Football
ECAC South Atlantic Bowl
Johns Hopkins 44, Lebanon Valley 14
Box Score
Photo Gallery
BALTIMORE, Md. - Johns Hopkins' high-powered passing game was too much for Lebanon Valley as the Blue Jays rolled up 583 yards of offense en route to a 44-14 win in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl.
The Dutchmen (6-5) were making their second consecutive ECAC Bowl appearance after winning the 2009 Southwest Bowl.
Hopkins (8-3) had a nearly flawless game offensively, led by game most outstanding player Hewitt Tomlin, who was 32-for-38 for a school-record 443 yards and four touchdowns. Sam Wernick caught 10 balls for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
Brendan Riley was a bright spot for LVC, catching two touchdown passes in his final game for both of Lebanon Valley's scores.
Caleb Fick was 9-for-24 for 98 yards.
Zach Bleiler had a sack to break the LVC single-season record at 12.5, and finishes second in program history with 28.5 career sacks.
"They deserved to win, they beat us fair and square," head coach
Jim Monos said. "But I was proud of our kids. I said to them, we made a great run towards the end of the year. It didn't finish the way we wanted to be, but that senior class has a lot to be proud of."
With Hopkins keeping the ball in the air all game long, LVC's defense never adjusted to the quick drop of Tomlin.
"I can go against air somedays and not go 32-for-38. That's a heck of a performance by that kid and their entire football team," Monos said.
Hopkins scored on their first drive, getting downfield on a 38-yard Daniel Wodicka pass before Wernick caught a ball from 8 yards out.
Macke Hall picked up a midfield fumble on JHU's next drive, and that set up a 35-yard screen pass touchdown from Fick to Riley to tie the game at 7.
LVC had a key second-quarter goal line stand to stop JHU on the one and generate a turnover on downs, but on LVC's first play, Taylor Maciow penetrated the line and took down Guiles for a safety.
That play turned the momentum completely around, and Hopkins reeled off two touchdowns to finish the first half on a Brian Hopkins short route and Wernick's 25-yard catch.
Hopkins piled it on in the third, driving deep to start the half and scoring on Scott Barletta's one-yard plunge, and Wernick made a phenomenal fingertip grab on the run and streaked 80 yards for a touchdown on their next possession.
Barletta capped Hopkins' scoring with a one-yarder to finish a 15-play drive in the fourth.
Riley caught his second TD pass midway through the fourth quarter to make it a 44-14 final.
Game Notes
LVC's senior class graduates with 25 wins, equaling last year's seniors for the most in program history ... Hopkins' offense had 446 yards in the air with 31 first downs overall ... They averaged 6.6 yards per play ... The Blue Jays picked off three interceptions ...
Jake Zeigler had a good punting day with a 43.8 average, including a booming career-long 64-yard punt in the third quarter ...
Doug Lester blocked the only field goal attempt of the game, a 24-yard bid by Alex Lachman ... Riley led LVC receivers with 42 yards ... Riley may well be the first player in program history to catch two touchdowns and throw an interception - he threw downfield on an option in the fourth quarter and lost the jumpball ...
Ben Guiles was held to 45 yards on 17 carries, and finishes 2010 with a school-record 1,325 yards and 17 touchdowns ... LVC converted just 5 of 12 third downs; Hopkins was 12-of-18 ... It was LVC's fourth postseason berth in program history. They are 2-2 in those games ... LVC has appeared in two straight ECAC games after not appearing in the postseason for over 50 years ... Bleiler had 3.0 tackles for a loss overall with a batted pass among 11 tackles ...
Jason Gigous led LVC with 19 tackles ... Tomlin missed just six passes - and four of them were broken up by LVC defenders ...
Dane Eichelberger forced a fumble but couldn't come up with the bouncing ball as it went out of bounds ... Hopkins had three sacks, the first by an LVC opponent in four games.
