Football opens 2018 season with 34-17 victory over Adrian (Mich.)

By Tim Glon

ADA — The Ohio Northern football team opened its 2018 season with a 34-17 victory over Adrian (Mich.) on a beautiful Saturday night at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Polar Bears (1-0) got 76 yards rushing and two touchdowns from freshman Brock Martin (Attica/Seneca East) and a key pick-6 by Jaymar Hines (Cincinnati/Marian) in the win.

The Bulldogs (0-1) got 92 yards rushing and a score from Emmanuel Stewart and four receptions for 98 yards from Jerron McGaw in the loss.

Junior Mark Niles (Miramar, Fla.) had a career-high 15 tackles and two PBUs for ONU as well.

Adrian controlled play in the early going, holding the ball for 14 of the first 17 minutes and led 7-0 on a 2-yard run by Colton Randle with 12:41 left in the half.

Northern rallied for three touchdowns in the final 5:26 of the half to take a 20-7 lead into intermission.

Martin plowed in from 5 yards out with 5:26 to go to tie the game at 7-all.

After the ONU defense forced Adrian into a 3-and-out, junior Anthony McFadden (Chillicothe/Paint Valley) hit senior Chad Rex (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch) on a 23-yard touchdown pass to put the Polar Bears on top 13-7 with 1:35 to go in the half.

On the next play from scrimmage, Hines stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception 29 yards for a score and a 20-7 ONU lead.

AC pulled within 20-10 on a 29-yard field goal at the 8:43 mark of the third quarter.

Martin extended the lead on Northern's next possession as he bulled his way in from eight yards out and it was 27-10 with 4:05 left in the third.

The Bulldogs got within 27-17 when Stewart scored on a 12-yard run with 37 seconds left in the third period.

Northern put the game out of reach when McFadden hit sophomore Chase Rose (Kenton/Upper Scioto Valley) on a 9-yard TD strike with 6:12 left in the game.

McFadden finished the game with 68 yards rushing on 10 carries and completed 9-of-18 passes for 132 yards and two TDs to improve to 3-0 as a starter.

Junior Greg Dennis (Mount Vernon) had 11 tackles and a PBU and senior David Haseleu (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) had 10 tackles and a PBU for Ohio Northern.

ONU out-gained AC 321-306 in total offense.

The Polar Bears will begin Ohio Athletic Conference play next Saturday with a 1:30 pm home contest against Muskingum at Dial-Roberson Stadium.