Football celebrates Senior Day with snowy 21-13 victory over Wilmington

By Tim Glon

ADA — Freshman Adan Figueroa (Orange City, Fla./University) ran for a career-high 128 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Ohio Northern football team to a 21-13 Senior Day victory over Wilmington on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

The Polar Bears wrap up their season 3-7 overall and 3-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Quakers end their season 3-7, 2-7.

Northern struck quickly when Figueroa hit junior Noah Miller (Coldwater) on a 3-yard touchdown pass on ONU's first possession and it was 7-0 just 3:17 into the contest.

WC tied it at 7-7 with a touchdown at the 2:04 mark of the first period.

The score remained that way until the Quakers hit a 52-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 left in the third quarter to go ahead 13-7.

Freshman Terrion Ross (Findlay) returned the ensuing kickoff to the Wilmington 40 and it took ONU just three Figueroa runs to tie the game.

His 17-yard scamper on the final play of the third tied it at 13-13. Senior Dom DiFalco (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) drilled the extra point and Ohio Northern led 14-13 heading into the fourth quarter.

Neither team was able to mount any offense for the next five drives.

Northern took over at its own 27 with 7:35 left in the game and marched 73 yards in nine plays, all runs, to extend the lead.

Figueroa raced in from 30 yards out on a 4th-and-1 to give ONU a 21-13 lead with 1:57 remaining.

Wilmington lost 12 yards on its next possession, which started with two incomplete passes and ended with sacks by seniors Nichal Johnson (College Park, Ga./Northgate) and Kedarius Woodfork (Brownsville, Tenn./Haywood) to give the ball over on downs with 1:13 to go.

Senior All-American Brock Martin (Attica/Seneca East) then rushed three times for 25 yards to ice the clock, letting ONU take a knee and end the game.

Figueroa ended the day 5-for-15 passing for 86 yards and a score.

Junior L.J. Payton (Wheelersburg) caught two passes for 52 yards, including a 44-yard grab to set up ONU's opening score.

Martin gained 73 yards on 13 rushed and senior Jamir Nunley (Cleveland/Mayfield) had 44 yards on 11 rushing attempts.

Sophomore Dalton Tjong (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) had a team-high 10 tackles and an interception to lead the ONU defense.

Ohio Northern out-gained Wilmington 328-303 in total offense.