FULL RELEASE IN PDF | INSIDE PANTHER FOOTBALL
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Winners of four straight, Ohio Dominican's football team heads back to Canton for the second time in a month as the Panthers take on Walsh at the newly renovated Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium for an 8 p.m. kickoff Saturday.
The Panthers have won all five meeting between the two teams as members of NCAA Division II, and have won seven out of eight overall in a series with Walsh that dates back to the NAIA days of both programs.
This is the sixth straight season that ODU has won at least four consecutive games, and with a win Saturday, ODU will also have win streaks of at least five games in four of the past five years.
Last week, the Panthers scored 35 second quarter points to pull away from Alderson Broaddus with a 53-13 win. That was the highest scoring quarter in school history, and ODU's 43 first half points were the most since ODU had 49 in the first half against Marian on Aug. 30, 2008.
ODU rolled up 444 yards of offense in the first half, including 341 in the second quarter alone, as the Panthers outgained AB 570-259. The Panthers have now tallied 500 or more yards in four of seven games this year while throwing for at least 340 yards in six of seven contests. ODU ranks fourth in the country in passing offense at 347.9 yards per game and are ninth in total offense at 503.9 yards per contest.
The Panthers have also protected the ball, turning it over just five times in seven games, which is the fourth-fewest in the country. ODU's rushing attack has also come to life the last four weeks, averaging 218.8 yards per game with 12 touchdowns.
ODU's defense has also stepped up in the four game winning streak. The Panthers have allowed just 10.8 points per game and 366.3 yards per game in the last month, limiting opponents to just 117.0 yards rushing per contest. ODU also has nine takeaways (eight interceptions, one fumble recovery) in the past four games. The Panthers also have 11 sacks in the last four games.
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miless@ohiodominican.edu