Madonna accumulated 535 yards of offense, with 306 through the air and 229 on the ground.
The Pomeroys now turn their attention back to Mid-States Football Association play with another road test.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods travels to Upland, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 10, for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Taylor University. The Trojans are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
