Oct. 28, 2006

Bulldogs run past Warriors, 33-13
Williams sparks Adrian to first road win of season

By Ed Patino, Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich.-- Although not in the driver’s seat in the MIAA race, the Adrian College Bulldogs are not packing in the season.

With T.J. Williams leading a punishing ground attack, the Bulldogs rolled to a 33-13 victory over the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors at Raabe Stadium.

Adrian (4-4, 3-2 MIAA) ran the ball 42 times for 223 yards, while quarterback Andy Denryter went 14-for-20 passing for 179 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Bulldogs’ defense was just as strong, keeping Wisconsin Lutheran (0-8, 0-5 MIAA) off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.
The Warriors drove to the Adrian 18-yard line on the game’s opening drive, but were stopped short on a fourth-down attempt. The Bulldogs answered with a 14-play, 88-yard drive and Williams scored on a five-year run, making it 6-0. The two-point conversion failed.

Adrian marched 59 yards on its next possession and extended its lead. Early in the second quarter, Denryter dumped a pass to Phil Widzinski, who spun away from the Warriors’ defense and sprinted to the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs recovered an onside kick, and Williams scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard plunge, giving Adrian a 20-0 lead which it took into halftime.

The Bulldogs scored on their first possession of the third quarter. James Spencer booted a 24-yard field goal midway through the quarter, making it 23-0. Adrian engineered another long drive late in the third, going 82 yards on nine plays. Williams capped the drive on the first play of the fourth quarter with a seven-play touchdown run.

Wisconsin Lutheran got on the board on the ensuing possession as standout running back Matt Kehl scored on a six-yard run. The Bulldogs chewed up over five minutes off the clock on the next drive, and Spencer kicked another 24-yard field goal with 4:51 remaining, making it 33-7.

The Warriors added a touchdown with 20 second remaining as Kehl scored on a one-yard run.
Williams finished with 118 yards on 19 carries to lead the Bulldogs’ ground game. Anthony Tocco added 75 yards on 12 carries and Denryter ran for 27 yards in addition to his passing yards. Widzinski caught three passes for 48 yards, while Desmond Upshaw had three catches for 44 yards. Patrick Reagan had three catches for 29 yards.

Tavarski “Taz” Wallace recorded eight tackles to lead Adrian’s defense. Joel Howland made six tackles and Mark Westenberg finished with five tackles for the Bulldogs.

Kehl ran for 141 yards on 28 carries to lead the Warriors. T.J. Bodnar was 12-for-21 passing for 143 yards, while Eric Treske caught three passes for 41 yards for Wisconsin Lutheran. Mike Olsen had 10 tackles for the Warriors and Jim Voss and Nate Olejniczak each added seven tackles.

The Bulldogs will return to action Nov. 4 when they host the Albion College Britons in the Bulldogs’ final home game of the season. Adrian has won the last four meetings with the Britons, including a thrilling 30-27 victory last year at Albion. From 1990-2001, the Britons won 12 straight games in the rivalry.