By Reggie Gatlin-Holt
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University football team opened their season traveling 16 miles south for a meeting with Otterbein on Saturday. Junior quarterback C.J. Jackson would air out five first half touchdowns on his way to tying the program record of six passing touchdowns set by Mason Espinosa against Hiram in 2010. All-in-all, the Battling Bishops would put 65 points on the afternoon en route to a 65-28 win to start the season.
OWU moves to 1-0 on the new season. Otterbein falls to 0-1.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Battling Bishops had 665 yards of total offense, 385 of which came through the air with the remaining 280 on the ground. All-in-all the Red and Black scored nine touchdowns, seven passing and two rushing.
C.J. Jackson got his first career start at quarterback, tying the program record for passing touchdowns with six, five of those coming in the first half alone. He went 16-for-23 for 349 yards and a long of 66, throwing just one interception. On the ground, Jackson added another touchdown – totalling seven for the game – with eight yards total.
Chanden Lee was 2-for-3 for 36 yards and one touchdown through the air, adding 38 yards on the ground.
Bryan Hines Jr. was the leading receiver for the Bishops with eight receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were career highs.
Mysaun Sanders was the leading rusher with a career-high 128 yards on 16 carries with a long of 21. In the receiving game, he added one reception for nine yards and a touchdown.
Reddik Pillarelli put up great numbers for his collegiate debut, totalling 130 yards and two touchdowns on three catches.
Devon Haley had 15 rushing attempts for a career-high 106 yards as well as a touchdown.
Josh Hurst had four receptions for 72 yards.
Quin Schroder recorded two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Giovanni Rufus had three carries for 20 yards.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Ya’Va Harris led the defensive front with a career-high eight total tackles, a career-high seven of which were solo. He also had one tackle for loss.
Jake Smothers and Chris Burns both had six tackles. All of Smothers’ were solo tackles, with Burns having four solo and two assists.
Brayden Hatcher had five tackles and Lane Howard had four, all solo.
Collin Wehner, Connor Stephens, and Kevin King had three tackles each. Whener and Stephens both had two solos with one assist. King’s three were all solo.
John Banks Jr., Joseph Seney, A.J. Hanslik, Ryan Keaton, Jacob Slyh, Carson Rust, Grant Johnson, Jack Novak, and Lucas Ward all had two tackles apiece.
Miguel Rodriguez, Connor Asbury, Vince Eadicicco, and John Metheny each had one tackle.
UP NEXT
The Bishops will have their home-opener next Saturday as they host Maryville at 2:00 p.m.
COURTESY OHIO WESLEYAN SPORTS INFORMATION
