Tag: OWU football

Bishops Remain Undefeated

Peter Lujan

Transcript Correspondent

pllujan@owu.edu

The Battling Bishops’ football team has started the season rather well. It is 4-0 so far this year, defeating Otterbein University 22-10, Kenyon College 42-0,, Oberlin College 55-3, and most recently, Allegheny College, 28-10, on Saturday afternoon. The wins give the Bishops an average margin of victory of 31 points. 

The Gators of Allegheny went into the matchup with a record of 1-2. In contrast to the Bishops red hot start to the season. A year ago in 2018, the Bishops went 4-6 overall and tied for fifth place in the NCAC (North Coast Athletic Conference.) This year however, they have 38 incoming freshmen, 23 seniors, and 29 other’s racing toward the goal of NCAC champions.

Head Coach Tom Watts observed that last season they were, “always able to play well and pick it up toward the end of the season but were never really able to start the season on the right foot.” However, this season has been the opposite, as their 4-0 record suggests. 

Senior wide receiver and captain, Mher Tcholakian said earlier this season that a big motto and slogan for this year’s team is “going 1-0.” The football team uses this slogan for everything they do. Whether it’s in the weight room, at practice, or whatever the case may be, they want to, “go 1-0.” 

“This ‘1-0 slogan’ is our main focus as a team, [Going 1-0] means giving your all every single rep and every single play.” Tcholakian explained. 

Tcholakian, on this football team for three years, starter for two, he is witness to the Bishops declining record over the last few seasons. “We’ve always known we’ve had talent on both sides of the ball. There was just something missing, our execution. We just could not finish that last little step.”

Aside from his verbal leadership, Tcholakian also has been leading by example through his play on the field. He has 145 receiving yards this season, 61 on Saturday alone, which marked a new season high for him, along with his first receiving touchdown of the season. 

The Bishops look to continue their win streak when they face Wabash College this Saturday in Crawfordsville, Ind.  

Battling Bishops lose season opener

By: Gopika Nair, Assistant Copy Editor

The Ohio Wesleyan football team lost their season opener before a home audience to the University of Mary Hardin­Baylor (UMHB) 42­3.

The Crusaders’ victory on Sept. 5 at Selby Stadium marks the visiting team’s 55th consecutive regular­ season win, while the Battling Bishops start 0­1 this year.

“You win some, you lose some,” said sophomore Jerry Harper, a cornerback for OWU. “We just have to stick together as a family, not let this loss get to us and continue on forward.”

The Crusaders scored their first touchdown with about three minutes remaining in the first quarter, giving them a 7­0 lead.

Wide receiver Tim Shadoan, a junior, earned OWU three points with a 40­yard field goal a few seconds into the second quarter. But going into the half, UMHB increased its lead, 14­3.

By the third quarter, supporters of the Battling Bishops grew restless. Cheers of, “Let’s go OWU!” and “Come on, get a touchdown!” roared from the stands.

UMHB, however, added field goals of 40 and 33 yards in the third quarter. Putting up a fight, OWU’s senior end Cameron Pappa, a senior, led the defense in tackles. Sharing the lead was junior linebacker Keaton Leppla, who intercepted one pass and broke up another.

With less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Crusaders brought up their score with a touchdown. The score remained at 42­3 for the rest of the game.

Sophomore Rene Garcia, a spectator, said the game was rough, but OWU’s football team has a lot of potential.

Another sophomore, Drew Singleton, said, “Every loss is a tough loss. But you [just have to] take this game, learn from it and get it next time.”

OWU’s football team reported to camp on Aug. 12 and have been training ever since, said Coach Tom Watts.

Camp consisted of practice in the morning, meetings in the afternoon and bonding activities to develop team chemistry at night, Watts said.

Captain Beau Michele, junior, said it was often difficult to get through practices but they helped strengthen the team.

“To beat the best, you have to be the best,” Michele said.

OWU is predicted to place fourth in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

“We will place where we deserve based on how hard we work throughout the season,” Watts said. “The conference is tough, and we are excited about the season. We know our guys are up to the challenge, and we are taking it one game at a time.”

OWU’s next game will be against Wittenberg University on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Ohio.