BEXLEY – The Wilmington College football team couldn’t overcome four turnovers Saturday as the Fightin’ Quakers fell to Capital 35-21 at Bernlohr Stadium in Ohio Athletic Conference action.
Junior quarterback Luke Creditt finished with 271 yards on 29-of-45 passing and one touchdown. He threw four interceptions. The 45 attempts were the most in Creditt’s career.
Wilmington pulled to within an extra point of tying the score in the first quarter as senior Chase Manica capped an 11-play, 41-yard drive with a two yard plunge. However, the PAT snap was fumbled and the Crusaders raced the other way for the defensive PAT.
The Crusaders scored in two of their last three first half drives to open up a 22-6 lead. Capital continued its offensive onslaught with another scoring drive to open the third quarter.
Creditt was a perfect 5-for-5 for 53 yards and connected with sophomore Malik Pettiford from 17 yards out to cap the 10-play, 76-yard drive. It was the first career touchdown for Pettiford.
Wilmington had a chance to steal more momentum as freshman Bryan Gonzalez brought the next Capital drive to a screeching halt with his first career interception. However, a penalty to start the drive sidetracked the Fightin’ Quakers and they went 3-and-out.
With a time-stealing 12-play, 86-yard drive which the touchdown came on fourth down, the Crusaders pushed their lead to 35-13.
The Fightin’ Quakers continued to fight as Manica found paydirt for the second time in the game. After a defensive stop, Wilmington embarked on another drive. WC drove from the shadow of its goal line to past midfield, but a sack and then an interception ended any thoughts of a comeback.
Manica finished with 50 yards on 13 attempts and two touchdowns, and added 47 yards on a team-high seven catches. Junior P.J. Meyer had a team-high 72 yards on six catches.
Sophomore Sam Tedtman led the team with a career-high 10 tackles, while freshman Kevin Lipscomb and senior C.J. Thompson added six tackles each. Thompson also recorded his first career interception.
Wilmington (0-3 overall, 0-2 OAC) hosts John Carroll 1 p.m. Saturday at Townsend Field in Williams Stadium.
